Toggle navigation menu.

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

Category
Country
Issue
Date
Filter Topics Open Close
In the News

Bipartisan House members push Biden to allow Poland ...

Oct 30, 2024

In the News

US Weighs NATO Ally’s Offer To Shoot Down Russ...

Nov 01, 2024

screen-reader-text
In the News

Bipartisan report urges rethink of America’s Russia ...

Sep 28, 2024

screen-reader-text
In the News

Wilson Talks Russia Strategy

Oct 02, 2024

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

Chairman Wilson Issues Statement on Government Raids...

Oct 25, 2024

WASHINGTON—Today, US Helsinki Commission Chairman Joe Wilson (SC-02), issued the following statement regarding the government raids on the homes of the two Tbilisi, Georgia-based researchers with the US-based Atlantic Council: “It is with much dismay and concern that I have learned about the government raids on the homes of Eto Buziashvili and Sopo Gelava. They are […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

NEW REPORT—Spotlight on the Shadow War: Inside Russi...

Dec 12, 2024

WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. Helsinki Commission staff published a new report entitled, “Spotlight on the Shadow War: Inside Russia’s Attacks on NATO Territory.” Since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian sabotage campaigns across North America and Europe have accelerated. Calculated campaigns of hybrid warfare show that Russia’s antagonistic foreign policy knows no bounds. In […]

screen-reader-text
Publications

Spotlight on the Shadow War: Inside Russia’s A...

Dec 12, 2024

Executive Summary: Since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian sabotage campaigns across North America and Europe have accelerated. Calculated campaigns of hybrid warfare show that Russia’s antagonistic foreign policy knows no bounds. In conjunction with its war in Ukraine, Russia is simultaneously executing a shadow war on NATO to destabilize, distress, and […]

screen-reader-text
Statements

Chairman Wilson on the 30th Anniversary of the Budap...

Dec 05, 2024

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02) issued the following statement on the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Budapest Memorandum: “Thirty years ago, Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia signed the Budapest Memorandum, denuclearizing Ukraine in exchange for ‘security assurances.’ This agreement was signed under the pretense of […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

HEARING – The Role of Belarus in Russia’s Crimes

Dec 05, 2024

Rayburn House Office Building 2118 Stream live here   Under the 30-year dictatorship of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Belarus has become one of the most isolated and dangerous countries in Europe. Lukashenka and his regime have destroyed and uprooted many lives—jailing over a thousand political prisoners in horrific conditions, blatantly falsifying elections, and engaging in mass repressions […]

screen-reader-text
Hearings

The Role of Belarus in Russia’s Crimes

Dec 05, 2024

Under the 30-year dictatorship of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, Belarus has become one of the most isolated and dangerous countries in Europe. Lukashenka and his regime have destroyed and uprooted many lives—jailing over a thousand political prisoners in horrific conditions, blatantly falsifying elections, and engaging in mass repressions leading to an exodus of civil society from the […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

Chairman Wilson and Ranking Member Cohen Condemn Rus...

Dec 05, 2024

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02) and Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09) issued the following statement condemning Russia’s malign interference in the Romanian presidential election, the second round of which is scheduled to take place Sunday, December 8th: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s malign interference in the Romanian election. Romania is an exemplary U.S. […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

Chairman Wilson Calls for Sanctions Against Georgian...

Dec 04, 2024

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02) issued the following statement in response to the de-facto Georgian government’s crackdown against Georgian activists, protestors, and members of the opposition: “The de-facto Georgian government has shed all pretense of democracy and has now started arresting innocent activists and peaceful members of the opposition in their […]

screen-reader-text
In the News

Helsinki Commission: Georgian Authorities Must Face ...

Dec 04, 2024

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

Co-Chair Cardin, Ranking Member Wicker, Senator Corn...

Dec 03, 2024

“We strongly condemn the violence unleashed against peaceful protesters,” said the members, adding that “tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons, beatings, and mass arrests have no place on the streets of Tbilisi.” WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Helsinki Commission Co-Chair Senator Ben Cardin (MD), Ranking Member Roger Wicker (MS), and Senator John Cornyn (TX) issued a statement standing with the people of Georgia as […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

Chairman Wilson and Ranking Member Cohen Express The...

Nov 29, 2024

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02) and Ranking Member Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09) issued the following statement expressing their solidarity with the Georgian people as they continue to peacefully protest to save their democracy and European future in the face of violent government repression: “On Thursday, Georgians took to the streets in Tbilisi […]

screen-reader-text
Press Releases

HEARING – 1000 Days of Russia’s War on Ukraine

Nov 19, 2024

Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2358-A Stream live here On November 19, one thousand days will have passed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s war, rooted in its centuries-long history of violent imperialism, has brought terror and tragedy to Ukrainian soil. Ukrainians have fought courageously for their survival and the freedom and […]

screen-reader-text
Hearings

1000 Days of Russia’s War on Ukraine

Nov 19, 2024

On November 19, one thousand days will have passed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s war, rooted in its centuries-long history of violent imperialism, has brought terror and tragedy to Ukrainian soil. Ukrainians have fought courageously for their survival and the freedom and independence of their country while Russian forces have engaged […]

screen-reader-text