What a great conversation with the mayor of the city of Singen about how we can succeed in integration.

What an honour. A magical evening, a mixture of a profound conversation and a reading from my book “ICH, DU, WIR & VIELFALT”

Many thanks to everyone who was there and contributed to an unforgettable evening: family, friends, residents of the city of Singen and surroundings.

It was just terrific, touching and we laughed a lot.

Among others, my highlights were:

📍 The eye contact with my children, my family and the friends who were present was very special.

📍 The professionalism and the strong choice of questions of the moderator Achim Eickhoff

📍 The sovereign and at the same time pioneering attitude of Mayor Ute Seifried

📍 The commitment and farsightedness of the project manager Integration of the City of Singen Linda Kelmendi

📍 To discover the unifying aspects of all those present, whether native or non-native, touched me deeply.

📍The palpable willingness of all those present to act as “WE”, and not as us and the others

📍The skillful application of what I learned the next day of my son, recognizable in a discussion with my husband “Mom taught us yesterday to #hinterfragen. So daddy […]”

So I read an anecdote from the book and ended the selected passage with the question:
“What should citizens look like?”

How Achim Eickhoff managed this transition to Mayor Ute Seifried, and how Ute Seifried responded to it, filled my heart with joy – her self-critical answer to it and how she encourages her team to approach people empathically gives me confidence.

I am very grateful that my first live book presentation was greatly supported by our esteemed mayor Ute Seifried as well as by one of the largest educational institutions in the region, the vhs Landkreis Konstanz e.V..

Perhaps two more responses to the selected passages: “I found myself again in your stories”;
“How wonderful that you can put into words what moves us”.

I am sure that we will make progress together. So dare to address what moves and depresses you.

How else are others supposed to know that there is a need for action here?

I was once again able to see what opportunities the city of Singen offers for successful integration and togetherness. Maybe there are also previously undiscovered possibilities for you?

Also ask yourself in the community – whether local or non-native – how you can make yourself visible and contribute meaningfully to a togetherness.

It’s worth it: for our children and grandchildren.

In the meantime, you can also ask yourself, “What should citizens look like?”