The Austin-Koblenz sister city relationship was established in 1991. The partnership connects citizens through a variety of cultural and economic exchanges and has had a strong focus on education and workforce development. In addition to student exchanges at the elementary and secondary levels, a number of dual degree and exchange programs have been created at the post-secondary level, including two-year apprenticeship programs for young adults from Austin to visit Koblenz to build professional career skills. Please join us for a conversation about the current issues confronting their respective communities, workforce preparedness, and how they are preparing for the future.
Join us on December 11 for a conversation with Steve Adler, Mayor of Austin, and David Langner, Lord Mayor of Koblenz.
This virtual event is part of the American Council on Germany’s series titled [virtual] Transatlantic Town Halls: German-American Mayors Forum, held under the auspices of WunderbarTogether USA 2020, a comprehensive and collaborative initiative funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and implemented by the Goethe-Institut.
Steve Adler is Austin’s 52nd Mayor, having won re-election in 2018 by 40 points in a field of 8 candidates. His top priorities include mobility, affordability and equity for all Austinites. Adler is a Trustee of the United States Conference of Mayors, Chair of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) policy board, and Vice President of the National Council of Democratic Mayors. While he’s been in office the City of Austin passed the largest mobility and affordable housing bonds in its history. The city raised its minimum city wage to $15/hour, passed city-wide sick leave and second chance hiring protections. Still working on the homelessness challenge, the city has become one of a limited number of cities to achieve effective net zero veteran homelessness. The city has become a world leader on climate change action. Mayor Adler has received broad recognition for innovative leadership. Foreign Policy named him a Global reThinker and Living Cities included Mayor Adler on its list of 25 Disruptive Leaders (along with Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and author Ta-Nehisi Coates) to mark that organization’s 25th anniversary. He completed his undergraduate studies at Princeton University and his law degree at The University of Texas School of Law.
David Langner, born and raised in Koblenz, was elected as Lord Mayor of Koblenz in 2018 to an eight-year term. Prior to his election as mayor and beginning in 2013, Mr. Langner served as the State Secretary in the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labor, Health and Demography for the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. From 2011 to 2013, he worked as vice president at a state agency working on planning, nature conservation, and construction supervision. Prior to that, Mr. Langner served as a representative in the state parliament for five years, and as environmental policy spokesman, he focused on renewable energy, nature conservation, consumer protection and forestry. Mr. Langner studied political science and literature at universities in Oldenburg, Marburg and Mainz and completed his master’s degree in 2003. Prior to attending university, he completed his civil service volunteering at a home for the blind which had a deep impact on his life.
