The Foundation EVZ and Humanity in Action held a Bilateral Comparative Social Coehsion Forum from October 27 to 28, 2020. Delegations from Germany and the United States explored the complex and contested relationship among aspects of “Social Cohesion and Combustion.”
About the Bilateral Forum
Together the participants explored the complex and contested aspects of “Social Cohesion and Combustion.” The Forum addressed issues of social unrest, economic instability, transatlantic vulnerability and disarray and the ever greater need and determination to realize social justice in Germany and the United States. Participants reflected on their personal and their organization’s beliefs and practice and consider policy implications through the cohesion-combustion prism on a wide range of issues.
Multiple facets of social cohesion and fractures propel populism, nationalism and endanger the future of our liberal, pluralistic democratic countries. It is our hope that through these two days of discussion, we better understand the complexities of these forces that make more just and inclusive societies.
The goal of the Forum was to provide participants with the opportunity to learn, explore and clarify their own positions and to map shared spaces of agreement and disagreement. Through this process – and by sharing insights with others committed to building social cohesion in Germany, the USA and beyond – we aimed to contribute to the promotion of more cohesive and just societies.
Animated Short Film
Program Agenda
>>Tuesday, October 27, 2020
3.00 – 3.15 pm CET // 10.00 – 10.15 am EDT
Welcome & Introduction to the Program with Marianna Matzer (Teamlead, Foundation EVZ), Dr. Judith S. Goldstein (Founder & CEO, Humanity in Action) and Antje Scheidler (Intl Director of European Programs, Humanity in Action)
3.20 – 3.55 pm CET // 10.20 – 10.55 am EDT
Working Groups: The Challenges of Social Cohesion and Combustion as Part of our Professional Lives
4.00 – 5.00 pm CET // 11.00 am – 12.00 pm EDT
Plenary: Input Talk plus Q&A: Social Cohesion and Combustion Seen Through the Lens of Class, Jan Sowa (Associate Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw)
5.00 – 5.15 pm CET // 12.00 – 12.15 pm EDT: Screen Break
5.15 – 6.10 pm CET // 12.15 – 1.10 pm EDT
Plenary: Introduction, Film Screening and Q&A: Film “The Boogaloo Ballad of Henry Graves”, Introduced by Irene Braam (CEO, Bertelsmann Foundation North America)
6.10 – 6.55 pm CET // 1.10 – 1.55 pm EDT
Working Groups: Discussions about Social Cohesion and Combustion
- History & Remembrance, facilitated by Cornell Brooks (Professor, The Harvard Kennedy School; Director, The William Monroe Trotter Collaborative for Social Justice) (tbc)
- Identities & Community Building, facilitated by Yasmeen Akhtar (Founding joint Chief-Executive of TrustLab)
- Religion, facilitated by Anne Snyder (Editor-in-Chief of Comment Magazine)
- Radicalization, facilitated by Dr. Julian Junk (Project Director at Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (HSFK/PRIF))
6.55 – 7.00 pm CET // 1.55 – 2.00 pm EDT: Wrap-up of the day
>>Wednesday, October 28, 2020
3.00 – 3.10 pm CET // 10.00 – 10.10 am EDT
Welcome to the Day, Antje Scheidler (Intl Director of European Programs, Humanity in Action)
3.10 – 3.30 pm CET // 10.10 – 10.30 am EDT
Opening Remarks: Observations from the US, Dr. Mariko Silver (President of the Henry Luce Foundation)
3.30 – 4.10 pm CET // 10.30 – 11.10 am EDT
Plenary Session: Summaries from Yesterday’s Working Groups
- History & Remembrance
- Identities & Community Building
- Religion
- Radicalization
4.10 – 4.20 pm CET // 11.10 – 11.20 am EDT
Introduction: The Product, Dr. Judith S. Goldstein (Founder & CEO, Humanity in Action)
4.20 – 5.00 pm CET // 11.20 am – 12.00 pm EDT
Working Groups: Ideas for Strengthening Cohesion and Resisting Combustion
5.00 – 5.15 pm CET // 12.00 – 12.15 pm EDT: Screen Break
5.15 – 6.00 pm CET // 12.15 – 1.00 pm EDT
Working Groups: Preparing Input from the Working Groups
6.00 – 6.45 pm CET // 1.00 – 1.45 pm EDT
Plenary Session & Discussion: Summaries from the Working Groups
6.45 – 7 pm CET // 1.45 – 2 pm EDT: Next Steps & Farewell
Our Delegation from The United States
Our Delegation from Germany
Our Partner and Supporter
This Forum is generously supported by the Foundation EVZ.
