Wednesday February 17th, 2016

In his opening remarks Dr. Peter Kurz, Lord Mayor of Mannheim, acknowledges that in Mannheim for the first time the topic of imigration was the main focus of the Urban Thinkers Campus. In cities, and in the municipal administration alike, he sees a lot of potential for solving the issues caused by the current refugee influx.“To invite local refugees to the Urban Thinkers Campus was not only the logical thing to do, but it was also important to let them take part in it”, Dr. Kurz said in his remarks. The performance „Mannheim Arrival“ brings the stories of their lives, their journey, and subsequent arrival in Germany onto the stage during the opening ceremony of the UTC. “What is identity? What is home? And how do we shape our homeland?” Peter Kurz is also hoping to find these answers during the UTC in Mannheim and he wishes the attendees to experience a conference full of inspiring results.

Foto: Andreas Henn