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Intergration Learning Exchange

Cities march to their own (integration) tune!

Duisburg, Germany

Cities of Migration profiles innovative ways in which today’s cities are dealing with rapid urbanization, global migration and the challenges of good immigrant integration. Tomorrow’s prosperous cities recognize immigration as an opportunity to access skills, recruit talent and compete globally. With the vision and good sense to know that success takes time, they use smart practices and strategic planning to ensure immigrants are welcomed and integrated into the life of the city.

In recent weeks Switzerland has voted in favour of a binding referendum to ban the building of any ‘more’ minarets on mosques in Switzerland. There are currently four minarets in Switzerland. The Muslim population is approximately four percent.

Denmark and other EU countries have announced cash incentives to entice immigrants who “can’t” or “won’t assimilate” to return to their homelands (although how they intend to judge this status remains unclear).

However, notwithstanding national policies and sentiment, cities seem to march to their own tune. Some of our Good Ideas come from places that may surprise you.  In the Canton of Zurich for example, has mandated a Quality in Multi-ethnic Schools program (QUIMS) to prevent newcomer children from being disadvantaged.  For example, in Chicago innovative banking products help build a new customer base by allowing religious communities to become home owners. Simple solutions include school-based programming for new families in Frankfurt where mothers and children learn language skills together, and a culturally sensitive health promotion campaign in London for communities dealing with high levels of diabetes.

Ironically, we found some great ideas in Denmark:  a women’s leadership network building bridges to immigrant success through mentoring partnerships, and Copenhagen’s environmentally friendly cycling program for its newest citizens.

Other Good Ideas include a community-wide consultation in Duisberg, Germany, that successfully concluded with the building of the beautiful new Marxloh Mosque — with a minaret “no taller” than the local church bell tower. In northern Germany, the city of Rheine has adopted a policy of openness to religious and cultural differences to offset the alienation that intolerance creates –and the community cohesion it disrupts. Open doors means open communities, whether the institutions are secular or religious.

So as we can see, there are alternatives to banning minarets.

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