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HRE USA

A network dedicated to building a culture of human rights

Category: News and Updates

The Peace Studio Fellowship

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September 2023 – September 2024, Kick-off Retreat: September 10th – 14th, 2023

The Peace Studio Fellowship is a year-long program advancing artists and journalists in becoming effective peacebuilders. This year, five artists and five journalists will be awarded a $10,000 grant to support socially transformative initiatives.

In addition to this monetary support, the cohort is granted access to The Peace Studio’s “Skills for Creative Peacebuilding” curriculum, as well as guided workshops, career development resources, and connection to a network of like-minded change makers. All fellows will be matched to a respective artist or journalist in an effort to facilitate thought partnership and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Peace Studio believes that a commitment to peacebuilding is living with intention and being accountable for the impact we have on ourselves, our family, our community and others. Leveraging the unique skills and platforms of artists and journalists we can work towards a better future.

Applications close Friday, June 16, 2023 9pm (ET)

>> Learn more and apply

Building Hopes: Engaged Educators Change the World Podcast

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Episode 3. Human Rights Education and Transformative Pedagogy in Higher Education

Guest: Felisa Tibbitts

Felisa Tibbitts is Chair in Human Rights Education, Utrecht University and UNESCO Chair of Human Rights in Higher Education. She has more than 30 years of experience in the field of human rights education. In 1996, she co-founded the Human Rights Education Associates (HREA), a global human rights education center based in the USA with human rights training programs around the world.  In this episode, we ask her about her personal experience and why and how she applies critical and transformative pedagogy when teaching human rights and peace education at Teachers College, Colombia University, USA, to students coming from all over the world.

Listen to the episode at:

>> RWI
>> Spotify
>> SoundCloud

Volunteers needed for UDHR75 campaign and Human Rights Education Now! Podcast

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We are looking for volunteers to work on UDHR75 promotional materials, events, and campaigns this Summer and Fall 2023!

Contact Jessica Terbrueggen (terbrueggenj@gmail.com) to learn more and apply.

Human Rights Education Now! Podcast
Social Media and Communications Intern 

Human Rights Education Now! is a podcast that aims to (1) inform a broader audience in the U.S. and internationally about human rights education (HRE) stories, practices, related issues, and theories, (2) expand awareness and knowledge about HRE USA and its programs, and (3) engage partner individuals, groups and organizations in changing the conversation about rights in the U.S. to one employing a human rights education lens. The content includes individual narratives of experienced HRE practitioners, theorists, scholars, students, and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) advocates. 

*Note: this is an online and unpaid volunteer opportunity. Current undergraduate students studying Communications or Advertising are strongly encouraged to apply.

Internship Duration: June 1st, 2023 – August 25th, 2023 with the opportunity to continue through the fall semester if desired. Availability during the first week of each month is mandatory to correlate with episode release dates.

To Apply: email your resume and a brief cover letter indicating your interest, availability, and why you are a good fit for this opportunity to terbrueggenj@gmail.com. Application accepted on a rolling basis.

Join HRE USA Steering Committee!

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Help shape the future of human rights education. Nominate yourself or a colleague to join our HRE USA Steering Committee.

Our rules call for the election every summer of new Steering Committee members to replace retiring members. This year there are 3 open seats to be filled, and we invite all members to make nominations for their replacements. You may nominate yourself or anyone who fits the criteria for membership and can fulfill the responsibilities of Steering Committee members!

Brief biographies of current Steering Committee members can be viewed here. A ballot will be sent to all HRE USA members in July.

Elected Steering Committee members will serve a three-year term beginning in August 2023.

DEADLINE: Monday, JULY 10, 2023

>> Learn more

>> Nomination Form

For further inquiries, please contact Kristi Rudelius-Palmer at kristi@hreusa.org.

Zinn Education Project: Teach Truth Day of Action June 10

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It’s time to take action. . . . again.

For the past two summers, teachers rallied across the country at historic sites to speak out against anti-history education bills and to make public their pledge to teach the truth. The teacher-led rallies received national media attention, providing a valuable counter narrative to the oversized coverage of the well-funded anti-CRT movement.

Once again, we invite educators, students, parents, and community members to rally across the country and pledge to #TeachTruth and defend LGBTQ+ rights on June 10, 2023.

>> Learn more

2nd annual Summer Activist Training Camp (SATC): free virtual camp for middle and high school students

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GLI is dedicated to the full protection of human rights and gender equity. We are deeply concerned about those impacted by gun violence, abortion rights being rolled back, trans youth whose rights are being infringed on, young people who are being denied an adequate sexual education, and students who are being prevented from learning an accurate history of racism and sexism in the U.S. 

Featuring interactive skills workshops, briefings from experts on various human rights issues, and more, the SATC is your chance to make a difference on a topic you care about!

Participants will receive the following: 

  • Four weeks of trainings on valuable skills like public speaking, journalistic writing, and advocacy
  • Expert briefings on vital issues like abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, gun violence, and more
  • Staff support as you complete an Advocacy Project with other student participants
  • An official SATC Certificate of Completion
  • A recommendation on LinkedIn from GLI staff and/or a recommendation letter from GLI staff


This opportunity may be right for you if you: 

  • Are a middle or high school student (including students who graduate in June of 2023)
  • Can attend a minimum of 6 out of the 8 sessions (see dates below)
  • Can dedicate approximately 6 hours per week (this includes the time spent in the training sessions) 
  • Are willing to work on an Advocacy Project with other SATC participants on policy change at the local, state, or federal level


What else you need to know: 

  • The application deadline is due Monday, June 12, at 11:59 pm PT
  • All training sessions, workshops, and teamwork sessions will take place virtually
  • The SATC will take place over 8 sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 11 – August 3, 2023.
  • Each session is 2 hours long, from 12 pm- 2 pm Eastern Time, 11 am – 1 pm Central Time, 10 am- 12 pm Mountain Time, and 9 am – 11 am Pacific Time.


Space is limited; apply today:  https://bit.ly/applysatc

Two new episodes with Rosemary Blanchard on Human Rights Education NOW!

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We are pleased to announce the availability of our fourth installment of podcast episodes in Human Rights Education NOW!. These two episodes feature conversations with Rosemary Blanchard. She is Professor Emeritus at California State University Sacramento and a long-time member of HRE USA. She has a Ph.D. in Educational Policy (University of Illinois, 2001), a J.D. (University of Connecticut School of Law, 1972) and an M.A. in Sociology (Johns Hopkins U., 1972).  

Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE. Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.

Episode 7: Rosemary Blanchard Part One

In Episode 7, Rosemary Blanchard discusses her early interest in human rights issues and the importance of HRE in early education. She shares her background in civil rights law, and how witnessing extreme poverty on a trip to Brazil was transformative in shaping her views on HRE. She shares how working with the Navajo Nation as a policy analyst helped her to better understand international human rights frameworks, and how assimilation through education is a problematic issue in Navajo education. Rosemary then explains her views on the role of American exceptionalism in hampering HRE’s advance in the US. Rosemary discusses the NCSS HRE Community’s role in advancing HRE; its connections to humanitarian law; the lack of domestic understanding of international human rights in the USA; the impact of Abu Ghraib torture on her work in HRE; and the contradictions between US ideals and practices at Abu Ghraib. Finally, Rosemary shares her belief in the significance of building civil society on respect for human dignity.

Topics discussed:

  • Importance of HRE in early education
  • Civil rights law and extreme poverty as it relates to HRE
  • Navajo Nation and connections to HRE
  • American exceptionalism and its hampering of HRE
  • NCSS role in advancing HRE 
  • Abu Ghraib and contradictions between US ideals and practices
  • Significance of building society based on respect for human dignity



Episode 8: Rosemary Blanchard Part Two

In Episode 8, Rosemary Blanchard continues her discussion on the role of the NCSS Position Statements on HRE; connections between NCSS work and Civic Education coalition; and the problem of eroding civics education in K-12 spaces. Rosemary touches on overcoming the perception that human rights Issues are only “over there,” and the problem of examining human rights as a zero-sum challenge. Rosemary shares her views on avoiding the demonization of opposing views, and the importance of the Council of Europe’s work on democracy and human rights. She goes on to discuss the book chapter she co-wrote with Sandy Sohcot in Mindful Social Studies, and the effectiveness of helping young children create a powerful human rights culture. Rosemary shares her most influential role models in HRE – Nelson Mandela and Thích Nhất Hạnh. Finally, Rosemary shares her belief that HRE should be required in all curriculum standards, at all grade levels and how this belief was influenced by the work of Lawrence Senesh.   

Topics discussed:

  • NCSS Position Statements on HRE
  • Connections between NCSS work and Civic Education Coalition
  • Eroding civics education in K-12 spaces
  • Overcoming the perception that human rights Issues are only “over there”
  • The problem of examining human rights as a zero-sum challenge
  • Council of Europe’s work on democracy and human rights
  • Book chapter in Mindful Social Studies
  • Nelson Mandela and Thích Nhất Hạnh 
  • Work of Lawrence Senesh

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: 2023 Edward O’Brien Human Rights Education Awards

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Human Rights Educators USA (HRE USA) invites nominations for the 2023 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 2023 Edward O’Brien Human Rights Education Awards will be presented on International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2023.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: 2023 Edward O’Brien Human Rights Education Awards

Edward O’Brien Human Rights Education Award Nomination Form

Deadline for nominations is September 15, 2023.

We are grateful for the generous support of our members, individual donors, and The Puffin Foundation Ltd
The core values of HRE USA and its partner organizations include transparency and critical thinking skills. We believe that human rights--and human rights education--belong to everyone, and that the full realization of human rights means that access to human rights education materials must never be conditioned upon the subscription to any particular religious faith, ideology, political affiliation, or membership in any particular organization and that any organizational connections should be openly acknowledged.