About Us

Hate is on the rise. Racism, far-right nationalism, anti-Semitism, tribalism, and other forms of hate are growing in places where many never imagined they would be. The world needs a much more aggressive and clear-eyed approach to this reality or it could sweep us away.  

Widen the Circle works to combat prejudice by fostering a shared understanding of the past. We seek to widen the circle of respect, reconciliation, and understanding, particularly in places where there is a history of extreme persecution of one group by another. 

Our approach starts with individuals and groups who have themselves worked at the ground-level in their communities to fight prejudice and to confront the history that allowed prejudice to grow. We shine a light on those people, then add our capabilities and network to amplify their work in order to combat hate—in Germany, in the U.S., and beyond. 

A nonprofit founded in 2019 and supported by the Obermayer Foundation, Widen the Circle currently focuses its work in three areas: the Obermayer Awards, the Widen the Circle Network, and International Bridge-Building.

OBERMAYER AWARDS

For two decades, the Obermayer Awards have honored people and organizations in Germany that have worked creatively and selflessly to raise awareness of Jewish history and culture in their communities, and to fight the rise of hate, prejudice, and anti-Semitism. Award recipients have included teachers and engineers, publishers and judges, artists and bankers, lawyers and business executives, and they come from every corner of the country. They have worked toward real reconciliation in their own communities, forging meaningful relationships with former residents and their descendants while also making it possible to teach the lessons of history to new generations.

The awards are held each January in the Berlin Parliament, marking the Parliament’s annual observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. 

The Widen the Circle Network is a platform for sharing ideas, skills, and new ways to take action for people engaged in remembrance projects and using remembrance to fight modern prejudice in Germany.

The Network takes advantage of the vast knowledge and experience of Obermayer Award recipients, connecting them with others engaged in similar work. One focus is to encourage and empower younger generations interested in pursuing remembrance and anti-prejudice projects.

The Widen the Circle Network is active year-round and features:

• The Forum, a multi-day in-person learning and sharing event in Berlin each winter

• The Summer Forum, a series of online presentations, workshops, and sharing sessions

• Monthly online gatherings for members

• Connection-building, between Network members and practitioners, experts, thought leaders, and potential allies

• The Widen the Circle Network seeks to take advantage of the vast knowledge and experience of Obermayer Award winners, allowing them to share ideas and approaches with others pursuing similar work. A particular goal is to inspire and empower younger generations interested in remembrance work and fighting modern prejudice.

Widen the Circle builds bridges between educators and activists in the U.S. and Germany to share tactics and strategy, and with thought leaders on both sides of the Atlantic to engage with and support this work. Activists in both the U.S. and Germany use the power of local history to combat racism and prejudice, as well as deal with the historic legacies of injustice. They often face similar challenges but use different approaches. International Bridge-Building consists of two components: The Visiting Program and Learning and Dialogue.

The Visiting Program: Thought leaders from the U.S. come to Germany to engage in a powerful weeklong agenda that enables participants to look at modern issues in new ways. They experience first-hand Germany’s vibrant remembrance culture, which serves as a foundation for combating bigotry today. Participants interact with Widen the Circle Network members and attend the Obermayer Awards ceremony at parliament. Alumni help Widen the Circle move forward with our work in the U.S. while also serving as advisors to members of our German network.

Learning and Dialogue: In 2020, Widen the Circle started a series of virtual conversations. They consisted of both public events and private dialogue between Germans and Americans who focus attention on the enduring legacies of racism and discrimination in local communities. The goal of these conversations is to shine a light on this vital work and increase its impact by enabling educators and activists on both sides of the Atlantic to learn from one another. They represent a starting point as we focus on building stronger connections in effective ways. When the pandemic is over, we plan to bring German participants to the U.S. for an immersive learning experience in the Deep South.