MigLAB’s long-term vision is to build a migrant resource and education centre that enables individual and community power. Our goal is to build and train a community of activists and education providers that can directly address the systemic exclusion and disempowerment of migrants in Berlin. We then put this community into action through popular education programs and support of migrant-led initiatives. We imagine a Berlin where the migrant communities affected by social exclusion are the critical and empowered voices that create systematic solutions!
Who we are
MigLAB is led by Hannah Heyenn and Gabriel Berlovitz, two educators and researchers with expertise in building power through participative and popular education methods. In the past, we have led two key projects, the Migrant Worker Solidarity Movement (MWSM) and Environmental Learning for Youth (ELY). These projects tested our popular education methods in Berlin by supporting and training migrant activists on the following projects:
- Supported and trained a group of more than 30 activists at the Lieferando Workers’ Collective (LWC) to both win their works council election in spring of 2025 and then plan the first strike of predominantly migrant delivery drivers at Lieferando in the fall of 2025. They built on this foundation and are petitioning to save their jobs here.
- Trained and recruited 10 activists to support Gerechte Arbeit, the Migrant and Student Workers Canteen. They now regularly host counselling and community-building activities for young migrant workers (see here).
- Recruited a slate of 5 candidates for Ver.di Berlin Migrants’ committee who then campaigned for and won a majority on the committee. The election had the highest participation rate in local union elections in over ten years.
- Regular climate justice cafes for young migrants that reached over 60 people in communities across the city.
Film Screening
We are expanding community infrastructure and capacity through education and direct support! Join us on September 27 for our screening of “When Ice Melts,” the documentary discussing how Minneapolis activists fought off violent immigration raids and built a political strike. It will be followed by a panel discussion with key activists and a discussion about how we can build similar organizing infrastructure in Berlin. Register and find more details here.
