News and Updates – Page 2

Leveraging Global Human Rights to Protect our Cities

by hreusaApril 8, 2026Leave a comment

Wednesday April 8, 6:00-7:15PM Eastern/ 3:00PM Pacific

Today in the United States we face a human rights emergency. The deployment of National Guard and ICE agents in major cities usurps the basic rights of residents as well as local authority. Rights to free speech and assembly are under attack, and courts are failing to hold leaders accountable to the law. The international human rights system can provide a court of appeal for situations like this. This panel of legal experts, advocates, and scholars will discuss how international human rights can be a tool for cities and local movements serving as the front line defenders of human rights.

REGISTER HERE

Panelists: Lisa Borden, Deputy Federal Policy Director, Southern Poverty Law Center; Jamil Dakwar, Director, Human Rights Program, American Civil Liberties Union; Amy Berquist, Associate Program Director, International Justice Program, The Advocates for Human Rights (Minneapolis)
Facilitator: Manisha Desai, Director, Center for Changing Systems of Power at Stony Brook University & Board member, Human Rights Cities Alliance

Co-sponsored by the Human Rights Cities Alliance, US Human Rights Network, and Center for Changing Systems of Power at Stony Brook UniversityFor more information see human-rights-cities.org
Email: info@humanrightscities.mayfirst.org

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

New We the People High School Textbook Released

by hreusaApril 6, 2026Leave a comment

The Center for Civic Education has released a new fifth edition of its flagship textbook, We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution, Level 3, for high school students. Beyond teaching facts about the Constitution and the fundamental principles of American government, this inquiry-based curriculum transforms classrooms into forums for civil discourse. The revised edition contains six units and 36 lessons, a trusted format that has been updated with the latest developments in American constitutional governance.

New in this edition are Archive Investigations, where students use primary sources to deepen their understanding of constitutional issues; Beyond the Basics sidebars that spur students to ask deeper questions about the topics covered in the lessons; Stop and Reflect prompts that challenge students to extend their thinking and make connections between the text and other concepts and ideas; and Collaborate Together questions that drive civil dialogue and critical thinking in teams to extend learning and consider diﬀerent perspectives. Order from Gibbs Smith Education or learn more below. Available in print and digital editions.

Learn More

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

New Resources for Teaching About Central America

by hreusaApril 3, 2026Leave a comment

Teaching for Change’s work began decades ago with teacher committees in solidarity with Central America. We developed lessons and workshops to address the scarcity of resources in the K–12 curriculum. Those resources are now available online at our Teaching Central America site for year round access. To focus attention on the region during Latinx Heritage Month, we host Teach Central America Week (first week of October.)

We are delighted to share updates on our program and also invaluable new resources from our colleagues, including a 14-minute film on El Salvador by Pablo Leon, story maps on contemporary topics such as the Afro-Indigenous Garifuna people and the truth about President Bukele, and new books for middle school to adult.

In this award-winning, classroom-friendly, 14-minute animated film by Pablo Leon, a journalist documents the experiences of three people who lived through the tragic 12-year-long Salvadoran Civil War in the 1980s.

The film explores themes of childhood loss and violence against women and the Indigenous population. Storytelling and memory offer hope for the future. View Film

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

Applications are open: UN Nairobi Immersion Programme 2026

by hreusaApril 2, 2026Leave a comment

Applications are now open for the UN Nairobi Immersion Programme, a 5-day field visit to Nairobi organized by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in 2026. Scholarships are available.

Enhance your expertise in diplomacy and gain direct access to the United Nations with this immersive training programme, including gaining a deeper understanding of UN career pathways and networking with UN staff.

The United Nations Nairobi Immersion Programme (1^st June – 5^th June 2026) includes expert lecturers, training workshops, conferences and guided tours through UN premises. Participants will also have the chance to participate in career development sessions on how to advance their professional careers and find a solid footing in the world of international organizations.

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

Episode 74 with Mischa Geracoulis is available on Human Rights Education Now!

by hreusaApril 1, 2026Leave a comment

Mischa Geracoulis is Outreach and Engagement Officer at Project Censored and Production Lead at The Censored Press. She contributes to the State of the Free Press yearbook, serves as a Project Judge, and authored Media Framing and the Destruction of Cultural Heritage (Routledge, 2025).Mischa is also a Global Press Freedom Expert and Index Respondent with Reporters Without Borders. Her work focuses on human rights, journalistic ethics, press freedom, and the preservation of cultural heritage. She holds an M.A. in Education and Media Studies and a B.A. in International Development with a concentration on the Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region. Her journalistic portfolio can be found at: https://muckrack.com/mischa-geracoulis/portfolio.

Episode 74 Summary

In this episode of Human Rights Education Now!, Mischa Geracoulis examines how human rights, journalism, and the preservation of cultural heritage intersect, focusing on the legacy of the Armenian genocide. She discusses how cultural erasure and historical silences cause ongoing human rights violations and how journalism documents these histories to resist erasure.

The conversation centers on cultural heritage as a human rights issue, focusing on Rafael Lemkin’s work and media narratives. Mischa’s discussion of “change-centered” journalism and the role of microhistories in amplifying marginalized voices links to Edward Said’s Orientalism and critiques of media and power.

Mischa describes her work with Project Censored, focusing on promoting critical media literacy and defending freedom of expression under Articles 19 and 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The episode centers on contemporary censorship, particularly political pressures on academic and journalistic freedom, and how media institutions shape or suppress truth.

The discussion concludes with a global perspective on the destruction of cultural heritage, including the case of Nagorno-Karabakh, and a call for educators to integrate critical media literacy and cultural heritage into human rights education. Mischa emphasizes that empowering individuals to critically analyze media and recognize whose voices are included or excluded is essential for advancing human rights in the modern world.

Topics discussed:

· Origins of Mischa Geracoulis’ work in human rights and journalism

· Armenian genocide and cultural erasure

· Journalism’s role in documenting human rights abuses

· Cultural heritage as a human rights issue

· Microhistories and change-centered journalism

· Edward Said’s Orientalism and media analysis

· Project Censored and media accountability

· Critical media literacy in human rights education

· Censorship, propaganda, and academic freedom

· Cultural destruction in Nagorno-Karabakh

· Educators’ role in preserving cultural heritage

Tags:

Human rights; Human rights education; Cultural heritage; Armenian genocide; Microhistories; Rafael Lemkin; Change-centered journalism; Edward Said; Orientalism; Project Censored; Critical media literacy; Armenian SSR; Nagorno-Karabakh; Journalism education; Daniel Ellsberg; Ben Bagdikian; Nelson Mandela; Gandhi

Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.

Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.

All episodes of Human Rights Education Now! are available on:

Buzzsprout, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Deezer, PlayerFM, Pocket Casts, and the HRE USA website,

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

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

Apply now: Master of Science in Human Rights at Binghamton University

by hreusaMarch 30, 2026Leave a comment

The Master of Science in Human Rights at Binghamton University offers human rights approaches to a variety of issues including education, health, violence, children, family, poverty, incarceration, immigration, and the political economy.Students will develop competencies in community organizing, social innovation and program evaluation as well as professional skills for working in human rights organizations at the local, regional, national and international levels.

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

The HART Prize for Human Rights Competition

by hreusaMarch 28, 2026Leave a comment

Are you a youth advocate or a frontline journalist? Do you know someone with the drive and gifts to make a difference?
The HART Prize for Human Rights celebrates diverse voices and perspectives. With your creativity and sensitivity, we want to bring human rights into the light. The competition is free to enter, and runs from March 16th to May 15th.

Youth

The creative and essay categories are open to 11-25 year olds. The brief is simple: we’re looking for clear and thoughtful submissions about a forgotten conflict or human rights issue that does not have mainstream attention. Find out more.

Journalism

We’re thrilled to launch a new category spotlighting frontline journalists living and working in Nigeria. If you’re a journalist working under extreme pressure who reports with precision, courage, and care, we want to hear from you. Submit an article or blog about a hidden crisis or human rights abuse, or nominate a colleague. We maintain an urgent focus on the Middle Belt. Find out more.

ENTER NOW!

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

Women’s History Book A Day

by hreusaMarch 27, 2026Leave a comment

In honor of Women’s History Month, each day Social Justice Books features a children’s book we recommend to highlight grassroots women’s history in the United States. See our post online and follow Social Justice Books on Instagram to follow each day.

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

The HRE USA Edmonds Summer Fellowship: Deadline extened to Friday April 3rd at 11:59 PST

by hreusaMarch 26, 2026Leave a comment

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Deadline to submit applications has been extended to Friday April 3rd at 11:59 PST

Click here to learn about the the Edmonds Summer Fellowship program.

Summer Fellowship Project Summaries can be found HERE

In August of 2020, Human Rights Educators USA (HRE USA) lost one of its sustaining sources of inspiration and committed leadership – Kirby Edmonds. As a founding member of HRE USA, Kirby was instrumental in the establishment of HRE USA, directly shaping our mission statement, organizational structure, and most importantly our values framework and the consensus-based policy for decision-making. He served as Co-Chair of HRE USA for nearly a decade.

In honor of his legacy, HRE USA has created the Edmonds Summer Fellowship program to support hands-on leadership experience in human rights education and further Kirby’s work to engage young people in building human rights-friendly schools and communities. Fellows are supported with ongoing mentoring, guidance, and human rights learning opportunities throughout the summer.

The Edmonds Summer Fellowship program is supported in partnership with the Dorothy Cotton Institute (DCI) which carries on the legacy of civil rights legend Dorothy F. Cotton. Kirby served DCI as a Senior Fellow and Program Coordinator. DCI’s vision is a just and peaceful beloved community in which all people understand, protect and exercise full human rights. Their mission is to develop and train leaders for a global human rights movement and build a network of civil and human rights leadership. DCI’s Project Director, Laura Branca, said “Our Steering Committee proudly supports the Edmonds Fellowship to nurture young leaders and promote practices that transform individuals, schools and communities, opening new pathways to peace, justice and healing. What a fine way to honor Kirby’s legacy!”

Eligibility & Compensation

Ability to commit 100 hours between June 1-August 28, 2026
18 years old or older
$1500 stipend
Reside in the United States
Commitment to vision and mission of HRE USA

Donations to support the Edmonds Summer Fellowship can be made online or checks can be made out to the Center for Transformative Action with “HRE USA Edmonds Fellowship” in the memo line and mailed to the Center for Transformative Action, P.O. Box 760, Ithaca, NY 14851

Donate to Support the Edmonds Fellows

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

Migration is a Human (Rights) Story

by hreusaMarch 26, 2026Leave a comment

Woven Teaching is excited to share our latest edition of Human Rights Beyond the Headlines! This month’s topic: Migration is a Human (Rights) Story.

Created to support educators in helping young people navigate the current events that impact their lives, Human Rights Beyond the Headlines will provide background information about key current events and strategies for discussing them with young people, including how to understand them through the wider lens of justice and human rights.

Migration is a Human (Rights) Story

Migration, the movement of people away from their home to somewhere else, is a fundamental part of human history. Migration has always happened. But why do people move from home to somewhere else–crossing cities and borders, countries and continents?Everyone needs and deserves to be safe. When people feel unsafe, mistreated, or vulnerable, they sometimes look for options to live elsewhere. When people don’t have educational and work opportunities to build a decent life, or when their families and loved ones live in other places, they make the difficult decision to leave home. Often, the journeys are dangerous, difficult, and uncertain–but they go anyway.

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