Come join us, all you Bridge Builders, and sing in democracy!
We’re celebrating democracy in style with two events during Constitution Week—in Odense and in Copenhagen. Because democracy isn’t just something we have. It’s something we do.
We often talk about democracy as a form of government, a system, or a tradition—something stable and taken for granted. But in reality, democracy only thrives if we make use of it—if we dare to take a stand, speak our minds, and stay engaged in the conversation, even when it’s difficult.
Come and SING FOR DEMOCRACY whenMP Trine Bramsen (S)andMPKatrine Daugaard (LA) performin collaboration with the Music Library in Odense on June 3.
On June 8 in Copenhagen, two former ministers of culture, Jytte Hilden (S) and Bertel Haarder (V), will join us for an afternoon dedicated to communal singing and reflection.Özlem Cekic, Secretary General of Brobyggerne, will lead the event. Through short presentations, songs, and shared reflection, we will focus on a central question:
Democracy requires taking an active stand and personal courage. Democracy is something we do—not just something we have. So what does it take for us, as human beings, to keep democracy alive?
We look forward to an afternoon of fellowship, reflection, beautiful singing, and plenty of conversation about the democratic responsibility we all share.
Odense: Wednesday, June 3, 4:30–5:30 p.m. The Music Library, Østre Stationsvej 15, ground floor, 5000 Odense C. Sign up here.
Copenhagen: Monday, June 8, 4:00–5:30 p.m. KVUC, Vognmagergade 8, 1120 Copenhagen.Sign up here.
The doors open 15 minutes before the program starts. Registration is open, so please sign up now so we know how much coffee to brew.
On Thursday, April 23, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Brobyggerne will holdits general meeting at the Red Cross offices atBlegdamsvej 27, 2100 Copenhagen Ø. Please notethat this year’s general meeting will be held on the second floor in the “Dunant” room.
We therefore invite all members to attend the general meeting.
To make sure there’s enough coffee, please sign up for the general meeting by clicking here.
Agenda for the general meeting
Election of conductor
Selection of rapporteur
The board's report on the association's activities over the past year is presented.
Approval of accounts
Setting of quota
Proposals received
Election to the board and/or alternates
Choosing an auditor
Possibly
Proposals to be discussed under item 6 and nominations for a board position under item 7 must be received by the chair no later than 14 days before the general meeting, in accordance with Article 5.4 of the bylaws. Proposals may be sent tosami@brobyggerne.dk. You can readthe association’s bylaws here.
No later than seven days before the general meeting, we will send out all the material to be discussed at the general meeting via a newsletter. The material will also be available on our website.
Presentation by this year's award winner
As is tradition, we will conclude the general meeting with a presentation by last year’s recipient of the Bent Melchior Award.
This year, we look forward to hearing from Jacob Holdt, a photographer, passionate advocate, and long-time bridge-builder.
About half an hour has been set aside for the presentation, followed by time for questions and discussion.
Greenland dominates the headlines and kitchen table conversations. Many of us are not experts – not even Greenlanders, who find themselves caught up in global interests, security policy, and a president who crosses all boundaries with his allies. There is no doubt about the seriousness of the situation. The threat is real. And in the midst of all this, the country's prime minister repeats again and again that we must stand together in the Commonwealth.
But at Brobyggerne, we have asked ourselves a fundamental question: Do we really know each other well enough to be able to move forward together?
Behind the headlines are real people. People who are all too often reduced to symbols, problems, or political markers. There are many prejudices about Greenlanders in Denmark, and many Greenlanders have experienced racism, pain, inequality, and a lack of understanding.
But who are they as people? What drives them? What are they struggling with—and what are they fighting for?
At a time when Trump is once again threatening the Commonwealth from outside, it is more important than ever that we strengthen our community from within. Not to erase differences, but to understand them better. And to take each other seriously.
That is why Brobyggerne is inviting everyone to a large public event:
People behind the headlines – Greenlandic voices Wednesday, March 4, 7–9 p.m. KVUC, Vognmagergade 8, 1120 Copenhagen K
The event is free of charge. With support from the Jubilee Fund of 1963, we are able to open our doors to everyone, because we want as many people as possible to participate in the conversation.
So please bring your teenage children, grandchildren, a good neighbor, or a colleague along. The conversation is for all generations.
The evening is structured around Brobyggerne's dialogue method with communities of disagreement, where there is time and space for nuances, dilemmas, and different perspectives.
The event consists of three rounds:
• Round 1: Greenlandic votes Leise Johnsen (Director of the Greenlandic House Copenhagen) Lisa Bundgaard Jensen (activist) Aaja Chemnitz (Member of Parliament for IA)
• Round 3: The political level Özlem Cekic in conversation with Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
Although the event is free, registration is required so we know how much coffee to brew ☕
For us, the evening is not about agreeing on everything – but about listening, understanding, and building bridges. Between people, between cultures and experiences. And ultimately between the communities for which we share responsibility.
We really hope you want to join us – and bring others along with you.
The Workers' Museum (Rømersgade 22, 1362 Copenhagen K) 7–9 p.m. Ticket price: DKK 125.
What does it mean to be subjected to torture, and not least to survive torture?
We will try to learn more about this on Thursday, January 15, 2026. In collaboration with the IRCT (International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims), we are holding an event to shed light on the phenomenon of war at a deeper level than news headlines. Behind and in the midst of every war and conflict are people who make decisions and people who must live with the consequences of those decisions.
The event is our attempt to put a face to decision-makers and hand over – supplemented by experts in the field.
The hope is that we can become wiser about the political considerations surrounding war—but in particular, that we can become wiser about the reality in which so many of our fellow human beings live.
Because even though wars change form, the consequences remain the same; it is still real people who are left behind with the very real consequences of war on both body and soul.
In addition to presentations by torture survivors and experts, the evening will feature a conversation with former foreign ministers Mogens Lykketoft and Martin Lidegaard, Paula Larrins.
How can we talk constructively with each other about climate, the environment, and nature when we have different and sometimes conflicting attitudes and interests?
With the Green Dialogue Coffee project, we have in recent years created dialogue meetings on nature, climate, and environmental issues across the country. Now we are taking the next step and launching a new online learning universe that will make these experiences available to even more people.
The new online universe has been developed as an interactive learning space where users can explore some of the most controversial green disagreements in Denmark. The focus here is on nuances, dilemmas, and different perspectives rather than quick answers and sharp fronts.
A key element is an interactive map of Denmark featuring cases from almost every part of the country. The map is based on specific conflicts and disagreements about nature, climate, and the environment, such as wolves, bottom trawling, wild boar fencing, and CO2 storage, where each case provides insight into the values and interests that clash.
The universe also contains dialogue exercises, reflection questions, videos, and articles that can be used by educators, young people, organizations, and other curious minds. The content has been developed with a focus on learning, active participation, and democratic education, and can be used both individually and collectively.
The universe will be continuously expanded with new content so that the platform always reflects the needs, experiences, and dilemmas we encounter in our work with Green Dialogue Coffee around Denmark.
With the new online universe, we want to give more people access to the dialogue tools we have developed and tested through Green Dialogue Coffee, thereby contributing to a more nuanced and less polarized conversation about the green transition.
We invite you to explore the platform, try out the exercises, and share the universe with others who also want to strengthen the dialogue on the green agenda.
You can explore the universe and learn more about Green Dialogue Coffee at this link.
In November, there will be municipal elections in Denmark. Far too few citizens with ethnic minority backgrounds vote in municipal elections. In fact, they are voting less and less. This includes those who grew up in Denmark. Something must be done about this. That is why we at Brobyggerne have created the project ‘Nydanske Stemmer’ (New Danish Voices).
Looking at voter turnout among immigrants and their descendants, it is worryingly low. In the last municipal and regional elections in 2021, turnout among these two groups was 37.3 and 35.5 percentage points lower than among ethnic Danes. These are numbers that we should take seriously, because, as stated in a report from the Center for Elections and Parties (KU): "It is particularly worrying that descendants who were born and raised in Denmark have a significantly lower voter turnout than ethnic Danes."
During November, will Brobyggerne, led by Özlem Cekic, travel around the parts of the country where the proportion of immigrants and descendants is high – and voter turnout therefore correspondingly low – with the aim of encouraging immigrants and descendants to use their vote, get involved in the debate, and choose democracy rather than reject it when it comes to voting in the municipal elections. In this way, they can help shape local democracy.
Özlem Cekic was one of the first women from a minority background to be elected for the Danish Parliament. This is not the first time Özlem Cekic has thrown herself into the fight to increase voter turnout. During the municipal elections in 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021, she also visited disadvantaged neighborhoods across the country and spoke with local residents about the importance of voting.
Yesterday, hundreds of people experienced the magic of Greenlandic mask dancing for the first time at the Bent Melchior Prize 2025. It was not a moment too soon, because these days we talk a lot about the Danish Realm. It is what binds Greenlanders, Danes, and Faroese together. It is always easy to see what separates us: culture, traditions, language, nature.
But we don't need to look only to the Danish Realm. In our own little pond, we also divide each other into "them" and "us." But "Danes come in many models," as a popular folk high school song says, which is about the wide variety of the Danish population and expresses that Danes have many different backgrounds, identities, and appearances.
This was the starting point for this year's Bent Melchior Award, which focused on art and culture. And it was the starting point for the selection of this year's passionate soul.
The award goes to…
The winner of the Bent Melchior Prize 2025 is photographer Jacob Holdt.
The award honors a passionate individual who, with perseverance and patience, makes an effort to step out onto the bridge and meet the other person – with openness, curiosity, and a critical stance.
This year's award winner is Jacob Holdt, the man behind American Pictures and a passionate soul who, more than anyone else, has dedicated his life to building bridges across cultures.
As former Bent Melchior Prize winner (2024) Sarah Smed said in her motivational speech:
“This year’s award winner is a person who, throughout a long life and with what appears to be an impressively calm pulse, a compassionate presence, exemplary drive, and tireless storytelling, has reminded us all that encounters between people based on trust and openness can bring about change. That conversations should not be a battle of opinions with winners and losers, but should be seen as a movement rich in words and images – a kind of ‘contact sport’ of attitudes that touches but does not hurt.”
“What can I say about building bridges between people who would rather hide in their bubbles? So, inspired by Jens Galschiøt’s beautiful water droplet, let me try the opposite of bubbles. From my work with the Ku Klux Klan, I can tell you how small drops can turn into waves that infect others – both in the US and here at home.”
This is how Jacob Holdt began his acceptance speech, and as you can see in the photo below, there was no doubt that we were dealing with a delighted recipient of this year's Bent Melchior Award. However, his speech, which you can read here, also offered what I think is a welcome reminder:
That is really what I want to say tonight:
That bridge-building is not just about talking to each other – but about liberating each other. And that this can sometimes be contagious and liberating from country to country. As we always said in my workshops between black and white people at US universities,
'If a pattern of suffering attacks you – and only a pattern of suffering would do that– help is always at hand. Namely, from the person who is trapped in the pattern of suffering and waiting to be freed."
Behind every shout, every accusation, every wall of hatred, there is almost always an old pain begging to be heard.
Special thanks to:
Aveny-T for hosting the event.
Frellsen for the cream puffs and coffee bags for our guests.
Our anonymous donors, who once again this year have been a great support to our work in planning and executing the awards ceremony.
The artists and panelists for enriching us all with important stories and reminding us of the importance of building bridges in culture.
Photographer Erling Brodersen for taking the beautiful pictures.
Bent Melchior always said: "If you feel that something needs to be done, don't say, 'Someone else will have to do it. ' You have to do it yourself! You have to make a difference." We couldn't have made that difference without your support. So thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
If you want to get a little closer to who Bent really was as a person, you should read his daughter-in-law Karen Melchior's beautiful speech! You can read my own welcome speech for the event right here.
The Bent Melchior Prize 2025 is fast approaching. It won't be long before tickets go on sale, so mark your calendars now. This year, the award ceremony will be held on November 3 from 19-21.
This year's Bent Melchior Award will be held at the Aveny-T theater in Frederiksberg. This year's award ceremony is all about art and culture.
The theme of this year's award stems from Bent Melchior's work for cross-cultural bridge building. As Chief Rabbi in Denmark for many years, he experienced first-hand what it means to be a decisive voice in the Danish public sphere, while at the same time being the face of Europe's historically most marginalized religious minorities. This gave him a special understanding of the dilemmas of cultural encounters - but also of the potential of a Danishness that does not close in on itself, but embraces diversity.
The Bent Melchior Award recipient receives a walking statuette and DKK 10,000. Do you know someone who deserves to be nominated?
Brobyggerne is turning 6 years. We are celebrating with a sing-along with Bertel Haarder and Özlem Cekic. Board member Henrik V. Stokholm will be at the piano. We have also invited Henrik Frellsen from Frellsen Coffee to talk about how caffeine can be used to build bridges.
We can't say anything about the weather, but we promise a great atmosphere and something tasty to eat! It will take placeon August 25 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Brobyggerne ( Ubuntu House at Købmagergade 43, 1st floor, 1150 Copenhagen K). Admission is free, but space is limited, so hurry up and sign up!
How do you build bridges – as an organization and as a person?
Come and join us for an inspiring mini-conference on the work and experiences of the Bridge Builders!
We are celebrating the conclusion of an exciting research collaboration between Brobyggerne and Aalborg University, which has been following us closely since May 2024 and investigating how our work makes a difference.
Hear about the methods we use to build bridges between people, how we make a difference, and the challenges and opportunities we face when working to strengthen dialogue—even where disagreements and differences are greatest.
Date: June 3, 4-6 p.m. Location: Aalborg University, A.C. Meyersvænge 15, 2450 Copenhagen SV
You can look forward to presentations from Secretary General Özlem Cekic, Associate Professor and Project Manager Camilla Dindler, and several of our passionate prejudice breakers. And as always, as a guest, you will not just be a spectator—you will also be an active part of the day.
We will round off with summer refreshments and hope to see you—and many other bridge builders—for an afternoon of insights, dialogue, and community.
