September 17, 2025, 12:00 until ca.16:30
C*SPACE, Langhansstr. 79, 13086 Berlin
The two-part workshop “Bureaucrazy: Navigating and Engaging with Berlin Authorities” is aimed at activists, artists, journalists, and NGO representatives from migrant communities who have had little or challenging experience in dealing with German authorities. The goal is to reduce fears and uncertainties, provide knowledge about the structures of Berlin’s public administration, and jointly develop strategies for clear and confident communication with authorities.
What to expect?
In the first part, we reflect on our personal experiences in interacting with authorities. We will “open the black box” of administration: tasks, structures, and decision-making logics will be explained in an accessible way. Building on this, we work in small groups to co-create a practical guide for communicating with authorities. In the second part, we go into direct exchange with representatives of a governmental institution. This personal encounter is designed to reduce the distance to institutions, highlight concrete opportunities for civic participation, and encourage participants to actively get involved.
Why are we offering this workshop?
Magdalena Patalong: “Several years ago, I worked at the Federal Foreign Office, where I collaborated with civil society. I often witnessed how anxious many actors felt when dealing with me as a representative of a German authority. But I also noticed how this tension often dissolved once we met in person — when they realized I was “just” a human being, too. That moment of human connection made a huge difference. Later, I realized that civic actors from migrant communities carried even stronger fears — because of unfamiliarity with administrative systems, fear of unknown consequences, and of course, language barriers. That’s why my goal today is to share knowledge, bring clarity, and give people the confidence they need to ask questions and engage more boldly.”
Katya Romanova: “I moved to Berlin eight years ago and, in the beginning, found it difficult to feel connected to the place where I lived. Over time, that changed: I got involved in local initiatives, created an audio walk through my Kiez, and built relationships with my neighbors. I also founded re:imagine your city, a network exploring creative and participatory ways to re-shape public spaces and make them more diverse and accessible. Still, I often ask myself how we can actually influence decisions in our neighborhoods and at the city level. This workshop is an invitation to explore that question together, by discovering both formal and informal tools for engagement and learning how to bring our ideas to the table.”
Your hosts:
Magdalena Patalong is a certified communication and behavioral trainer in adult education and advises migrant-led non-profit organizations on human resources, organizational development, and fundraising strategies. She holds a Master’s degree in East European Studies and has extensive experience working with organizations and communities from the region. Until 2023, she managed and implemented civil society projects at Coopera e. V. in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and the South Caucasus, particularly in the field of political education. Today, she serves on the association’s board.
Katya Romanova is an interdisciplinary designer and project manager with more than 13 years of experience in non-profit and socio-cultural management. She works at the intersection of visual communication, youth engagement, media literacy, and education. She holds degrees in languages and visual communications and is currently completing a Master’s in Public Design at HTW Berlin. Katya is a member of the Advisory Board on Participation of the Berlin Senate Department for Urban Development and of the neighborhood council in Langhanskiez. She is co-founder of the international network re:imagine your city and between 2021 and 2023 designed and implemented transnational education and networking programs on creative, participatory approaches to civic engagement.
Apply:
Applications are accepted by September 10.
We accept applications on a rolling basis, on a first-come-first-serve principle. Participation is free of charge, thanks to the support of the Civil Society Forum. Contact Magdalena Patalong for any further questions: mail(at)magdalena-patalong.de.
