We Belong Lunch Talk: Staying politically engaged despite setbacks
We will be speaking with Ana-Maria Trăsnea about her time serving the State of Berlin and the Bundestag. In 2021, she became the youngest State Secretary in Berlin's history. Following the repeat elections in Berlin and the subsequent formation of a new Senate, she moved into the Bundestag. There, she made history again as the first woman to represent Treptow-Köpenick in the federal parliament. These are two achievements that no one can take away from her—not even the 2024 repeat election in Berlin, which resulted in the loss of her parliamentary seat.
We want to discuss how to handle such political setbacks and what it means to keep going. Where do you find the strength after an election defeat, and why is it important to stay the course? What empowers you to continue in politics? Ana-Maria herself leads by example: in March 2024, she was elected co-chair of the SPD Women in Berlin and is aiming to return to the Bundestag in 2025.
Please feel free to bring your own questions to the discussion. We look forward to discussing these important topics across party lines.
The We Belong Lunch Talk also serves as a networking opportunity, providing a chance to connect and engage with other women in the network.
Registration
Registration is open until April 23, 2024: https://eveeno.com/271387451
More about the We Belong network
The fact is that women with a migration background are underrepresented at all levels of politics. As a result, the perspectives, lived realities, and needs of this group are missing from political discourse. We want to change that, and with the "We Belong" network, we are creating a space to do so. Our mission:
- A nationwide, non-partisan network that provides a safer space for women with a migration background, BIPoC, or similar lived experiences to find empowerment and exchange knowledge and experience in their political work.
- Another goal is to benefit from the experiences of other politically active women and to share ideas and best practices on how to increase the representation of women with a migration background at the local level and in parliaments.
- Our interactive formats provide space for exchange and networking.
Who is this network for?
Our offerings are aimed at women with a migration background or similar positionings (BIPoC, migrant background, etc.) who are involved in politics. By women, we mean all individuals who identify as women. We are open to anyone who sees themselves as part of our target group, shares our understanding, and is interested in getting to know the network.
Mission Statement of We Belong - Network for Women with a Migration Background in Politics
Women with a migration background in politics have experiences that men and members of the majority society do not. There is a need for spaces where people can exchange ideas without fear of competition or power games. Community, empowerment, safer space: the network is intended to be a place of respect and unbiased, non-partisan solidarity and appreciation. We do not tolerate sexism, racism, or any other forms of discrimination. The event is held as part of the Helene Weber-Kolleg (HWK), the first nationwide, non-partisan platform for women in local politics.
More about the Helene Weber-Kolleg
Women in all their diversity are underrepresented in politics: especially in parliaments and local councils. The goal of the Helene Weber-Kolleg (HWK) is to change that: As the first nationwide, non-partisan platform for local female politicians, it offers various exchange and networking formats as well as information to support women in entering and advancing in politics. A key focus is on an intersectional perspective. The specific hurdles faced by women with a migration background and how to overcome them were highlighted during the HWK mentoring program "My background? I want to be in the foreground" for women with a migration background in politics (2019 to 2021). The "We Belong — Network for Women with a Migration Background in Politics" emerged from this program. It is funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and implemented by EAF Berlin.
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