Written by Felisa Tibbitts and Marissa Wong, this study examines how recent U.S. high school graduates who were engaged in actions to bring about political or social change describe the influences of in-school experiences.
Category: News and Updates
2025: Resisting Hate and Fighting for Democracy
The new year brings many challenges for our country and communities, reminding us of the importance of working together to counter hate and strengthen democracy. This January, Learning for Justice offers two series for public education. Resisting Hate in Education offers strategies for prevention, intervention and response to hate and bias. To strengthen democracy in the United States, we must understand the systems of government, politics and the media; our Civics for Democracy series can help.
Registrations are open for the Human Rights Certificate Program
University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School Global Institute for Human Rights Certificate Program, May 20-23, 2025 – Registration is now open!
In a world facing unprecedented challenges—from the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence to the climate crisis and human rights violations in global conflicts—there is an urgent need for skilled advocates to lead the way. Penn Carey Law’s Global Institute of Human Rights Certificate Program is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to become a transformative advocate, human rights factfinder, and leader in addressing these critical issues.
Call for Applications: One-year, Online, Master’s Program “Identity, Education and Competences for Democratic Culture
There is a Call for Applications for a one-year, online, master’s program “Identity, Education and Competences for Democratic Culture.” The MA Program’s main objective is to support the implementation of these competences, including human rights education, in the formal, non-formal and informal education sectors. The program is organized by the University of Athens and the European Wergeland Centre and will begin in October, 2025.
Please visit the program website for more information: Master Identity, Education and Competences for Democratic Culture. Questions may be directed to MAdemocracy@theol.uoa.gr The deadline for applications is May 15, 2025.
2025 Black Lives Matter at School
Join us for the eighth annual Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action from February 3–7, 2025. This transformative week inspires school communities of all ages to engage in critical reflection, honest conversations, and targeted action toward building schools where Black lives truly matter.
To help you prepare for this impactful week, we’re offering professional development opportunities for educators. Keep reading to discover the events and resources designed to support you!
Sign up for the Week of Action
Two days left to contribute to the Empower Youth, Secure the Future campaign!
Our Empower Youth, Secure the Future campaign, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), is still on and we would greatly appreciate your contributions!
The CRC has been a cornerstone in advocating for children’s rights worldwide. This campaign is dedicated to empowering youth and fostering a committed community of human rights learners and educators. The principles of the CRC guide our mission to ensure that every child knows and can defend their rights, which will be ever-crucial in the coming year(s).
Your involvement and support are crucial to the success of this campaign! Here’s how you can help our campaign flourish:
Donate: Your generous contributions will significantly impact our ability to achieve our goals. Every donation counts and brings us closer to empowering the next generation of human rights advocates.
Share: Spread the word about our campaign with your esteemed networks. Your influence can help us reach a broader audience and garner the support we need to make this campaign a success.
Advocate: Continue to advocate for human rights education within your communities and beyond. Your leadership and dedication inspire others to join our mission and work, which is as crucial as ever as we move into 2025.
www.givegab.com/campaigns/empoweryouth-securethefuture
Thank you for your commitment and dedication to human rights!
New release: More Than Human Rights: An Ecology of Law, Thought and Narrative for Earthly Flourishing
NYU Center for Human Rights & Global Justice released an open access publication: More Than Human Rights: An Ecology of Law, Thought and Narrative for Earthly Flourishing.
“This book includes contributions from leading lawyers, scientists, philosophers, and writers from around the world who participated in the inaugural gathering of the More-Than-Human Rights (MOTH) project. The volume discusses the philosophical, legal, and scientific foundations of the MOTH framework as well as its implications for ideas and practices in fields such as law, human rights, ecology, politics, and storytelling.”
This book will be of special interest to those interested in the rights of nature and can be downloaded here: https://lnkd.in/d5UMNK_E
Next week! Defending Democracy Webinar for Educators
There’s one week left to register for our upcoming webinar about our latest curriculum, Defending Democracy: Lessons for Building Resilience and Taking Action! This new project highlights ways that young people can take action to protect democracy and fight authoritarianism.
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
4:30-5:30pm PT
Zoom
Register for the Jan. 14 Webinar
Woven Teaching’s latest curriculum, Defending Democracy: Lessons for Building Resilience and Taking Action, highlights ways that young people can take action to protect democracy and fight authoritarianism.
Please join us at our upcoming webinar, where we will discuss Human Rights Education and explore Defending Democracy. During this session, we will also be joined by our colleagues at the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, an organization that is committed to uncovering and combating extremism. They will share their perspective on Project 2025, as well as challenges facing students and educators under the incoming presidential administration in the United States. Finally, we will discuss actionable steps that can be taken to protect democracy in the United States.
Palestine and Black Power: New lesson from Rethingking Schools
We share here a new lesson from Rethinking Schools on Black perspectives on Palestine-Israel during the Civil Rights and Black Power movements.
Rethinking Schools managing editor and lesson co-author Adam Sanchez wrote, “What I love about this lesson is it does not shy away from the complex views of civil rights leaders — it presents the Zionist views of Bayard Rustin, the NAACP, and Dr. Martin Luther King’s attempt at taking both sides, alongside Malcolm X, SNCC, and the Black Panthers’ more unabashedly pro-Palestinian viewpoints. It attempts to point out when both sides veered into Islamophobic or antisemitic rhetoric. . . .The lesson presents students with complex truths and allows them to decide what they think about it.”
Three of the authors are teachers who are currently under attack. Read Defenders of Israel Attempt to Silence Anti-Racist Educators in Philadelphia in the latest issue of the Rethinking Schools magazine.
Let us know if you use the lesson.
Episodes 46 & 47 with Kristi Rudelius-Palmer are available on Human Rights Education Now!
We are pleased to announce the availability of our latest installment of podcast episodes in Human Rights Education NOW! Episodes 46 & 47 feature conversations with Kristi Rudelius-Palmer. Kristi Rudelius-Palmer, Ph.D., is a distinguished human rights learning consultant, strategy advisor, and director for Human Rights Educators USA. As a Fulbright Specialist (2023-2026), she collaborated with the University of Iceland’s School of Education to launch its first course on human rights and ecological well-being. Kristi co-founded the International Association for Human Rights Education and the University and College Consortium for Human Rights Education and serves on the executive committee of Minneapolis’ Child Friendly City initiative, recognized by UNICEF USA. From 1989 to 2016, she co-directed the University of Minnesota Human Rights Center, spearheading initiatives such as the Human Rights Library and the K-12 Minnesota Human Rights Education Initiative. Her publications include “Stories As Theories”: Illuminating Human Rights Education Through The Narratives Of Human Rights Educators, Towards a Just Society: The Personal Journeys of Human Rights Educators, Storytelling as a, Relational and Instrumental Tool for Addressing Racial Justice, Human Rights Education Handbook: Effective Practices for Learning, Action, and Change, and Taking Your Human Rights Temperature.
Episode 46: Kristi Rudelius-Palmer, Part One
In Episode 46, Dr. Kristi Rudelius-Palmer reflects on the origins of her passion for human rights and human rights education, tracing it back to transformative experiences during her junior year in Europe, where she developed an interest in anti-racist/anti-apartheid activism and founded an Amnesty International chapter at her college. She highlights the profound influence of her family, particularly the lessons drawn from Holocaust history and the importance of caring for others, which shaped her commitment to social justice. Kristi discusses her tenure at the University of Minnesota Human Rights Center, where mentorship by Dr. David Weissbrodt deepened her understanding of institution-building and the power of networking in human rights education. She emphasizes the significance of initiatives like internship programs, the development of the World Programme for Human Rights Education, and the creation of an internet-based library of UDHR and human rights education materials. Kristi shares insights from her collaborations with global HRE leaders, focusing on effective training practices for educators and the importance of intergenerational storytelling in advancing human rights education. Looking ahead, she discusses her leadership role at Human Rights Educators USA, highlighting priorities such as fostering youth leadership, sustaining relationships during challenging times, and leveraging podcasting and scholarly journals to expand the reach and impact of human rights education globally.
Topics discussed:
- Anti-racist/anti-apartheid activism and founding an Amnesty International chapter.
- Family influence and lessons from Holocaust history.
- Mentorship by Dr. David Weissbrodt on institution-building and networking.
- Work on the World Programme for Human Rights Education and UDHR library.
- Global collaborations on educator training and HRE practices.
- Leadership at HRE USA, focusing on youth leadership and storytelling.
- Podcasting and scholarly journals for expanding HRE impact.
Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.
Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.
Episode 47: Kristi Rudelius-Palmer, Part Two
In Episode 47, Dr. Kristi Rudelius-Palmer reflects on her work in human rights education (HRE), beginning with her learnings from Indigenous activist educators and communities along with the importance of integrating the International Indian Treaty Council initiatives, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the American Indian Movement into educational frameworks. She discusses efforts to create spaces for learning about Indigenous cultures while addressing public misconceptions about Indigenous history, such as reinterpreting Columbus’s legacy to challenge flawed historical narratives. Kristi emphasizes the connection between HRE and social justice, advocating for collective human rights experiences and respecting diverse perspectives. She stresses the need for action against injustice, encouraging a shift from guilt to responsibility, drawing on LeVar Burton’s work to explore intersectional identities. Kristi also explores the application of HRE in addressing children’s rights, highlighting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and initiatives like child-friendly cities and the “Raising Children with Rights and Responsibilities” curriculum. Her work emphasizes youth involvement in securing their rights through platforms like the HRE USA Training As Action Series. Kristi discusses the rise of authoritarianism and the importance of educational standards from an HRE perspective, alongside advocating for youth engagement in democracy. Inspired by role models such as Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., and Eleanor Roosevelt, Kristi underscores the importance of storytelling in advancing human rights education. She concludes with a recommended strategy for advancing HRE in the U.S., proposing a nationwide human rights scavenger hunt to connect communities with the principles of the UDHR and create spaces where human rights can flourish.
Topics discussed:
- HRE with Indigenous communities and cultural learning spaces
- Addressing misconceptions of Indigenous history
- HRE’s role in social justice and challenging injustices
- Child rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Democracy and the rise of authoritarianism
- Influence of figures like Harriet Tubman and MLK Jr.
- Strategy for advancing HRE in the U.S. through community engagement
Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.
Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.
Thank you for supporting the Human Rights Education NOW! podcast!
HRE USA 