Awards for integration will be presented to "Mittendrin in Hörde", Nordstadtblogger, and Nordstadtliga in 2023.
In the vibrant city of Dortmund, several impactful projects have been recognised for their significant contributions towards social integration, intercultural dialogue, and community building. The 2023 Integration Award, organised by MIA-DO Kommunales Integrationszentrum Dortmund and the Integration Council of the city, aimed to celebrate innovative and effective integration efforts at the local level.
One of the honoured projects, "Front and Center in the Crowd - Counseling and Meeting Center," focuses on providing a dedicated space for counseling and meeting to support social integration. Its key objective is to offer accessible guidance and facilitate community connections within diverse urban settings. The project connects people of different origins and religious backgrounds, and it also aims to prevent isolation in old age, improve educational opportunities for socially disadvantaged children and youth, and support and accompany people with and without a migration background in participating in social life.
Another notable project, the "North City League," is a community sports initiative designed to bring together residents from various backgrounds in Dortmund’s northern city districts. Beyond the league operations, the project includes special tournaments, vacation offers, the "North City League Queens" for girls, and cooperations with schools and trips to BVB games. The project is supported by the AWO Dortmund district and promotes opportunities for children and young people from Dortmund's North City.
The "Redaktion in Diversity - for more diversity in journalism" project, launched by Nordstadtblogger in cooperation with Auslandsgesellschaft.de, focuses on media and editorial work that promotes diversity and inclusion. The project seeks to highlight different cultural perspectives and encourage inclusive public discourse through diverse editorial content.
The Jewish Cultural Community of Dortmund e.V. won the 2023 Integration Award for their project "Front and Center in the Crowd - Counseling and Meeting Center." The "North City Bloggers" project also received an Integration Award in 2023.
The winners were announced at a ceremony attended by Mayor Norbert Schilff, Bjoern Wiggers, the board representative of Sparkasse Dortmund, and Berna Celebi, the deputy chairperson of the Integration Council Dortmund. Edin Terzic, a notable figure in Dortmund, expressed pride in the growth and development happening in the North City.
Moreover, Hassan Adzaj, chairman of Romano Than e.V., received the honorary award of the jury for his long-standing commitment to the Roma and Rom*nja community in Dortmund. The organization supports families with office visits, translations, and acute needs, promotes the educational situation of children and young people, and organizes the cultural festival Djelem Djelem.
The "Right in the middle of the crowd" project, focusing on social and intercultural cohesion, won the Otto Brenner Prize for critical journalism. These projects reflect the city's commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community, where everyone feels welcome and valued.
While this article provides an overview of the 2023 Integration Award winners and their projects, more detailed or updated information about these exact projects can be found in official Dortmund city or integration award publications.
The Jewish Cultural Community of Dortmund e.V.'s project, "Front and Center in the Crowd - Counseling and Meeting Center," received the 2023 Integration Award and focuses on promoting social integration by offering accessible guidance and facilitating community connections within diverse urban settings, home-and-garden to people of different origins and religious backgrounds. The North City Bloggers, another award recipient, focuses on media and editorial work that promotes diversity and inclusion, home-and-garden contributing to a more diverse and inclusive community in the lifestyle of Dortmund.
