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Transatlantic Dialogue Initiative: Building Community Cohesion & Strengthening Democracy in Cities – A Roundtable with European and US Mayors

Publication Date:

31/01/2024

Content Type:

Event Reports

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City-Led ActionEuropeGlobal CrisesinclusivitySocial CohesionTransatlantic InitiativeUSA

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Event Details   

Description: A roundtable with European and US mayors on building community cohesion and strengthening democracy in cities, held on the margins of the 92nd Winter Meeting of the US Conference of Mayors, and under the auspices of the Strong Cities Transatlantic Dialogue Initiative.

Where & When: 18 January 2024, Washington, D.C., USA  

Partner: German Marshall Fund

Cities Represented:

• Germany: Weissenfels, Weisswasser
• Slovakia: Bardejov
• Ukraine: Lviv
• United Kingdom: Greater Manchester
• United States: Highland Park (Illinois); Kinston (North Carolina); Los Angeles (California)

Key Takeaways  

For Mayors & Cities:  

• Prioritising engagement and inclusivity: Speakers emphasised how mayors need to take steps to engage all parts of their cities, “making space for the voices for all residents to be heard” as they work to counter rising levels of hate and polarisation in their communities.
• Promoting harmony and leading with love and by example: Participants agreed that mayors need to promote hope and harmony, particularly in times of crisis, as that is when most people feel isolated. Local leaders should be active listeners, use what they have heard, learn to say “let’s move away together” and look for opportunities to gather and encourage dialogue between residents from different communities across the city. 
• Prioritising the resourcing, support for and networking of cities to maintain social cohesion and mitigate the impact of global crises on local communities.

Additional Resources 

• A Guide for Mayors: Preventing and Responding to Hate, Extremism and Polarisation, Strong Cities Network
• A Guide for Cities: Preventing Hate, Extremism and Polarisation, Strong Cities Network
• Cities Fortifying Democracy, German Marshall Fund (GMF) Cities
• Global Crises, Local Impacts: Threats to Social Cohesion & How Cities Can Respond, 19 December 2023 (Event Report), Strong Cities Network
• Navigating Local Impacts of Global Crises: Ten Considerations for Mayors and Cities – Lessons from the Israel-Gaza Crisis, 13 December 2023, Strong Cities Network

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