From June 14 to 20, 2026, the American Council on Germany hosted the fifth cohort of the Study Tour on Social Cohesion in Bremen and Schwerin. This program brings together emerging leaders from the United States and Germany to explore how communities, governments, and civil society organizations are working to strengthen social cohesion in an increasingly diverse society.
On the evening of June 14, the group gathered in Bremen for a lively dinner just as the German Men’s National Football Team played their first game of the 2026 World Cup, providing an immediate moment to relax, bond, and celebrate.
The program kicked off Monday morning with a walking tour of the city led by Anita Okoro, founder of Climate Friendly Bremen, which gave the group an introductory glance into the city’s history. The tour focused on themes of environmental justice, decolonization, industrial transformation, and sustainable urban development in the “Überseestadt” (New Harbor District) in Bremen, which is one of Europe’s largest urban development projects. The group also had a second tour with Ms. Okoro in the city center in the afternoon.
Afterward, the group was warmly welcomed to Queeraspora, a community center serving queer migrants, refugees, and people of color, by founder Ali Naki Tutar, who candidly shared his personal insights into the unique challenges facing marginalized communities and the opportunities available to them when viewed through an intersectional lens.
Later in the afternoon, the cohort was welcomed by 2025 ACG Young Leader Alumna Theresa Gröninger and her colleague Claas Rohmeyer, both members of the Bremen City and State Parliament (CDU). After a tour of the building, the group sat down for an engaging discussion on the role of state-level policymaking in addressing social and economic challenges.
On Tuesday morning, participants had a with a meeting with Dr. Gunnar Isenberg, State Councilor in Bremen’s Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Youth, and Integration (SPD), to discuss the city-state’s approach to integration, social policy, and workforce development, including the fairly recent “Ausbildungsunterstützungsfonds” or “Training Fund” law, which helps to fund companies with apprenticeship training programs. American participants were particularly struck by hearing about the strong multi-partisan cooperation within the state government. This visit was followed by a meeting with Dominik Lange, Spokesperson for Einfach Einsteigen e.V., a think tank whose goal is to make using Bremen’s public transit infrastructure easier, more accessible, and more affordable by advocating for a fare-free public transit proposal. This discussion- turned-lively- debate explored the relationship between public transportation, accessibility, economic mobility, and social inclusion, and the best actionable policy steps to improve social cohesion from this perspective.
In the afternoon, the group visited SV Werder Bremen’s stadium and training facilities to meet with Henrick Oesau, Team Leader of Social Affairs, and Board Member of the SV Werder Bremen Foundation, along with other members of the “Spielraum” program team, including Ricarda Walkling, Program Ambassador and German Bundesliga Women Player of SV Werder Bremen and, Amelie Retzlaff, Coordinator for Women and Girls Empowerment, and Jannis Feneberg, Coordinator of SVW’s Soccer Field Program. The cohort learned how one of Germany’s most prominent football clubs uses sports to build community and foster integration as a medium for social change. Discussions focused on programs that support refugees, promote women’s participation in sports, and create inclusive opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds, as well as on some of the challenges the programs face. The visit also included a tour of the stadium and grounds, and even an opportunity for an informal soccer match amongst participants.
Participants spent Wednesday morning in Bremen with Miriam Bömer, Head of Economy and Labor, Women’s Policy, Media and Public Relations, German Trade Union Federation, Bremen-Elbe-Weser Region, hosted at IG Metall. The conversation highlighted the role that labor organizations play in fostering economic security, worker participation, and social solidarity, and explored why Bremen has the highest unionization rate among states.
Before boarding a bus to Schwerin, the group visited meethouse e.V., an innovative intergenerational housing and community project that promotes inclusive living across generations, cultures, and faiths. They were warmly welcomed by residents Gabi, Siegfried, Renate, Annette, and Markus. Discussions centered on community-building, environmental responsibility, and new approaches to creating spaces where residents can actively shape their neighborhoods. After a few residents shared their personal stories of the benefits of living there- such as barrier-free living, free childcare through neighbors, low-income housing, and community engagement activities to combat loneliness- the group was given tours of the apartments of the residents while sharing a typical German lunch.
Upon arrival in Schwerin, the capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, participants were welcomed by Georg Zirzow, a civil servant in the Ministry of Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs and a participant in the 2025 Social Cohesion Study Tour, who helped introduce the group to the region’s unique social and political landscape.
The first full day in Schwerin provided a top-down look at politics, kicking off with a virtual conversation with Federal Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan, Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development, who shared her personal story as the daughter of Iraqi refugees and reflected on Germany’s ongoing efforts to address migration, integration, and anti-racism. The discussion ended with a call to action from Minister Alabali-Radovan to “Keep up the German-American Friendship!”, noting the importance of exchanges like the study tour. Participants then visited the State Chancellery of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern for a discussion with the Minister for Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs, Bettina Martin, who did a Fulbright year at Wake Forest University in Raleigh, North Carolina, both the home base for the German National Team during the World Cup and where program participant Angelo Mathay teaches. The discussion focused on the city’s history, the ongoing reunification process in Eastern Germany, and the resulting investments. The cohort also enjoyed a tour of the state government’s headquarters led by Department Director Sven Zylla.
As the focus became increasingly more local, the group then met with Sebastian Ehlers, the Mayor-Elect of Schwerin and President of the City Council, to discuss local governance, civic engagement, and regional development. Here, the idea of Schwerin as a “divided city” due to its stark income divide and the segregation of certain neighborhoods was also introduced. Later that day, participants visited Internationales Haus Schwerin, where City Council Member Asem Alsayjare spoke about his experience arriving in Germany as a refugee from Syria and his work promoting civic participation and intercultural dialogue. Members of the International House team also shared the breadth of their events and engagement- from Spanish- or German-speaking practice to choirs, to film nights, games, etc.
The final full day of the study tour focused on neighborhood-based approaches to social cohesion. The group left the city center to learn more about the neighborhoods mentioned the day prior. At Schwerin’s Kulturzentrum Alte Post, participants heard presentations from local government representatives and civic society organizations working in the neighborhoods of Mueßer Holz and Neu Zippendorf. Discussions highlighted community development initiatives, neighborhood management programs, cultural projects, and efforts to improve the quality of life in areas facing social and economic challenges. Sara Köhler and Robert Wick from the Neighborhood Management Team at LGE M-V GmbH spoke first about the history of the Neu Zippendorf/Mueßer Holz neighborhoods in the “Großer Dreesch” area of Schwerin. They introduced some of the challenges and opportunities the area currently faces. Participants also heard from Nina Gühlstorff, Resident Director for outreach projects at the Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater Schwerin, about the theatre’s initiatives to promote accessible engagement with their new location in the neighborhood, as well as from Hanne Luhdo and Reinhard Huß of Die Platte lebt e.V., an association devoted to strengthening neighborhood life and community.
City Councilmember Gret-Doris Klemkow, Chair of the Mueßer Holz local advisory council, then led the participants through a neighborhood walking tour. The group stopped at the city nature adventure playground Bauspielplatz Schwerin, where participants heard from Executive Director Matthias Glüer and educational staff member Silke Brun, the Mueßer Holz Neighborhood Garden, and the AWO Parent Child Center, where Ina Woisin, the Director of the Center, shared insights into the various programs offered- from daycare to cooking classes. The tour ended with lunch at ZiMT, a bike repair shop and community café located in an accessible housing complex that offers daily affordable meals for the neighborhood. There, participants were greeted by community members including Thomas Littwin, the Managing Director of ZiMT, Fritz Hock, chef at ZiMT, and Bernd Schröder of una e.V.
The study tour concluded with a guided visit to the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Parliament in Schwerin Castle, providing participants with an opportunity to reflect on the week’s discussions and consider the role of democratic institutions in promoting social cohesion.
Throughout the program, participants engaged with a wide range of perspectives and initiatives, gaining a deeper understanding of how communities across Germany address social divisions, support inclusion, and build stronger connections among citizens. The tour also fostered meaningful transatlantic exchanges, allowing participants to compare experiences and share ideas for strengthening social cohesion in both Germany and the United States.