Detlef Leiss
Founder ICD
Born in 1955 in Moers, Germany
married to Kevin Patrick since 2014
Resident of Neustadt am Rübenberge, Lower Saxony, Germany
Education
In 1971, I completed secondary school with a qualification for further academic education. My attendance at a humanistic grammar school ended prematurely. This in retrospect may also be related to a neurodivergence that remained unrecognized at the time (Autism Spectrum and ADHD). I subsequently trained as a chemical laboratory technician and completed my apprenticeship with distinction.
Afterwards, I served as a professional soldier in the German Armed Forces, where I received training as a helicopter pilot. In 1986, I retrained as a refrigeration systems technician and later worked as a service manager and executive assistant with responsibility for my own business division. During this period, I also attended master craftsman training at a specialized refrigeration engineering school. From 1995 to 1998, I was self-employed as a retail business owner, managing a company with four employees.
My retirement in 2022 marked a significant turning point in my life. It provided an opportunity to reflect on both my personal experiences and broader developments within society.
Voluntary services
My approach to teaching and training was strongly influenced by my military service, where I acquired extensive knowledge in leadership, education, and legal principles while serving as an instructor. Throughout my professional career, I further developed these skills through the training and mentoring of employees and apprentices.
I have always enjoyed helping people develop new skills and acquire knowledge. I consider it a democratic responsibility to pass on knowledge and experience, particularly to children and young people, thereby helping to build a foundation for the future.
For many years, I volunteered as a reading mentor in primary education through Mentor e.V., supporting children in developing literacy skills. In some cases, I expanded this work to include students attending special education and secondary schools. I was also actively involved in youth work within a church community and its associated parish, where I served in children’s and youth ministries as well as in pastoral care as a catechist. Alongside these activities, I studied theology and liturgy with the goal of becoming a volunteer deacon.
Through my voluntary work and my observation of social developments, I became increasingly aware of growing tensions and disconnects within society. In particular, I observed that the aspirations expressed in public policy and social discourse often failed to align with people’s lived experiences. Issues such as communication, accessibility, inclusion, and meaningful participation gradually became central concerns for me.
Founding ICD
Reflecting on these experiences ultimately led to the creation of the Institute for Communication & Dignity (ICD). I came to realize that democracy is far more than a political system or a form of government. It depends on participation, dialogue, mutual understanding, and a willingness to accept responsibility for one another.
Accessibility is not a peripheral issue. It is a prerequisite for meaningful participation in society. Everything is interconnected, and where communication fails, public trust can quickly erode and confidence in democratic processes may be weakened.
Democracy ultimately derives its legitimacy from its citizens. This conviction inspired the founding of the Institute for Communication & Dignity (ICD), with the aim of bringing together communication, dignity, accessibility, and democratic participation. The Institute seeks to observe and analyze the functioning of democratic participation, identify structural barriers and dysfunctions, and contribute to the development of practical solutions.
A democratic society is sustained not only by laws and institutions, but above all by the way people communicate with one another and accept responsibility for the common good.
Neustadt am Rübenberge, May 2026
Detlef Leiss
Founder, Institute for Communication & Dignity (ICD)