The 2025-2026 Training As Action Series (TAAS) is back in September!

by hreusaAugust 29, 2025August 30, 2025Leave a comment

Human Rights Educators USA’s annual Training as Action Series (TAAS) is a virtual training series focused on bridging personal and collective action on some of the most critical human rights issues of today. TAAS creates an educational space to connect and collaborate with others in human rights education and training. It also gives participants the skills and information needed to take action on rights issues in their communities.

The 2025–2026 Training as Action Series will center on the theme, “Defending Democracy and
Human Rights in a Changing World.” This year’s sessions will explore urgent issues such as misinformation, protest rights, climate justice, and digital surveillance, highlighting how human rights education can equip communities to respond with clarity, courage, and collective action. Those who attend six or more sessions will receive a certificate from HRE USA. 2025-26 TAAS Flyer

Saturday, September 13th, 11 am ET
Module 1: Defending Democracy through Human Rights Education

This module explores how HRE can help defend democracy in the face of current global and local challenges. Participants map threats and reflect on civic roles.

Flyer
Register here

HRE USA is a project of the Center for Transformative Action.

WANT TO PLAY A BOARD GAME?

by hreusaAugust 28, 2025Leave a comment

Human Rights Educators USA is partnering with the Brainary to bring you an entertaining and highly engaging educational board game called The Human Rights Game©. Built around the foundation of the 30 Articles of the UDHR, and the three pillars of the United Nations Freedom, Equity, and Dignity, The Human Rights Game aims to make a positive difference by teaching children and teens about Their rights, freedoms, and responsibilities.

Zinn Education Project: Teach Labor History

by hreusaAugust 28, 2025Leave a comment

Labor Day is a time to remind ourselves of the importance of solidarity — that progress comes when people recognize that we need each other and act together on that recognition.

One aim of today’s right-wing attacks on history is to stop young people from learning about the rich legacy of workers acting for justice. It’s no surprise that people of wealth and power are threatened by education that explores grassroots efforts to challenge exploitation.

The Zinn Education Project offers free lessons on labor history and campaigns for teachers’ right to teach.

Find examples below of free lessons and other resources about labor history — interracial solidarity, feminism, “organize the unorganized,” environmental justice and health & safety, immigration, workers’ rights — including “This Day in People’s History” stories. Teach Labor History

Poster by Ricardo Levins Morales

SIMA 2026 OPENS ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2025

by hreusaAugust 28, 2025Leave a comment

The annual Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA Awards) celebrate outstanding achievements in social impact storytelling, honoring the most cutting edge filmmaking from around the world that inspires activism, compassion and social transformation. Each year, projects are selected from over 140 countries, competing for awards, cash prizes, media features, and entry into SIMA’s distribution programs that bring selected works to communities and classrooms worldwide.

Films must be completed between October 2024 and September 2025 to be eligible for entry. Each title is permitted to enter once to SIMA. Titles that have entered in the past are not permitted to enter into the competition in subsequent years. Each entry may be submitted by only one individual or organization. If the film is a co-production, the entrant assumes full responsibility for notifying the other co-production partners of the entry. In the event of multiple entries for the same film, copyright ownership will determine which entry is accepted. The entrant is responsible for securing and clearing all rights.

For more information click here.

There’s still time to support HRE USA!

by hreusaAugust 27, 2025Leave a comment

Donate to Human Rights Educators USA General Fund

Human rights are the basic standards each of us needs to live with dignity, freedom, equality, justice, and peace. Everyone is entitled to these rights, without discrimination.

Human Rights Education (HRE) is a key part of any strategy to achieve long-term social change that ensures that we are all able to enjoy our human rights equally and without discrimination. HRE promotes values, beliefs, and attitudes that encourage all individuals to uphold their own rights and those of others. It develops an understanding of everyone’s common responsibility to make human rights a reality in each community.

Human Rights Educators USA (HRE USA) is a growing network dedicated to building a culture of human rights by providing an innovative forum for HRE practitioners and supporters to learn, network, and exchange professional expertise and better serve our growing HRE community.

HRE USA operates on a very lean budget and staff. The bulk of the work conducted in our activities and projects is done through the in-kind donation of time and energy given by our dedicated members. Your tax-deductible donation of any size will help us continue to advocate for and further develop programming that supports human rights education across the United States.

HRE USA is a fiscally sponsored project of the Center for Transformative Action, a 501(c)3 organization. Checks should be made out to the Center for Transformative Action and mailed to The Center for Transformative Action, Attn: HRE USA, P.O. Box 760, Ithaca, NY.

Connect Your Students to a 250-Year Legacy: Engage. Share. Win.

by hreusaAugust 26, 2025Leave a comment

Connect Your Students to a 250-Year Legacy. Make history with the Bill of Rights Institute and iCivics! Teach the themes of the Declaration of Independence throughout the 2025-26 school year for a chance to win prizes and swag.

In partnership with iCivics, the Challenge celebrates teachers who share the themes of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of our nation during the 2025-26 school year.

Educators who log activities that touch on these themes are entered into a prize drawing. Each item logged counts as an entry. Four prize drawings will occur throughout the school year, and $200,000 in prizes will be available for you and your school.

Find out how to win!

Class with Eve L. Ewing

by hreusaAugust 26, 2025Leave a comment

Scholar Eve L. Ewing, in conversation with Rethinking Schools editor Jesse Hagopian and Rethinking Schools executive director Cierra Kaler-Jones, will discuss her book, Original Sins: The (Mis)Education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism, an examination of how the U.S. school system helps maintain racial inequality and social hierarchies. ASL interpretation provided and PD certificates offered to attendees.
Register here

HREA: AI, Human Rights & Education

by hreusaAugust 25, 2025August 25, 2025Leave a comment

HREA in collaboration with Pedagogy Futures has just released a six-lesson module addressing AI Human Rights and Education! The curriculum empowers educators and students to critically engage with how AI shapes society, from education to governance, public services, and civil liberties. Through interactive lessons and real-world case studies, participants build essential literacy around AI’s potential and risks, all grounded in a commitment to dignity and human rights. Download this free curriculum here.

HRE USA Curriculum Integration Guide

by hreusaAugust 25, 2025Leave a comment

The Human Rights Education Curriculum Integration Guide provides model lessons to help social studies and other educators implement human rights education in their daily practice.

This project was developed by a team of New Jersey educators and is tied specifically to their state’s social studies standards. However, the guide can be used as a model for any educator seeking to integrate human rights into their curriculum.

Curriculum highlight writer: John Terry, HRE USA Steering Committee, NJ Regional Rep

Human Rights Essay Contest: $5000, $2500, $1250 Prizes

by hreusaAugust 23, 2025Leave a comment

The Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation(khref.org) is offering prizes of $5000, $2500, and $1250 to high school students who are citizensor residents of the U.S.judged to have written the best answers to the following question:

Many claim climate change poses a threat to human rights. Do you agree? Provide a clear explanation of the reasons you think specific proposals to deal with the issue are beneficial or harmful.

The essays are due on December 10^th (Human Rights Day). More information about KHREF and a downloadable flyer may be found here.