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HRE USA

A network dedicated to building a culture of human rights

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Human Rights Learning Lab for Young People

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EVENT DETAILS: 
When: Fridays, August 7, 14, 21, 2020 
Time: 12:00 pm PT, 2:00 pm CT, 3:00 pm ET
Length: 75-90 minutes per session
Where: Live Stream
Cost: FREE

Description:
As we shelter in place join Amnesty International for Friday’s in July-August as we explore human rights through interactive learning activities designed for grade levels 3rd-8th.   

Children have often been told that they are the future, that they will solve the world’s problems, innovate solutions, and be “the leaders of tomorrow.” But why does it have to be tomorrow?  

Now, more than ever is the time to speak to young people about universal human rights.  We know children are brave, powerful, and inquisitive.  The human rights learning lab will tailor age-appropriate learning through activities that will focus on: 

  • Introducing basic concepts focused on teaching “what are human rights?”
  • Observing human rights in your community and today’s world
  • Storytelling
  • What you can do!

Participants will receive a “Human Rights Hero Certificate of Recognition” from Amnesty International. For more information please contact jestrada@aiusa.org

>> Learn more and RSVP

Reopening America’s Schools & Campuses Safely & Equitably

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EVENT DETAILS: 
When: Tuesday, July 28
Time: 4:00 pm PT, 7:00 pm ET
Where: Live Stream
Cost: FREE

Description:
How and when our schools and campuses reopen is one the most important decisions our leaders can make right now.  

Unfortunately, some politicians are pushing for them to fully reopen even as COVID-19 infection rates rise in their area and without proper safety plans or supplies in place. At the same time, key to returning safely is at least $175 billion in federal education funding, which is currently stalled in the U.S. Senate.

Join NEA for a special town hall for a conversation about what we can do as educators, parents, and community members to advocate for going back to school safely and equitably.  

>> Learn more and RSVP

Job Opportunity: Human Rights Education Liaison – Human Rights Watch Student Task Force

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The Human Rights Watch Student Taskforce (HRW STF) in Souther California seeks a highly qualified Human Rights Education (“HRE”) Liaison to create digital human rights education programming and toolkits in support of the Student Task Force’s annual campaigns.

HRW STF is looking for an innovative, creative thinker with a deep understanding of human rights education and experience with high school-age youth. The candidate should have strong project management skills and be detail-oriented. This is an opportunity to help expand HRW’s human rights education advocacy efforts and mobilize the next generation of human rights advocates on the most pressing human rights issues of the day. The position is based in the Los Angeles office and reports to the Senior Director for Southern California.

The HRE Liaison will collaborate daily with STF colleagues as well as external vendors and the expanding network of high school stakeholders.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: AUGUST 7, 2020

>> Learn more and apply

Social and emotional learning: are you using it in your classroom?

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EVENT DETAILS: 
When: July 21 & July 30
Where: Online Webinar
Cost: FREE

Calling all educators! Join the Speak Truth to Power (STTP) program for two workshops later this month that will concentrate on the connection between social and emotional learning (SEL) and human rights education. Check out the details below and register today!

Session 1—Tuesday, July 21 at 4:00pm EDT
In this workshop, educators will:

  • Explore the intersections between SEL and human rights education
  • Learn how to build social-emotional competence that is needed to become a human rights defender

Session 2—Thursday, July 30 at 2:00pm EDT 
In this workshop, educators will:

  • Examine SEL core competencies within human rights and racial equity frameworks
  • Collaborate with other teachers to apply an equity lens to the STTP lesson plans

If you have questions, please contact us at sttp@rfkhumanrights.org.

>> Register now

HRE USA Welcomes Two New Regional Representatives

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HRE USA has a national network of chapters with regional representatives who volunteer to serve as contact persons for human rights educators in their region, state, or city. HRE USA is excited to welcome two new representatives for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC.  

JOHN TERRY

JOHN TERRY, NEW JERSEY & PENNSYLVANIA
John Terry is a social studies teacher in New Jersey public schools, where he has participated in the NJ state chapter of HRE USA, and led efforts in school districts to integrate human rights into their current curricula and to design stand-alone courses in human rights. To this end, he has developed model lessons and resources for the HRE USA Curriculum Integration Guide and provided professional development to educators in NJ through district in-service sessions and state-wide conferences. John holds degrees and certifications from the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences, the Rutgers Graduate School of Education, and Montclair State University, and has completed formal training in Human Rights Education through the University of San Francisco.
 

RACHEL BERGSIEKER

RACHEL BERGSIEKER, WASHINGTON, DC
Rachel Bergsieker is a passionate advocate for human rights education based in Washington, DC. Rachel formerly served as the American Friends Service Committee’s (AFSC) Human Rights Learning Associate, where she worked to expand human rights education in DC schools. Managing AFSC’s Human Rights Learning Program, she co-authored the curriculum for a DC Public School (DCPS) high school social studies elective course entitled “Human Rights and Social Action.” In its first year, the elective was offered at 3 DCPS high schools, reaching over 80 students. Rachel is excited to continue to build a culture of human rights in DC in this new role.

Contact the regional representative nearest you and get involved with human rights education in your area!

>> Learn more about HRE USA Regional Chapters

USHRN Human Rights Report

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The US Human Rights Network recently released its annual human rights report.  This year’s report takes an entirely new form from previous years, spotlighting nearly a dozen member organizations and members from the communities they serve. The report strives to bridge the gap between the human rights framework and the lived reality of people directly impacted by human rights violations. By focusing on the voices of their members, the report serves as a platform for them to tell their stories. 

>> Access Report

Stay-In-Stitute for Climate Change Education

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EVENT DETAILS: 
When: July 22-24, 2020
Where: Virtual conference
Cost: $150 (scholarships available)
Credits: 20 hours of Continuing education and 2 graduate credits available

Climate change solutions are made in the classroom, at home, and within our communities. Let’s make the most out of our current situation by reimagining what education can be and how we can build opportunities for climate change solutions together! Virtual learning experiences offer a unique opportunity to make connections across our public and at-home learning spaces that don’t exist in the traditional system.

This three-day experience will take you beyond your computer screen, and into your backyard and neighborhood to do authentic scientific and social data collection, move your body, and make observations of the world around you. On-screen time will be segmented into at most two-hours at a time, and small group online experiences will occur daily, as well as optional evening events.

>> Learn more and register

Teach and Demand Justice for George Floyd

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The horrifying and senseless death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police has thrown the State of Minnesota and the entire country into a state of grief and turmoil.

It’s yet another example of the racism that black, brown and indigenous peoples in the United States live with every day. It’s also an opportunity for us to join together and rewrite the rules so everyone, with no exceptions, can thrive without fear, care for their families, have their voices heard, and their rights respected.

As Pedro Noguera wrote, “Educators. This is a teachable moment. Don’t be afraid to teach about the meaning of justice and the murder of George Floyd by the police. Our students are watching.”

Here are some things you can do.

Anti-Racism Teaching Resources:

Organizations/funds to donate to:

Actions to take:

People’s Historians Online Mini-Classes

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EVENT DETAILS: 
When: Fridays throughout May and June
Time: 11 am Pacific, 1pm Central, 2pm Eastern
Where: Live Stream
Cost: FREE

Every Friday, as part of their People’s Historians Online Series, the Zinn Education Project presents a 75-minute mini-class featuring phenomenal teachers, authors, and professors from around the United States. 

Participants can look forward to learning through stories about people’s history, meeting other educators, and finding a road map forward in the midst of this pandemic. As one participant said, “Thank you for getting us together and giving me hope that we are not alone and that we can think and act ourselves out of this pandemic.”

The sessions are designed for teachers and other school staff, however, parents, students, and others are welcome to participate. ASL interpretation is provided. Upcoming sessions include: 

  • June 5: Reconstruction and Issues of Citizenship, Suffrage, and Movement Building in the 19th Century: Part 1 – Manisha Sinha in conversation with an educator
  • June 12: Reconstruction and Issues of Citizenship, Suffrage, and Movement Building in the 19th Century: Part 2 – Martha Jones in conversation with Tiffany Mitchell Patterson
  • June 19: Reconstruction and Juneteenth – Greg Carr in conversation with Jessica Rucker
  • June 26: Women in the Black Freedom Struggle – Jeanne Theoharis in conversation with Jesse Hagopian

>> Learn more and register

We are grateful for the generous support of our members, individual donors, and The Puffin Foundation Ltd
The core values of HRE USA and its partner organizations include transparency and critical thinking skills. We believe that human rights--and human rights education--belong to everyone, and that the full realization of human rights means that access to human rights education materials must never be conditioned upon the subscription to any particular religious faith, ideology, political affiliation, or membership in any particular organization and that any organizational connections should be openly acknowledged.