On May 21, 2026, the WelcomeCenter Saxony-Anhalt hosted an online seminar titled “Dealing with Prejudice and Everyday Racism.” The goal was to raise awareness among full-time and volunteer staff working in the field of migration about discriminatory structures in everyday life and to engage in a discussion about possible courses of action. With 30 participants, the event was very well attended.
The seminar was led by leadership and diversity trainer Gabriele Maria Gerlach, who introduced the topic with in-depth theoretical insights. The focus was on key questions such as: Where does everyday racism begin? How do prejudices arise? And what ways are there to consciously question and break down these prejudices? In addition, typical dilemma situations encountered when working with immigrants were examined, and possible courses of action were presented.
Following the keynote presentation, participants worked in small groups. Among other things, they discussed how to structure their own professional work to avoid unintentional discrimination. The discussion addressed both linguistic sensitivity and structural challenges in everyday work.
This was followed by an open discussion in which participants shared their experiences. Many participants emphasized how valuable this space for exchange and self-reflection was—especially in a field of work characterized by cultural diversity and complex situations.
The seminar clearly demonstrated how important ongoing professional development and a conscious examination of one’s own thought patterns are for migration work that is sensitive to discrimination.
