Platform of Leaders of the Middle

2025

Dear friends and supporters,

We are delighted to invite you to the event “Platform of Leaders of the Middle”, which will take place on 3 December 2025 at the Banská Bystrica Town Hall from 12:00 to 16:30.

Link

Programme:

12:00–12:30 Registration and networking over coffee
12:30–12:45 Opening
12:45–12:50 Ice-breaker
12:50–13:05 Presentation of the Agents of Coexistence project
- Soňa Kariková, Antónia Jurečková (Banská Bystrica City Office)
13:05–13:20 How “us” and “them” are born – an introduction to polarisation according to Bart Brandsma
- Michaela Kováčik Huľuková (Dialogue Centre n.o.)
13:20–13:50 From polarisation to participation?: an interactive exchange of cities’ experiences with polarisation and the search for solutions
- Facilitators: Michaela Kováčik Huľuková (Dialogue Centre n.o.), Soňa Kariková (Banská Bystrica City Office)
13:50–14:10 Short break for refreshments and informal conversation
14:10–15:20 Panel discussion: The courage to stay in the middle – leadership in times of polarisation
- moderator: Soňa Kariková (City Office, Banská Bystrica)
- panellists:
  - H.E. Bilal Zahid (Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Slovak Republic)
  - Ján Nosko (Mayor of Banská Bystrica)
  - Miriam Imesch (Head of the Diplomatic Section at the Embassy of Switzerland in Slovakia)
  - Ivana Figuli (city councillor and lawyer at Via Iuris)
15:20–15:50 Interactive activity “the leader-of-the-middle map”, or “what does it mean to be a leader of the middle in a divided society?”
- Facilitators: Antónia Jurečková (Banská Bystrica City Office), Michaela Kováčik Huľuková (Dialogue Centre n.o.)
15:50–16:15 Closing – shared reflection and next steps for the Platform of Leaders of the Middle
16:15 Informal networking, conversations over drinks and refreshments

organisers: City of Banská Bystrica through the URBACT IV project – Agents of Coexistence & Dialogue Centre n.o. partner: Inside Polarisation #letsstayinthemiddle