The Los Angeles Post

USC Shoah Foundation and Discovery Education Bring the Power of Story to Life in ‘Our Stories Are Stronger Than Hate’ Virtual Field Trip

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Virtual Event Empowers Students in Grades 5-12 to Take Action Against the Growing Wave of Racism and Intolerance in our Nation

SILVER SPRING, Md., November 5, 2019 – USC Shoah Foundation—The Institute for Visual History and Education (USC Shoah Foundation) and Discovery Education, the global leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms, invite students in grades 5-12 to take part in a powerful virtual experience this afternoon.

Based on the idea that everyone has a story to tell – from filmmakers, to survivors of genocide, to artists, to middle and high school students – ‘Our Stories are Stronger Than Hate’ gives students tools to counter bullying, prejudice, and the growing hate in our schools by listening to stories and testimonies that build empathy, understanding, and human connections. Premiering at 1 p.m. EST on Nov. 5, 2019, educators are encouraged to register their class for this impactful event here.  ‘Our Stories are Stronger Than Hate’ will be available on-demand at teachingwithtestimony.com/virtual-field-trip.

‘Our Stories are Stronger Than Hate’ will transport students to USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles to hear from powerful voices including:

  • Steven Spielberg: Founder of USC Shoah Foundation and one of the most prominent storytellers of our time
  • Eva Schloss: Holocaust survivor, speaker, author as well as friend and posthumous stepsister of diarist Anne Frank
  • Samantha Grady: College student, musician, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor
  • David Kassan: Acclaimed realist painter whose artwork captures humanity and portrays the stories of Holocaust survivors  

By listening to these transformative voices, students will feel inspired to take steps toward countering hate, whether at school, in the community, or in the world.

“Only when we proactively counter hate can we work to resolve it. Through Teaching with Testimony and today’s virtual field trip, we can empower students to find their voice and to confront hate in their communities,” said Dr. Claudia Wiedeman, Director of Education. “And now more than ever we need to share powerful testimonies of empathy and courage that can show we all have the innate potential to change the future.”

USC Shoah Foundation and Discovery Education will host a live Twitter chat during the premiere using the hashtag #StrongerThanHateVFT. Educators are encouraged to join the conversation and download the accompanying standards-aligned educator guide, which helps illuminate strategies for how to talk to students about these difficult topics.

“By giving students an opportunity to stand up against hate and find their voice, we reinforce the importance of building empathy and understanding for one another,” said Karen Wells, Library Media Specialist at Midland High School in Pleasant Plains, Ark. “Thanks to free resources like today’s virtual field trip and Teaching with Testimony, educators everywhere can ensure that students have access to meaningful and actionable curricula that has the power to impact real, positive change.”

‘Our Stories are Stronger Than Hate’ is part of Teaching with Testimony, an educational program designed for grades 5-12 that challenges students to employ empathy, build critical-thinking skills, and become inspired to create a brighter future after listening to firsthand accounts from survivors and witnesses of genocide. In addition to being deeply integrated into sections of Discovery Education’s Social Studies Techbook, Discovery Education Experience, and Espresso, the program includes digitally immersive classroom resources, an annual student video challenge, and activities that provide educators with the tools they need to teach students to ultimately counter hate and respond to injustice.