Dilemma in Immigration: Balancing Between Everyday Experiences and Alarmist Perspectives

Wuppertal, a city with a diverse population, is set to address the emotionally charged and politically polarized debate on migration with a panel discussion on migration and integration. The event, part of a new series aimed at providing impetus for a fact-based, sovereign, and forward-looking approach to migration-related issues, is open to the public and aims to engage a diverse audience in the discussion on these important issues.

The panel, featuring experts from various fields, including academia, business, local government, media, and policy-making, will be moderated by Lothar Leuschen, Editor-in-Chief of the Westdeutsche Zeitung. Notable participants include Suna Lenz, Head of the Department of Immigration and Integration, City of Wuppertal, Miriam Weilbrenner, Specialist Advisor for Multilingualism, Anti-Discrimination Education, and Migration Society Opening Processes in the Ministry for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Refugees and Integration NRW, and Vera Bökenbrink, CEO of Stahlwille Eduard Wille GmbH & Co. KG.

The discussion will be preceded by an introductory talk from Prof. Dr. Andreas Zick, Director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Conflict and Violence Research at the University of Bielefeld. Dr. Zick will delve into the persistence of migration in societal discourse, the drivers of polarization, and the roles of institutions, politics, and media.

With nearly half the population in Wuppertal having an international background and two out of three children under six having family roots in other countries, the issue of migration is a hotly debated topic in the city. The panel discussion is intended to broaden perspectives on these issues and foster constructive dialogue, as the city administration seeks to address the debate's emotional and political polarization.

The panel discussion on migration and integration in Wuppertal is part of the administration's efforts to take a fact-based, sovereign, and forward-looking approach to migration-related issues. The event is a significant step towards promoting understanding and fostering integration within the city's diverse community.

Dilemma in Immigration: Balancing Between Everyday Experiences and Alarmist Perspectives