HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL RESOURCE & EDUCATION CENTER OF FLORIDA INC

WHEN THE HOLOCAUST CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED OVER 30 YEARS AGO, IT WAS AMONG THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE NATION. IT WAS FOUNDED BY VICTIMS AND WITNESSES TO THE HOLOCAUST WHO FELT A DEEP RESPONSIBILITY TO TEACH FUTURE GENERATIONS ABOUT THE ULTIMATE COST OF PREJUDICE, RACISM AND STEREOTYPING. LAST YEAR OVER 15,000 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN PROGRAMMING PROVIDED BY THE HOLOCAUST CENTER. OUR PROGRAMS ADVANCE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. DRAWING ON THE HISTORY OF THE HOLOCAUST, WE PROVIDE AREA CHILDREN WITH LESSONS THAT INCREASE THEIR COMPASSION FOR OTHERS AND UNDERSCORE THE NEED TO APPRECIATE ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS AND OTHER DIFFERENCES.EACH YEAR, THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS VISIT THE CENTER AND, GUIDED BY OUR FULL TIME RESOURCE TEACHER, LEARN THE IMPORTANT LESSONS OF THE HOLOCAUST. THOSE WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO COME TO THE CENTER ARE OFFERED IN-CLASS PRESENTATIONS, MATERIALS PROVIDED IN A CLASS-SIZE TRAVELING TEACHING TRUNK, AND ACCESS TO OUR LIBRARY OF HOLOCAUST RELATED BOOKS AND FILMS.TEACHER EDUCATION IS CRITICAL TO OUR WORK. ALTHOUGH FLORIDA REQUIRES THAT ALL STUDENTS BE TAUGHT ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST, MANY TEACHERS FEEL UNPREPARED TO ADDRESS SUCH A COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT SUBJECT. A WEEK-LONG TEACHERS INSTITUTE EACH SUMMER AND MONTHLY TEACHER FORUMS PROVIDE INFORMATION, MATERIALS AND STRATEGIES TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE, RESPECTFUL HOLOCAUST EDUCATION.APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN OUR UPSTANDERS PROGRAM: STAND UP TO BULLYING INITIATIVE, WHICH USES THE REMARKABLE STORIES OF RESCUERS DURING THE HOLOCAUST TO TALK ABOUT HOW ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A LASTING DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS.WE ARE WELL-POSITIONED TO ENGAGE TODAY'S HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS ON ENDURING SOCIAL ISSUES. AS WE GROW INTO A NEW, STATE OF THE ART MUSEUM IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN ORLANDO, OUR INSTITUTION WILL BE CENTRALLY LOCATED AS A PLACE OF DIALOGUE AND ACTION, ESPECIALLY ON ISSUES OF DISCRIMINATION, PREJUDICE.