hreusa

Dear HRE USA Member,

Join Us in Supporting the Kirby Edmonds Fellowship Campaign!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our Kirby Edmonds Fellowship Campaign, one of our biggest fundraisers of the year! This campaign is dedicated to supporting the Kirby Edmonds Summer Fellowships, which provide invaluable mentorship and hands-on experience to nurture the next generation of human rights education leaders.

About the Kirby Edmonds Summer Fellowships:
The Kirby Edmonds Summer Fellowships were established to honor the remarkable legacy of Kirby Edmonds, a pivotal member of the human rights community who devoted his life to social justice. These fellowships are designed to develop human rights education leaders by offering them practical experience and mentorship, helping them to carry forward Kirby’s vision and commitment to social justice.

How You Can Help:
We invite you to join us in this crucial effort to support human rights education and leadership development. Your generous contributions will directly fund the fellowship program, providing resources and opportunities for aspiring human rights leaders to gain the skills and knowledge they need to make a meaningful impact.

How to Donate:
If you are able to contribute, please consider making a monetary donation to our campaign. Donations will be accepted from July 10th to July 31st. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a significant difference in fueling the future of human rights education.

>> Donation Link: https://tinyurl.com/edmondsfellowshipcampaign

Why Your Support Matters:
By donating to the Kirby Edmonds Fellowship Campaign, you are not only honoring the legacy of an extraordinary individual but also investing in the future of human rights advocacy. These fellowships empower emerging leaders to champion human rights and social justice in their communities and beyond.

Spread the Word:
We also encourage you to share this campaign with your network. Together, we can amplify our impact and ensure that Kirby Edmonds’ dedication to social justice continues to inspire and drive change.

Thank you for your support and commitment to human rights education.

Warm regards,
The HRE USA Team 

Stay Connected:

Follow us on social media for updates and stories from our fellows.

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Twitter

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: 2024 Edward O’Brien Human Rights Education Awards

Human Rights Educators USA (HRE USA) invites nominations for the 2024 Edward O’Brien Human Rights Education Awards. These awards were established in memory of Ed O’Brien, pioneer human right educator and valued member of HRE USA who died suddenly in 2015.

There are two awards annually. One recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to human rights education in the United States. The other honors an organization, institution, or program that has made a similarly outstanding contribution to human rights education in the United States. Please review descriptions of past winners on this page.

The 2024 Edward O’Brien Human Rights Education Awards will be presented on International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2024.

Edward O’Brien Human Rights Education Award Nomination Form

Deadline for nominations is September 14, 2024.

We are pleased to announce the availability of our latest installment of podcast episodes in Human Rights Education NOW! Episodes 33, 34 & 35 feature conversations with Karen Robinson. Karen Robinson has over 35 years of experience in human rights, human rights education, community and youth development, and community organizing. Karen started her career at American University where she helped start the Center for Volunteerism and Community Service. Later, Karen moved to Amnesty International, USA where she served as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Deputy Director and Director of the Human Rights Education program. In that capacity, she served six years as the Chair of the International Human Rights Education Coordinating Committee for Amnesty International globally. As the Director of Human Rights Education at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (RFKHR), she led the creation of the Speak Truth To Power Human Rights Education program. Working with local partners, she has helped start HRE programs in South Africa, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Greece and numerous schools across the U.S.

Episode 33: Karen Robinson, Part One

In Episode 33, Karen Robsinson discusses her journey into human rights education; her early career work at the Close Up Foundation, American University, and Amnesty International; challenges and successes of the human rights education movement; her time at the Man Up Campaign; and her Directorship at RFKHR, where she developed and currently runs the Speak Truth to Power Program.

Topics discussed:

• Origins of interest and work in human rights education 
• Work at the Close Up Foundation
• Time at American University
• Work with Amnesty International 
• Challenges and Successes of the human rights education movement in the US
• Time at the Man Up Campaign
• Directorship at RFKHR
• Speak Truth To Power program

Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.

Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE. 

Episode 34: Karen Robinson, Part Two

In Episode 34, Karen Robinson continues her discussion regarding the Man Up Campaign, as well as the Speak Truth to Power Program at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. She talks about the RFKHR annual video contest, as well as the theater program. Karen goes on to highlight the importance of sharing stories and raising awareness about human rights issues, particularly for marginalized communities. She also touches on the intersections of human rights with other fields such as science and math, and the potential for human rights to be incorporated into any area of education, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining hope and solidarity in the face of persistent violence and injustice.

Topics discussed:

• Man Up Campaign
• Speak Truth To Power Program at RFKHR
• RFKHR Annual Video Contest
• RFKHR Theater programming
• Importance of sharing stories and raising awareness around human rights issues
• Intersection of human rights with other subject areas 
• Importance of maintaining solidarity and hope in the face of persistent injustice 

Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.

Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.

Episode 35: Karen Robinson, Part Three

In Episode 35, Karen Robinson describes her spiritual grounding, as well as the impact and influence of great thinkers like Khalil Gibran. Next, she discusses the current challenges facing academic freedom and intellectual safety in education, and the connection between human rights and sports. Lastly, Karen shares her most influential role model on her journey in human rights, as well as one critical change she would like to see happen to advance HRE.

Topics discussed:

• Spiritual grounding 
• Khalil Gibran
• Challenges facing academic freedom and intellectual safety in education
• Connection between human rights and sports
• Influential role models and inspiring quotes
• One critical change which would progress the HRE movement forward 

Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.

Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.

For Listeners: Moved from Google Podcasts to YouTube Music in April

• Google Podcast was discontinued on April 2, 2024.
• We moved all our episodes onto YouTube Music. 
• All previously published episodes will remain available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Deezer, and PlayerFM. 

Thank you for supporting the Human Rights Education NOW! podcast!

Visit this page to get up to date on the latest HRE USA news.

The films featured in the playlist explore the strength and the courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. Explore playlist

Are you (or do you know) a high school student passionate about social justice, democracy, and creating positive change? If so, we have an exciting opportunity to tell you about!

Girls Learn International is hosting a virtual Summer Activist Training Camp (SATC) designed to empower the next generation of activists. 

This free online program is open to high school and first-year college students of any gender who are eager to sharpen their advocacy skills. SATC runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 9 to August 1, 2024. 

At SATC, students will:

• Learn About Key Issues: Including reproductive rights, the Equal Rights Amendment, voting rights, and more.
• Develop Organizing Strategies: Learn effective organizing strategies and advocacy skills for successful and impactful advocacy. 
• Engage with Expert Speakers: Hear from inspiring speakers who will share their experiences and knowledge.
• Build a Community: Connect with like-minded peers from across the country, creating a network of young activists passionate about making a difference.

Applications are due June 25, 2024! 

In a landscape where youth voter suppression persists, and women’s rights are under attack, it is vital for us to unite, educate, and amplify the voices of tomorrow. Please encourage any students you know to apply for SATC. This is their chance to join a community of motivated and passionate young activists, learn valuable skills, and contribute to shaping a brighter future.

Learn more and apply at bit.ly/2024satc. 

The World Day Against Child Labor is taking place on June 14!  Although significant strides have been taken in reducing child labor over time, recent years have seen global trends reverse, underscoring the pressing need to unite efforts in expediting actions to eradicate child labor in all its manifestations.

This year’s World Day will focus on celebrating the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (1999, No. 182). It also presents an opportunity to remind all stakeholders to improve their implementation of the two fundamental Conventions on child labour – Convention No. 182 and Convention No. 138 concerning the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment or Work (1973).

HREA has over 60 resources addressing children’s rights, including lesson plans, toolkits, teacher training manuals and multimedia materials.

In preparation for educational activities against child labor and throughout the year, you are welcome to explore HREA’s Online Resource Center for HRE resources on topics at the intersection human and children’s rights.

Voice of Witness invites you to a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming oral history collection, Global Stories from the Automated Welfare State. Join project co-editor Virginia Eubanks in conversation with author Dave Eggers to examine how the shift towards an automated welfare state has become a growing human rights crisis, and the importance of sharing stories from those most directly affected.

Digital tools increasingly mediate access to basic human needs such as housing, food, physical safety, medical care, financial capital, employment, and family integrity. Global Stories from the Automated Welfare State uncovers the largely untold human stories behind the worldwide shift to algorithmic public assistance. The first-person narratives in this book illustrate how threats to fair decision-making processes, equitable outcomes, and even material survival are already occurring all over the world, particularly in poor and working-class communities.

June 6, 2024 at 6:00 pm PT / 9:00 pm ET
The Firehouse in Cole Valley, 259 Frederick Street, San Francisco, CA

Register