13th Day of Diversity in Jena
On 19.05.2026, Jena's Holzmarkt will once again become a meeting place for diversity from 14:00 to 18:00. Under the motto "Together as one", the city's anti-discrimination office and the Intercultural Opening Office of the AWO Regionalverband Mitte-West-Thüringen e.V. with the support of the Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft Jena mbH and 25 other sponsors and organizations invite you to the day of action. In their day-to-day work, all stakeholders are committed to promoting diversity, breaking down barriers and raising the profile of this issue in society as a whole.
Above all, our stage will once again be colorful and varied and diversity will come alive.
With us are:
- DJ Marko Schlöffel
- Punk rock and crossover by the inclusive band HandyCap, a project of AndersGleich e.V
- a fusion of new wave and synthesizer pop by the duo iUll
- Pure joy of movement and life with the inclusive dance group from Tanzschule Näder
- Vocal-instrumental ensemble "Diamant" from MIG Jena e.V.
- Singer and songwriter Ani Motz with a lot of feeling in her voice
Hands-on activities
Numerous hands-on activities around the Holzmarkt invite you to take a very practical look at diversity in our urban society, dimensions of diversity, privileges, but also disadvantages. Get into conversation with the many committed people on site and try things out for yourself, for example:
- Creative offerings with attitude: designing crosses without hooks, macramé, bookmarks, puzzle pieces and travel stones
- A different take on everything: simulation glasses, age suit, long cane, hearing memory, identity swap
- Privilege check with the Tower of Inequality or the Flower of Power
- Who comes together how and where in Jena? As a pin on the world map, through shared experiences in formative life situations or while cooking together?
- Especially for children and young people: How does a test of strength work with respect and fairness?
- Knowledge check made easy: diversity memory, wheel of fortune, naturalization quiz or guessing languages
- Topics that unite: Food and globalization, skating in Afghanistan, energy and its influence on our coexistence
The event will be opened at 2 p.m. by Johannes Schleußner, Head of the Department for Education, Youth, Culture and Sport. Moderator Katja Eberhardt will again lead through the afternoon.
Background:
The occasion for the event is Diversity Day, which was launched by the Diversity Charter. The Diversity Charter promotes the recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in the world of work. 5,500 companies and institutions have signed the Diversity Charter to date and are committed to an appreciative and unprejudiced working environment. Numerous institutions in Jena have also signed the Diversity Charter, including the Economic Development Agency and Jena City Council.
For Diversity Day on 19.05.2026, organizations throughout Germany will once again be carrying out a wide range of activities - with more and more taking place every year. In Jena, Diversity Day focuses on people in their diverse characteristics and their active participation beyond the world of work.
More information about Diversity Day in Jena and the participants can be found on the website www.tagdervielfalt.de and on social media under the hashtags #gemeinsameinganzes and #tagdervielfaltjena.