Contact: Kara Driscoll, Director of Marketing & Events, [email protected], 513-638-0508
The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center has been awarded $237,500 in Congressionally Directed Spending to advance and elevate its strategic partnerships with local and regional school districts.
The funding enables the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center to expand its partnerships with dozens of more schools – engaging thousands of additional students through field trips to the Center’s award-winning museum and reaching more educators and administrators with curricular support and professional development.
Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS), also known as earmarks, provides a unique opportunity to invest in critical community projects across Ohio. The funding is awarded for well-planned, ambitious, creative, and impactful projects that will improve the lives of Ohioans in various areas, including education.
Earmarks provide one-time grant funding for community projects that will benefit Ohioans.
“This funding will allow us to reach more students and teachers than ever before during a time of great need,” said Jackie Congedo, Chief External Relations & Community Engagement Officer. “We extend our gratitude to Senator Sherrod Brown for his commitment to our mission of ensuring the lessons of the Holocaust inspire action today.”
The Holocaust & Humanity Center’s request for earmarked funds was submitted and championed by Senator Sherrod Brown, who is an advocate for expanded educational efforts to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
“I am proud to secure this critical support for the Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center to educate Ohio students about the horrors of antisemitism,” said Brown. “When we pass on the knowledge of the Holocaust to future generations and tell these stories, we help ensure that it never happens again, and we recommit ourselves to fighting for a more just and peaceful world.”
As antisemitic incidents and Holocaust denial increase across the region and country, the Center has fielded an influx of calls from school district administrators looking for resources and guidance on effectively addressing antisemitism and hate with their student body. In this climate, the Center serves as a key partner with school districts to deliver high quality Holocaust education that helps students build empathy and critical thinking skills.
The Center developed a school district partnership program thatis currently being piloted with Cincinnati Public Schools, which engages every ninth grader across the district in best-in-class Holocaust and humanity education.
“Through very intentional planning and collaboration with the Center, we have elevated the field trip into a comprehensive experience that connects students to the historical context of the Holocaust, but also connects them to our community and the ways upstanders can continue to make an impact on our world,” said David Traubert, Social Studies Curriculum Manager. “We have been gratified to hear how impactful this experience has been for students and teachers, providing curriculum and focus that connects the classroom to the Center. It is so exciting that this opportunity will grow to include students and schools across the region.”
With this funding, the Center is actively soliciting new partnerships with individual schools and school districts across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Expanded offerings include:
- School district partnerships that allow students to visit the museum at no cost to schools
- Funding for educators to attend professional development trainings at no cost to schools
- Student youth leadership days at the museum at no cost to schools
- Delivery of student programming and teacher professional development at school sites at no cost to schools
- Enhanced curricular resources available to schools across the region
Educators and school administrators interested in receiving funding for field trips, youth programming, and teacher professional development for the 2024/2025 school year can contact Chief Learning Officer Lauren Karas at [email protected]. To learn more about education offerings and field trips, visit https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/education/.
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ABOUT THE NANCY & DAVID WOLF HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY CENTER
The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center exists to ensure the lessons of the Holocaust inspire action today. Located at Cincinnati’s historic Union Terminal, HHC impacts more than 2.5 million people every year through digital and in-person events, museum tours, educational experiences, social media, and virtual content. From Australia to India, individuals from more than 25 countries and 30 states engage with our mission. For more information, visit www.holocaustandhumanity.org.
