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Programme focus: Communities of Hope

«Zusammensein. Plädoyer für eine Gesellschaft der Gegenseitigkeit»
Hadija Haruna-Oelker

Covid Safe SpaceReading

Hadija Haruna-Oelker’s book is a compassionate plea for a society in which everyone can live self-determined lives. For those who are unable to attend the reading in person, the event will be streamed via Zoom.

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  • Thu 16/0419:30–21:30

    Nordflügel

In her book, political scientist and journalist Hadija Haruna-Oelker analyses social divisions, anti-democratic movements and political developments that reinforce divisions. Copyright: Katarina Ivanisevic
  • Hybrid event
  • Relaxed Setting
  • Translation in DSGS

Live stream via Zoom

Click this link to access the live stream of the reading ‘Zusammensein. Plädoyer für eine Gesellschaft der Gegenseitigkeit’ via Zoom. The stream will begin at 8 pm when the event starts.

Ten years ago, Hadija Haruna-Oelker became the mother of a disabled child. Since then, she has encountered barriers, a misunderstanding of inclusion, and a school system that prevents it. In her book, ‘Zusammensein’ (english: Being Together), the political scientist and journalist analyzes social divisions, anti-democratic movements, and political developments that reinforce separations. As an ally of her disabled son, Hadija Haruna-Oelker shows how we can learn from children, empower them, and support them when society fails to change for the better. In doing so, she questions patterns of thought and language from a Black, intersectional perspective.

The reading, as part of the Communities of Hope programme focus, compassionately asks questions of social justice: What would a society look like in which no one is excluded? Who decides on participation? And why is the exclusion of disabled people not overcome?

Schedule
7:30 pm Relaxed entrance
8:00 pm Reading (including a 15-minute break after max. 60 minutes)
9:30 pm End of the reading

Covid-safer event

All events in the programme focus Communities of Hope take place as Covid-safer events. Therefore, testing and masks are mandatory for this event. Tests and masks will be provided on site. You can find more information here.

Information on accessibility and language 

  • Stepless access

  • Language: in German spoken language

  • Translation into DSGS: The reading will be interpreted into Swiss German Sign Language (DSGS) by Kristina Janković together with Tamara Bangerter.

  • Relaxed Event: Audience members are welcome to make noises, move, stim and leave the space and come back at any time.

  • Livestream: For those who cannot attend in person, the event will be streamed on Zoom. The link for the Zoom broadcast will be published here on the day of the event at the latest. Participation on Zoom is free of charge.

  • Reading with:
    Hadija Haruna-Oelker
    Moderator:
    Noa Winter
    Deaf interpreters:
    Kristina Janković
    Sign language interpreter:
    Tamara Bangerter

  • Political scientist Hadija Haruna-Oelker lives and works as an author, editor, and moderator in Frankfurt am Main. She works mainly for Hessischer Rundfunk, and also hosts the Römerberg Talks in Frankfurt and the feminist press conference of the Heinrich Böll Foundation. She writes a monthly column for the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper. Together with Max Czollek, she also hosts the remembrance podcast ‘Trauer & Turnschuh’ (english: Mourning & Sneakers). Her work focuses on youth and social issues, racism and diversity research. Together with Kübra Gümüşay and Uda Strätling, she translated Amanda Gorman's ‘The Hill We Climb.’ In early 2022, her personal non-fiction book ‘Die Schönheit der Differenz – Miteinander anders denken’ (english: The Beauty of Difference – Thinking Differently Together) was published and nominated for the Leipzig Book Fair Prize. In 2024, ‘Zusammensein. Plädoyer für eine Gesellschaft der Gegenseitigkeit’ (english: Being Together: A Plea for a Society of Mutuality) was published, and in fall 2025, ‘Alles auf Anfang – Auf der Suche nach einer neuen Erinnerungskultur’ (english: Back to Square One: In Search of a New Culture of Remembrance). She is the recipient of various media awards, such as the ARD Radio Prize Kurt Magnus 2015 and the Medienspiegel Special Prize for Transparent Journalism 2021. She is also a member of the journalists’ association ‘Neue Deutsche Medienmacher*innen (NDM)’ (english: New German Media Makers) and the ‘Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland (ISD)’ (english: Initiative Black People in Germany).

  • The Communities of Hope programme is supported by the Ernst Göhner Foundation, and the translation into DSGS is supported by the Béatrice Ederer-Weber Foundation.

Gessnerallee programme focus 2025/26

From 9 to 18 April, the programme focus ‘Communities of Hope’ at Gessnerallee invites you to explore practices of solidarity and hopeful strategies for community building, and to celebrate queer aesthetics. All events will take place in a Covid-safer format.

«Belonging Space»
Stephanie Müller & Theres Indermaur
09/04 – 18/04
Installation, Resting space

«MASTEKTOMIE. Ein bittersüsses Abschiedslied»
CHICKS* freies performancekollektiv
09/04, 10/04
Performance

«Ich möchte nicht die perfekte Geschichte schreiben»
Mani Owzar
11/04
Reading

«Anouchka Gwen»
11/04
Concert

«Ich möchte nicht die perfekte Geschichte schreiben»-
Mani Owzar
12/04
Writing workshop

«Zusammensein. Plädoyer für eine Gesellschaft der Gegenseitigkeit»
Hadija Haruna-Oelker
16/04
Reading

«JUICE»
River Roux
17/04, 18/04
Performance

More Shows

To the programme overview