Dunreith Kelly Lowenstein at dunreith_kelly_lowenstein@facing.org

http://www.facinghistory.org/facing/fhao2.nsf/all/regionalhome

Since 1976, Facing History and Ourselves has provided quality professional development to thousands of teachers who, in turn, reach over 1.5 million students worldwide.

Facing History first began in an office in Brookline, Massachusetts, which has since turned into both the headquarters of our international organization and the site of our New England regional office. In 1990, Facing History opened its first regional office in Chicago, followed closely by the opening of an office in Memphis. Since then, offices have opened in New York City, Los Angeles (Pasadena), the San Francisco Bay Area (Hayward), and Cleveland. In 1997, we began working more regularly in Eastern Europe with staff based in an office in Switzerland. More recently, we have been working with teachers and other nongovernmental organizations around the world, including England, South Africa, Colombia, Rwanda and the Czech Republic.

In a world that continues to find increasing ways to utilize the benefits of the World Wide Web, the Facing History Online Campus represents a key resource, a new “virtual office.” We are constantly updating our capacity to provide professional development as well as follow up support for teachers through our website and online Campus.

Please visit all of our regional offices (see links at the top of the page) to learn more about local staff, Advisory Board members, programs and current events.

Facing History has made me much more aware of what is going on around me. I question beliefs generally accepted by our society. I am more considerate of others.
-Student at Alexander Graham Bell Elementary

Facing History and Ourselves helps educators enrich the academic experiences of the diverse student population of the Chicago area. Facing History programs have expanded rapidly here since the regional office opened in 1990. To date, more than 1,800 local educators have participated in Facing History’s professional development activities. Our local network of educators reaches thousands of students each year with powerful lessons about racism, antisemitism, social justice and civic participation.

Facing History in Chicago Schools Schools using Facing History serve a diverse population of students in city and suburban, public, independent, and religious school settings. To date, we have trained teachers and administrators in over 300 public, parochial, private, and charter schools, and colleges and universities in the greater Chicago area, including over 120 Chicago Public Schools. More…

Institutes for Educators Our primary professional development opportunities are week-long institutes that introduce educators to Facing History content and teaching strategies. Participants examine learning styles and ways to implement Facing History in the classroom. Institutes begin with reflection on personal and collective identity, move to an examination of history that raises questions of judgment, and end by exploring avenues for participation in democratic society. This model confronts the moral questions inherent in studying not only violence and discrimination, but also courage and compassion. 2006 institutes include June 26–30, 2006 (Holocaust and Human Behavior); and July 17–21, 2006 (Race and Membership).

Ongoing Training and Support for Area Teachers After attending workshops and institutes, teachers incorporate Facing History’s content and methodology into their curricula. Program Associates Chuck Meyers and Dunreith Kelly Lowenstein meet with teachers regularly, helping them develop Facing History units, select appropriate resources to accompany lessons and offer guidance on effective teaching strategies.

Workshops for Educators Facing History workshops provide the opportunity for educators to deepen their work with particular themes found in Facing History resource materials. Recent Workshop topics include Confronting Homophobia, Human Rights in the Classroom, Literature and the Holocaust, and Becoming American: New Immigration, Old Challenges….

Facing History in the Community Facing History’s presence in the Chicago community continues to grow and deepen. Staff members are working with area colleges and universities—including Northwestern University and Elmhurst College—toward the integration of Facing History and Ourselves content into the preparation of future teachers. Program staff have also delivered presentations at numerous local conferences on education, community service and violence prevention; and have served on a number of city-wide committees involved in civic activity.

Community events bridge the gap between classroom learning and responsible social action by providing a forum for members of the community at-large to take part in a dialogue on themes raised in the Facing History classroom. Recent speakers have included Peter Balakian on the Armenian Genocide, Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela on reconciliation in South Africa, and Peter Hayes on the Nazi rise to power.

Resources Facing History provides teachers with:
local and national resource speakers for their classrooms
a lending library of books, films, slides, articles and videotapes that may be integrated into classroom instruction
a website of informative instructional resources
newsletters, regional updates, invitations to Facing History conferences