DIE STADT BIN ICH successfully launched

Chemnitz residents show their commitment to their city

I am a native of Gemnidz! Born in Gemnidz...offgewachsn in Gorl-Morx-Schdadt...und schderm wersch nu widdor in Gemnidz!" With these humorous words in Saxon dialect, the well-known cabaret artist Sachsenmeyer showed his attachment to Chemnitz. Since the launch of the new communication concept DIE STADT BIN ICH, he has collected over 200 written, video and photo testimonials from Chemnitz residents on the www.die-stadt-bin.ich.de website. The Facebook page www.facebook.com/diestadtbinich has been "liked" almost 1200 times.

Citizens expressed their feelings with creativity and charm. In poems, song lyrics, rhymes, elaborately graphic pictures, short concise statements, but also with critical statements and ideas, they put their home or adopted home centre stage.

Excerpts from selected confessions:

A musical declaration of love was delivered by the band "Die Arbeitslosen Bauarbeiter". With the refrain of their confession: "Welcome to Chemnitz, welcome to the coolest city in the world", the punk band expresses their attachment to their homeland.

Chemnitz photographer and digital artist Mike Hillebrand took the well-known song by Herbert Grönemeyer "Bochum" and simply adapted it to Chemnitz:

Deep in the East

Where the sun rises

It's better

Much better than you think

Deep in the East

You're no beauty

All grey with work

You love yourself without make-up

You're an honest skin

Unfortunately, you're totally grey

But that's what makes you special

Chemnitz, I come from you

Chemnitz, I'm attached to you

Good luck, Chemnitz

"Chemnitz is in the fast lane. " Speed skater Nico Ihle signed his autograph card with these words. The Chemnitz Olympian finished eighth in the 500m in Sochi 2014, the best Olympic result for a German competitor in this discipline since 1992. He crowned his performance with fourth place in the 1000m, missing out on the bronze medal by just 0.12 seconds. This puts the Karl-Marx-Stadt native in the fast lane, just like his home town.

"I work as a professor of English literature at Chemnitz University of Technology and have lived in this city for five years with my family, my two children aged 10 and 12. My motto for myself and for the students in my subject is: "From Chemnitz to the world". From here you can go travelling - both professionally and privately - and explore the world while at the same time being "at home" in this city. My children and I like living here because Chemnitz has so much to offer: Chemnitz is an urban centre, rich in nature in the city and the surrounding area, it offers a diverse and high-quality cultural programme (theatre, opera, art, children's culture) and has an eventful history - simply great," wrote Prof. Dr. Cecile Sandten, Professor of English Literature at Chemnitz University of Technology.

Other Chemnitz residents took up the offer and published their very personal view of their city:

"Chemnitz is underestimated - and that's not necessarily only a negative thing... because the city is still not too big, not yet as chaotic and not as neglected as some other "great" metropolises. Here you have everything you need to be happy and Chemnitz remains affordable. There are also many green areas and a low crime rate. We have also crossed the valley in terms of the average age. Lots of new blood with many happy, young families.

So why should I complain? I'm happy about the city's underdog status and hope that this keeps the motivation up to keep changing things.

Look at Chemnitz 10 years ago and see it from the current perspective. Chemnitz keep it up!!!" Matthias

"Born and raised in Chemnitz (Karl-Marx-Stadt), this city still means home and security to me. Although I went to Leipzig for my studies, I would like to come back after my training. Even though Chemnitz still has a lot of catching up to do in many respects, especially when it comes to attracting young people, it is a great city that has often surprised me in recent years, for example with the design of the city centre. In my heart, Chemnitz has always been my home and I can well imagine that it will be again in the long term." Kristina, 25 years old

Anyone who also loves their city and wants to declare their love for it is invited to share their declaration of love at www.die-stadt-bin-ich.de. We are looking for creative, emotional, imaginative, but also critical declarations of love for Chemnitz.

Keyword DIE STADT BIN ICH

The people of Chemnitz are at the centre of the new communication concept. They describe their attitude to life, profess the good sides of their city and thus become ambassadors for a strong Chemnitz worth living in. The campaign advertises with the inviting motto "The city is me". This year, people in the city and surrounding area will be addressed first in order to jointly develop what is important for the city's identity and then, next year, to get Chemnitz talking outside the city. The online dialogue platform www.die-stadt-bin-ich.de is the focal point of the campaign .
In addition to confessions, whether in words, pictures or videos, visitors can find contributions here and on the Facebook page www.facebook.com/diestadtbinich, for example via the "MACHER DER WOCHE" and the photo blog - 1000 Gesichter .