Community
For me, community means more than just contacts: it's about belonging, resilience and mutual support.
Both online and offline, I open up spaces in which trust is created, diversity becomes visible and collective empowerment can come to life.
At a glance
Opening spaces where belonging & resilience can be experienced, with easy access
Diversity and trust stay at the center: encounters and exchange take place on equal footing
From local gatherings to workshops, collective retreats and community festivals
Guiding star: building sustainable structures, strengthening networks, sharing resources
For me, there is nothing more powerful than people coming together. It is something special even without a large supporting program, but with a common purpose it becomes even stronger. I see community work as the answer to loneliness and anonymity, especially in the big city. Networks provide support in crises, create exchange in everyday life and make us stronger together than alone.
Although I tend to be an introvert myself, I am inspired by the energy that arises when people connect and share. For me, community is not just a social network, but a space of liveliness, belonging and mutual support.
Approach
African Futures, Cologne
Principles
For me, community means taking responsibility: locally and internationally, online and offline.
I bring my skills to the collective by opening up spaces, organizing gatherings and developing formats that promote encounters and exchange. In doing so, I pay attention to trust, safe spaces and sustainable structures. It is important to me that not only experiences are created, but also lasting connections: People should be able to make contacts, expand networks and benefit from each other.
In addition to my professional work, I am also a co-founder and volunteer in the Upward Kollektiv, an initiative of young professionals in Cologne. We have already received funding, implemented projects and used resources in such a way that their value flows back into the community beyond the actual funding.
Upward Collektive Logo
Spring Equinox by Upward Collective, Cologne
My community work is diverse and ranges from concerts and cultural encounters to dialog spaces, workshops, retreats or even very simple gatherings such as picnics in the park.
The decisive factor for me is not the format itself, but the effect: connecting people with each other, facilitating exchange and creating shared memories. A series of photos on this page gives an insight into this range.
Formats
Christmas Market by Upward, Cologne
Climate Festival with Upward, Cologne
Various Upward Collective Flyer
Mission
My vision for community work is to strengthen networks and build long-term structures that are supported by people themselves: open, accessible and resilient like open source systems. I am interested in which forms of community can endure and develop over time.
In the long term, I want to promote spaces in which belonging, resilience and collective empowerment become tangible. My aim is not for everyone to think the same way, but for us to see each other with respect and openness.
Artists, activists, cities, cultural institutions and international networks are just as valuable partners for this work as any person who contributes resources, ideas and commitment.
