Widen the Circle Network

The Widen the Circle Network brings together people from across Germany who focus on history as a means to preserve memory; combat antisemitism, racism, xenophobia, and other forms of bigotry; and support democratic values. The network provides a platform for active dialogue among people engaged in this work. New projects, ideas, and collaborations are constantly emerging from this lively community.

The network was formed in 2019 with the idea of increasing the impact of Obermayer Award winners. These award winners, and remembrance activists in general, often worked locally and without connections to people with similar goals and facing similar challenges in other areas of the country. 

Today, the network connects 400 individuals and small organizations across Germany who are involved in remembrance work. Members share details about their work and support each other with ideas, inspiration, and strategy. They discuss concerns such as building community involvement, navigating political opposition, overcoming funding challenges, reaching young people, and other key topics. 

The network features monthly online meetings, based on the German concept of a “regulars table” (Stammtisch) in which participants meet informally to discuss a topic of interest.

Currently, the Network organizes three additional major events each year:

Summer Forum 

Network members meet in Berlin each June for a three-day conference and workshop. The Summer Forum is, in part, held in conjunction with Widen the Circle’s Berlin Fellowship, which brings American remembrance activists working on topics such as the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow to Germany. Summer Forum participants share information on projects, meet Berlin Fellows and hear about American projects, participate in workshops and seminars, and make new connections. The Summer Forum is a time when informal conversations have often led to new collaborations among participants, including between Germans and Americans. 

Winter Forum 

The Winter Forum is an online conference and series of learning, sharing, and discussion sessions held each January. It typically takes place around the time of the Obermayer Awards ceremony, and participants have an opportunity to meet (virtually) the newest award winners. 

Fall Symposium and Site Visit 

The Fall Symposium focuses on the work of a Network member and is held at a site chosen by that member. Participants learn from that member and dive into the history of the place they are visiting. Recent fall events have been hosted by Citizens for the Badehaus, based at the former Föhrenwald displaced persons camp (2024); and Christoph Pies and Friends of the Laufersweiler Synagogue (2023), with a theme focusing on the history of rural Jews in the area and in Germany as a whole.