Strengthening Our Democracies Through Inclusive Leadership: Transatlantic Inclusive Leaders Network Workshop 2018

By Dr. Mischa Thompson, Senior Policy Advisor

“I am proud of my country and the human rights and values it stands for. I fight so that these values can be for all.”

– Anina Ciuciu, France’s first Romani Candidate for Senate, TILN 2018

From March 4-10, 2018, 32 young leaders representing 26 countries across Europe and the United States participated in the seventh annual Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Network (TILN) workshop held in Brussels, Belgium. Hosted by the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) in partnership with the U.S. Helsinki Commission, U.S. State Department, and other stakeholders, TILN brought leaders together to learn from one another, expand their leadership skills, and offer a more inclusive vision for the world. As part of the workshop, TILN leaders joined the German Marshall Fund’s Brussels Forum Young Professionals Summit and engaged with senior officials of the U.S. and European public and private sector on issues ranging from tariffs and trade to Russia and counterterrorism.

The 2018 cohort focused on strategies to strengthen democracies amid increasing political polarization and to maintain a strong voice during times of transition. As elected officials and civil society leaders under the age of 35, TILN participants stressed the importance of creating spaces for constructive dialogue and exchange across generations, political parties, and diverse sectors of society as key to a prosperous transatlantic future.

In the weeks following the workshop, previous TILN alumni led projects in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, and Bosnia. These initiatives focused on developing national networks of young leaders to encourage more inclusive decision-making in increasingly diverse populations.

The Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Network (TILN) “inspires, informs, and connects diverse young leaders to excel in elected office and other leadership roles, advance inclusive policies, and engage with transatlantic policymakers.” Participants are from diverse U.S. and European communities, including the Balkans, with a proven commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion best practices in their policymaking and society.

For more information on TILN, please see the Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Network 2018 Workshop Report.

TILN 2018 Participants

Raumesh Akbari | United States | Representative, State of Tennessee General Assembly

András Büchler | Hungary | Head of Public Relations, Libri Publishing Group

René Gögge | Germany | Member of State Parliament, Hamburg

Abderrahmane Amajou | Italy | Coordinator, Slow Food International

Godfrey Chimbganda | Ireland | Chairman, Youth Platform Project Ireland

Natalia Sofia Guala Beathyate | Spain | International Programs Officer, Spanish National Organization of the Blind (ONCE)

Eugen Balin | Germany | Attorney, Anwaltskanzlei Balin Legal

Anina Ciuciu | France | Board Member, La Voix des Rroms

Saida Hamouyehy | Italy | Communication Manager, Convergence Onlus

Abdelkarim Bellafkih | Belgium | President, Federation of Moroccan Organizations

Dave Ensberg | Netherlands | Chairman of the Executive Board, Foundation Biezonderwijs

Danjel Hyseni | Albania | Youth Coordinator/Policy Advisor, Roma Active Albania

Wesley Bellamy | United States | Council Member, City Council of Charlottesville, Virginia

Alisa Flemming | United Kingdom | Councillor, Croydon Borough Council

Filiz Keküllüoglu | Germany | Policy Officer & Head of Division of Integration, Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family in Berlin

Davit Khazhakyan | Armenia | Member of City Council, Municipality of Yerevan

Eduard Mihalas | Moldova | Program Analyst on Population and Development, United Nations Population Fund

Pazilaiti Simayijiang | Finland | Vice Chair, Finish Feminist Party

Elvira Kovács | Serbia | Member of Parliament, National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia

Vasilena Mitsiadi | Greece | Mechanical Engineer, Municipality of Trikala

Yasmine Taeb | United States | Legislative Director for Human Rights & Civil Liberties, Friends Committee on National Legislation; Committeewoman, Democratic National Committee

Asllan Llunji | Montenegro | Advisor to the Mayor, Municipality of Ulcinj

Branislav Nesovic | Kosovo | Associate Political Affairs Officer, United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo

Rebecca ThompsonUnited StatesVice President, Deliver Strategies

Nvard Margaryan | Armenia | President, PINK Armenia

Ruslana Panukhnyk | Ukraine | Executive Director, KyivPride

Robert Uribe | United States | Mayor of Douglas, Arizona

Maryam Mejdi | France | Financial Analyst, Meridiam

Sanaa Saitouli | France | Deputy Mayor of Cergy

Sarah Whitehead | United Kingdom | Founder & Director, Community Pride CIC

Tarik Mete | Austria | Deputy Head of Department, Social Insurance Institution of Salzburg

Antonín Seidel | Czech Republic | City Counselor, Kralupy nad Vltavou