Mediator Baden-Württemberg 

We live in a society where much remains hidden beneath the surface. Many desires, fears, and hopes are not visible – and often are not even allowed to be made visible. Yet for that very reason, they keep breaking through again and again. What actually underlies social conflicts is often left unspoken. Instead, superficial catchwords are endlessly repeated. It is close to my heart to give space and presence to what lies beneath the surface – and above all to empower those who are so often overlooked on the surface. Art can open possibilities here that are not accessible in other fields.

Leyla Jagiella is a cultural anthropologist and scholar of religion. For many years, she has been active in civil society and artistic contexts, where academic knowledge about cultural diversity and lines of conflict is translated into practical, community-based work. She has taught at the universities of Marburg, Bayreuth, Tübingen, and Heidelberg. She has worked in various civil society projects on diversity, in particular with queer refugees. For many years, she has developed empowerment formats on sexuality and gender in Muslim and migrant communities. Until the summer of 2024, she was curator of the Jewish-Muslim Cultural Days in Heidelberg.

jagiella.at.neueauftraggeber.de

(Photo © Muslimische Akademie and Sabine Arndt)