Closely examined III / Genau besehen III

Encounters between civil society and police are a tense and debated topic – from both civil society and police perspectives. With this in mind, our project seeks to facilitate better communication, develop trust, and nurture greater understanding, finding common ground in the desire for safer communities all around. In the first part, we focus on the situation in Germany. There, we lay an important foundation through biographical story-sharing, field visits to Hamburg and Berlin, and participant-centered dialogue sessions. The second part of the project takes us to the U.S., where we will concentrate on the regional circumstances of Jackson, Mississippi, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to go deeper into the interaction of policing, community, history, and racism. In an international group setting, we will reflect on the past and the present, learn more about social politics, and share personal experiences.

Join us to develop your skills in dialogue through practicing deep listening, self-reflection, discovering commonalities, and appreciating differences.

Criteria for participation

• You either feel connected to a community that shares powerful (hi)stories and the experience of marginalization. That can mean many different things: you’re facilitating dialogues in your community, working for social justice in your neighborhood, being involved artistically in a community, or doing NGO- or memory work
• or you are involved in community policing and/or law enforcement
• you are comfortable communicating in English
• your work and life allow you to fully participate in two immersive 10-day seminars
• you must have a passport—if you do not have one with at least 6 months of remaining validity, you should apply immediately due to processing times

We are aware that international participation may not be possible for undocumented people and people with an uncertain residence status for structural reasons. If your participation is tied to complex visa processes, we would like to support you in the best possible way.

Costs

• The participation fee of 800€ covers both parts of the program in Germany and the US.
• In addition, the participant bears the cost of travel cancellation insurance (Reiserücktrittsversicherunge) and health insurance. These are mandatory for the  part of the program overseas, and we request that you submit proof.
• Educational leave (“Bildungsurlaub”) and CEUs (Continuing Education Units) may be possible.
• Flights, ground transportation, lodging, and meals are included in the participation fee.
• Accommodation in a double room (with a roommate) is included in the participation fee. Choosing to stay in a single room (no roommate) carries an additional out-of-pocket cost.
• The participant must cover any other costs incurred (passport, travel/health insurance, etc.).

If you have any questions about the program, don’t hesitate to contact us via email at april@alluvialcollective.org (US-based applicants) or martin.kaiser@gsi-bevensen.de (Germany-based applicants).

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To apply, please fill out this Google Form.

Application deadline: March 31, 2025

Attention participants from Germany:

For the overseas part of the program, please plan an extra day for the return journey. Due to the time difference, you will arrive in Germany on November 17.

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