Exhibit History
The Choosing to Participate initiative grew out of Facing History’s early classroom experiences with students who asked, “How can I make a positive difference in the world?” In response we released a Choosing to Participate resource book that sought to answer this question by examining the value of community service and service learning in a historical context, and highlighting the stories of people from diverse backgrounds throughout American history who confronted the serious social issues of their time. It taught that democracy can only remain vital through the active, thoughtful, responsible participation of its people.
The centerpiece of this initiative is the Choosing to Participate exhibition, which was created in 1998, and draws on the intellectual foundation of Facing History’s sequence of study and from the lessons of this resource book. The exhibition has traveled across the country—Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Memphis, and Cleveland—reaching nearly 500,000 visitors.
Evaluations of the exhibition over the last 10 years have consistently shown that the exhibition has a positive impact on students inspiring them to learn about and reflect on civic participation, personal responsibility, and the difference they can make in their communities.
In 2009 an updated and expanded version of the exhibition premiered in Cleveland. The exhibit appeared most recently in Washington, D.C.
Historical Society of Washington, D.C., 2011
Cleveland Western Reserve Historical Society, 2009
Co-Chairs: Holly Brooks and Deborah Plummer
Honorary Chairs: The Honorable Mayor Frank G. Jackson and Dr. Eugene Sanders
Boston Public Library, 2008
Co-Chairs: Dana W. Smith, Beth S. Klarman and Alyce Lee
Honorary Chairs: The Honorable Mayor Thomas M. and Angela Menino
San Francisco Main Public Library, 2005
Honorary Chairs: Warren & Chris Hellman and Dr. Arlene Ackerman
LA Central Library/Downtown Los Angeles, 2003
Chair: Karen Sulzberger
Honorary Chairs: Lawrence & Lee Ramer
Memphis-Shelby County Library and Information Center, 2002
Co-Chairs: Michelle Fowlkes and Kay Usdan
New York Historical Society, 2001
Co-Chairs: Lee Daniels, Kathy Fuld and Floy Kaminski
Chicago Historical Society, 2000
Co-Chairs: Jennifer Aubrey Jacobs and Michelle Obama
Honorary Chairs: Maggie Daley and Merri Dee
Boston Public Library, 1998
Co-Chairs: Martha Jackson and Alyce Lee
