Category: News and Updates

Update: Together we’ve raised $2,240! Thank you to all of our supporters and community, and shout out to our three Edmonds Fellows—Ara Eghbali, Carly Sandstrom, and Emma Tolliver—and Supervisors—Hallie McRae and Kara Anderson—for their amazing work on this campaign!

Our campaign ends August 17, please consider a donation to support the Edmonds Fellows!
>> Donate

Become a co-sponsor today and help support the 2024-2025 series
We are finalizing our Co-Sponsors for the 2024-25 Training As Action Series. If you are interested in becoming a Co-Sponsor with a contribution of $100-750, you can donate through the link below, request an invoice, or write a check 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), or Contact kristi@hreusa.org for more information. All co-sponsors will have the opportunity to have their organization’s logo displayed on promotional materials.
>>Co-sponsorship donation campaign

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:

You can help us by contributing to our new 2025 Kirby Edmonds Summer Fellowships Campaign. We will be in touch with more information soon, but your gift will help us achieve our fundraising goal before the end of the summer. We want to ensure that this important program is sustained for years to come.

Stay Connected:

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

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

Take a look at what HRE USA has been up to over the past two years. Read our 2022-2024 report here.

Past reports are available here.

We are pleased to announce the availability of our latest installment of podcast episodes in Human Rights Education NOW! Episodes 36 & 37 feature conversations with Glenn Mitoma. Glenn Mitoma is a Lecturer in the Discipline of Human Rights and Director of Undergraduate Studies at the Institute for the Study of Human Rights, Columbia University.  His research and teaching focus on the history of human rights and human rights education, with current projects on the mid-20th century history of human rights education. He has served on the Connecticut State Advisory Committee on Genocide and Holocaust Education and the Executive Committee for Human Rights Educators USA, and was a founding member of both the Connecticut Human Rights Partnership and the University and College Consortium for Human Rights Education. His publications include: Preparing Educators, Advocates, and Allies: Teacher Education in the HRE Movement and Human Rights and the Negotiation of American Power.

Episode 36: Glenn Mitoma, Part One

In Episode 36, Glenn Mitoma shares the origins of his interest in human rights and human rights education (HRE) and his work at the University of Connecticut. Next, he describes partnership programs between the university and K-12 education, as well as professional development programs in HRE for K-12 educators and their students. Glenn then discusses challenges in forging partnerships within a university setting, as well as the hurdles and opportunities for HRE at Columbia University and other higher education institutions, and his thoughts on the creation of the University and College Consortium for HRE. Glenn highlights what he sees as a growing interest among  students in programs that advance justice and the barriers constraining non-traditional programs in HRE. Later, Glenn expounds upon the relationships between higher education and popular education in HRE, in addition to popular and community education connections to transformative HRE. Glenn then examines the connections between HRE and active K-12 citizenship education, as well as ideas around revisiting history education and the concept of shared memory using an HRE lens. Lastly, Glenn illuminates his views on U.S. history as part of a global, transnational process, along with efforts at censoring history and social studies instruction.

Topics discussed:

• Origins of interests in human rights and human rights education
• Work at the University of Connecticut
• Partnership programs between university and K-12 programs
• Professional development programs in HRE for K-12 educators
• Challenges in forging partnerships within university setting 
• Hurdles and opportunities for HRE at Columbia University and other institutions
• Creation of the University and College College Consortium for HRE
• Growing interest among students in social justice programs
• Relationship between HRE and K-12 citizenship education 
• Revisiting history education through shared memory using HRE lens
• Views on U.S. history as global, transnational process

Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.

Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.

Episode 37: Glenn Mitoma, Part Two

In Episode 37, Glenn Mitoma discusses the relationships between HRE and social justice, as well as his thoughts on social justice as a dynamic force advancing human rights in the pursuit of justice. Next, he shares his thoughts on the Indigenous rights movement as a force for collective rights. Glenn also describes the use of CRC as a pathway to support childrens’ rights, including ideas for engaging youth voices in decision making about education. He then elaborates on HRE and the challenge of authoritarianism and confronting leaders and others who reject universal human rights. Later, he shares his views on education as a force for human rights, and the significance of mobilizing the broader public in defense of human rights and education writ large. Glenn then underlines the importance of building alliances between HRE and educators from K-university as a way to challenge inequality and support academic freedom. He shares his role models who inspired his HRE work, such as Miles Horton and Hannah Arendt. He recommends advancing HRE in the U.S. by establishing a national truth commission regarding human rights violations and genocide against Indigenous Peoples along with constructing a new historical memory through an open, democratic forum, citing the California Reparations Task Force as an example. 

Topics discussed:

• Relationship between HRE and social justice 
• Social justice as dynamic force for advancing human rights
• Indigenous rights movement as force for collective rights
• CRC as pathway to support childrens’ rights 
• Engaging youth voices in decision making about education
• Challenges of authoritarianism 
• Confronting leaders who reject universal human rights 
• Views on education as force for human rights 
• Mobilizing the broader public in defense of human rights 
• Alliances between university and K-12 educators to support academic freedom
• Role models and recommendations for advancing HRE in the U.S.

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!

To encourage a new generation of human rights activists, the 2024 Youth in Action for Human Rights Awards recognize youth leaders, one individual and one group, whose work explicitly or implicitly reflects and promotes human rights values. Because young activists must nominate themselves for the awards, HRE USA urges adults familiar with their work to urge them to apply. For further information and nomination forms see https://hreusa.org/awards-and-grant-opportunities/youth-in-action-for-human-rights-awards/

Award Eligibility:  

Their principal work should focus on the USA. 

One individual and one group of young people in high school (grades 9-12) or the equivalent  (e.g., older high school students, GED students, not in formal schooling). 

Ineligible: College students and those 21 or older.

Questions? Email awards@hreusa.org

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!