Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center update

Susan Suarez, President & CEO

I hope that you and your families are safe and well.

October has been designated as Bullying Prevention Month. Through our education programs, we show students that they have the power to help others by taking a stand against bullying behavior. We use the stories of courageous people, whose small actions had a positive impact on others in need.

COVID-19 has affected the new school year for everyone, and we’ve adapted our programs to work in a variety of learning environments. Our Florida standards-based core education, grades 5-12 programs are now available on our website. We also offer Survivor Talks and other lessons via Zoom (or other platforms). Our PopUp Museum program has expanded, allowing us to “bring the Museum” to additional schools.

The teacher workshops have also transitioned to online availability for the teacher’s convenience. Funded by the Merrill Kuller Teacher Education Series legacy gift, a new lesson on one of the genocides of the 20th century is released each month, complete with downloadable classroom materials. Teachers can access the series under the education tab on our website, by selecting, View the 2020- 2021 Teacher's Workshop Catalog, and on our YouTube channel under the heading, HMCEC Genocide Session.

We continue to offer school field trips for groups up to a total of 30 people, which includes students, teachers and chaperones. These visits, and private group tours for up to 30 people, are conducted when the Museum is closed to the public. All COVID-19 precautions are observed. For more information on education programs and field trip calendar openings, please contact Sam Parish, Director of Operations/ Education Specialist at Sam@HMCEC.org or call 239-263-9200.

Movies that Matter

Join us this month for Movies that Matter in a new virtual format with Zoom expert panel discussions. The documentaries will highlight the issues surrounding the availability of clean water (“Sustainable Nation”), the societal impact of mental illness (“Bedlam”), and domestic violence (“Telling Amy’s Story”).

The Zoom discussions will take place on:

• October 14: “Sustainable Nation,” with guest panelists Dr. Abe Levy, Retired Internal Medicine Physician executive and Southwest Florida Environmental and Social Justice Activist, and Dr. William Mitsch, Director, Everglades Wetland Research Park, Eminent Scholar, College of Art and Sciences, Sproul Chair for SWFL Habitat Restoration, FGCU

• October 21: “Bedlam,” with guest panelists Dr. Ken Rosenberg, filmmaker, Nancy Dauphinais, David Lawrence Center Chief Clinical officer, and Pam Baker, NAMI Collier County CEO

• October 28: “Telling Amy’s Story,” with guest panelists Eileen Wesley, Executive Director, Project HELP, and Joe Myers, Producer/Director of Telling Amy's Story

You can RSVP for the films on our website at www.HMCEC.org. You will be sent film links a few days before the Zoom discussion and Zoom links will be sent out shortly before the discussion panels.

Sponsorships are available for all three films and panels—Platinum Level for $500; Gold Level for $250; Silver Level for $100. Sponsors are recognized on all promotional emails, on the Museum’s website and during each Zoom expert panel. For more information, please contact me at Susan@HMCEC.org or call 239-263-9200.

We thank our sponsors to date: Platinum Sponsors - Sherry and Stephen Pino, Gold Sponsors - The Tikkun Olam Council of Temple Shalom, and Silver Sponsors - Ida and Jeff Margolis and Elaine and Fred Kamin.

The Movies that Matters series is presented by Temple Shalom, Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, GenShoah, Naples United Church of Christ, Jewish Community Relations Council and the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center. It is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

Virtual luncheon update

Please join us Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 for our annual winter fundraising event. The inspirational program "The Courage of Castellanos," will have a unique local connection. More information will be available shortly on our website. Sponsorships are available. Please contact me for more information at Susan@HMCEC.org.

Teachers may visit the Museum for free through the end of October. Please call for reservations. Please note: our new fall hours are in effect at the Museum. We are open Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, 1–4 p.m., with last guest entry at 3 p.m. Timed-entry admission tickets may be pre-purchased on our website, at www.HMCEC.org, or upon your arrival with a credit card at our reception desk. For everyone’s safety, we are not accepting cash transactions.

As always, if you have any questions or would like to support our mission, please contact me at Susan@HMCEC.org or call 239-263-9200.

Stay safe and hope to see you soon!