From NYC to local politics
- The International
- Nov 16
- 5 min read
Sudaay Tat Haznedar introduces one of the internationals representing Venstre (Danmarks Liberale Parti). Keren Familia Christensen is standing as a candidate for Thisted Municipality.
Photographs: Keren Familia Christensen and Mette Johnsen
Text: Sudaay Tat Haznedar
It is a long journey from New York’s skyscrapers and subways to Thisted’s quiet streets and open skies. That’s the path Keren Familia Christensen took when she decided to follow her heart and move to Denmark to start a new life.
She was born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York City, a place full of movement, noise, and millions of people. Her life changed after 9/11. She had just completed her degree in business economics and was ready for a new chapter. That chapter began when she met her Danish husband. “He lived in Aarhus at the time, and I used to travel back and forth. I thought of it as a charming small town,” she recalls.
Aarhus was where they imagined settling down. Keren was young and ready for adventure back then. But life is not always what we expect: “We were in love, we got married, and I was ready to move, but then my husband lost his job.” A new opportunity for employment came from Thisted, a quiet town in North Jutland. “Imagine when he told me it would be like Aarhus,” she laughs. Moving from New York to Thisted, from a city of 20 million people to just 13,000, was a shock. Everything was new: the language, the city, the people, the weather. But Keren did not give up, and she decided to rebuild her life from scratch.
Keren began studying at the local trade school, learning Danish, and working hard for smooth integration. Today, she works as a digital marketing specialist at Cimbria and has created a new home and life in Denmark.
Entering politics
Politics were never part of Keren’s plans. But in 2020, when the pandemic changed everyone’s lives, she co-founded Thy Internationals with a group of friends. “We had big dreams but no idea how to make them happen. Even opening a bank account was a challenge,” she says.
It began as a small initiative and gradually evolved into a vibrant community. Today, Thy Internationals organizes 7–8 events every month and is supported by both the municipality and the region. It became the first organization in the area dedicated to helping internationals find their place and feel at home in local life.
“For the first time, here in Thisted Kommune, we internationals were invited into the political conversation,” Keren explains. “We were asked to give feedback and help plan how the kommune could support newcomers, and they listened.”
That dialogue led to a milestone: Venstre allocated funding in next year’s municipal budget to strengthen international integration, the first time such a step has ever been taken in Thisted.
“That pivotal moment showed me that political involvement can lead to real, tangible results, results that can improve things for those who come after us,” Keren says. “That’s what has driven me into politics: the belief that we can make tomorrow better through active engagement.”
Her vision was simple but powerful: to create a space where internationals and Danes could meet, share experiences, and lift each other up. “I always disliked the word foreigner and the stigma around it,” Keren says. “I wanted to show how hard we work, how much we care, and how much we belong.”
That belief in inclusion and progress is what eventually led her to join Venstre, a party she saw as embodying values she aligned with- those of freedom, responsibility and growth.
Keren’s campaign
In the elections, Keren is running for the local city council in Thisted for Venstre. Her dream goal is to support both Danes and internationals in shaping Thisted’s future together. She has priorities that she really cares about, and she believes these changes can make everyday life better for the community.
As a mother and community builder, Keren knows how crucial it is to invest in children. She wants to protect and strengthen local schools and daycare centers, especially in smaller towns, so every child has a safe and supportive start in life.
“Education is the foundation of everything. I want to make sure our children have access to quality learning environments, no matter where they live in Thisted,” she says.
Keren believes that the way we treat our elderly says everything about who we are as a society. She wants to ensure that nursing homes and home care services have the necessary resources, staffing, and time to provide genuine, human-centered care.
“Our seniors deserve more than just basic care; they deserve dignity, warmth, and respect,” she states I will fight for better conditions in elder care so that no one feels forgotten.”
Affordable living is also on Keren’s list. She thinks that life can be easier if there are more subsidies for basic needs, such as heating and electricity, and also through investments in renewable energy like geothermal heating. She highlights that renewables are not only about sustainability but also about long-term stability, helping reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
“Politics should not be about vague promises or quick fixes. It should be about real, practical solutions that people can actually feel in their everyday lives,” she says.
“To me, balanced economics doesn’t mean choosing between saving money and caring for people; it means using smart investments to strengthen our community. When we help newcomers settle and thrive, we address Thisted’s real challenges: population decline, school closures, and labor shortages. Supporting each other, whether we’re born here or moved here, is how we grow together. A thriving Thisted is one where everyone feels at home, contributes, and belongs.”
Final thoughts
Keren’s story isn’t only about moving between cities; it’s about growing roots in a new place and helping others do the same. She turned challenges into opportunities and dreams into action. For her, it’s more than a relocation; it’s a reinvention.
Now, as a candidate for Thisted’s local council, she wants to give something back to the town she calls home and help Danes and internationals shape its future together. “I know how hard it is to be new in Denmark,” she stresses. "That’s why I want to make it easier for others and make sure their voices are heard.”
Keren’s dream is for Thisted to be a place where everyone feels safe, connected, and proud to belong. “Danes may call us foreigners, but we are internationals and some of us are also New Danes, with pride in our hearts. We belong here. And our voices matter.”