Nationally Acclaimed Exhibit Coming to Cleveland
Facing History and Ourselves’ Choosing to Participate to open at the Western Reserve Historical Society from October 22 to February 26
CLEVELAND – A nationally acclaimed interactive multimedia exhibition that looks at the choices we make every day to build strong and inclusive communities and examines the impact and history of racism, injustice, and the courage of citizens to make change, is making Cleveland its next destination before heading to Washington, D.C. Created by Facing History and Ourselves, an international educational nonprofit, the Choosing to Participate exhibition is part of a national initiative aimed at stimulating young people and adults to think deeply about the importance of participating in a democratic society, and the consequences of action and inaction.
The exhibition is expected to welcome more than 50,000 Northeast Ohio students, teachers, and residents during a four-month stay at the Western Reserve Historical Society. Choosing to Participate has been on display in Boston, Chicago, New York, Memphis, San Francisco and Los Angeles – reaching more than 350,000 students, teachers and residents.
“In the twenty-first century, it is critical that young people learn how to confront the moral decisions they face each day and develop skills to help them to build a sustainable and inclusive community. This is central to Facing History and Ourselves’ work in classrooms worldwide and to the Choosing To Participate initiative,” said Margot Stern Strom, executive director of Facing History and Ourselves.
Through the support of The Walmart Foundation, Choosing to Participate will embark on its latest multi-city tour with Cleveland as its first stop. Honorary chairs, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Cleveland Metropolitan School District CEO Dr. Eugene Sanders, have lent support to the exhibition, which opens to the public October 22, 2009, at the Western Reserve Historical Society.
“We can build magnificent bricks and mortar to enhance our city and region however, if we fail to educate and position our youth in such a way that they are able to truly compete and excel in the global environment, our efforts will be in vain,” said Mayor Jackson. “How our kids see themselves, view their greater responsibility to society, and their ability to affect change through hard work and participation is the mental foundation they need to succeed.”
Visitors to the exhibition will experience historical accounts of racism, apathy and compassion, local student artwork, portraits of Cleveland-area residents who have improved their communities, and an extensive calendar of engaging workshops and nationally-renowned speakers.
“Choosing to Participate offers a unique experience for exhibition visitors to think about the importance of social and civic responsibility in new and powerful ways,” said Margaret McKenna, president of The Walmart Foundation. “Walmart is proud to be able to provide so many people with the opportunity to participate in this unique program.”
Exhibition Highlights
The Western Reserve Historical Society will house four compelling twentieth century historical stories using multimedia technology to enhance the public's experience. The subjects of each of the stories guide the viewer through personal accounts, often giving insight into emotion, social environment and contemplation.
Synopsis of the stories include:
Crisis in Little Rock: Centers around the drama and tensions generated by the Little Rock Nine, who attempted to attend segregated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957. This story describes the way people in the community responded to the integration through a personal and emotional narrative by Elizabeth Eckford, one of the nine students.
Not in Our Town: Introduces a community effort to combat a rash of hate crimes in Billings, Montana in 1993. The community took an active stance against violence and vowed: "Not in our town!" Video documentation, written accounts and photographs examine what can happen when an entire community bands together to combat hate.
Little Things are Big: Uncovers issues from the 1950s surrounding segregation, how the idea about race shaped the way Americans saw one another and themselves, and what judgments they made about each other. Writer Jesus Colón, a Puerto Rican man, recounts his story of deciding whether to aid a white woman late at night on a subway in New York City.
Everyone Has a Story: Depicts the challenges faced by a young Cambodian refugee and the people in his community as he struggled to enter his first school and build a new life in rural New Hampshire in the 1980s.
The exhibition invites people of all ages and backgrounds to connect these stories to the choices they face in their lives, to think critically about issues of race and prejudice, and to understand that their decisions and actions matter to themselves, their communities and future generations.
The Cleveland office of Facing History and Ourselves has added two local components to the exhibition that will also be on display through February 26:
pARTicipation: Young Artists Speak Up – Displays original artwork from the region’s students in grades 6-12 that illustrate the importance of choices we make in our daily lives and the value of choosing to participate.
Upstanders: Portraits of Courage – Features photographs and narratives celebrating 25 local individuals who have chosen to make a positive stand on behalf of others, in large and small ways.
“Showcasing the creative talents of our local students and celebrating the people in our community who make a difference every day is one more way to demonstrate that each of us has the power to make positive choices,” said Mark Swaim-Fox, director of the Cleveland office for Facing History and Ourselves. “As a result of attending this exhibition, 81% of students reported thinking differently about themselves and their responsibilities to others. Choosing to Participate makes a lasting impact.”
To complement the exhibition, Facing History and Ourselves will present a series of public programs throughout its stay in Cleveland. For more information about the exhibition, guided tours and programming, visit www.choosingtoparticipate.org or call Tracey Frierson at 216-321-9220 ext. 224.
###
About Facing History
Facing History and Ourselves is an international educational organization that engages students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice and antisemitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry. By studying the historical development and lessons of the Holocaust and other examples of genocide, students make the essential connection between history and the moral choices they confront in their own lives. Facing History reaches nearly two million students each year through a network of more than 29,000 trained educators. In 2009, the Facing History and Ourselves website received more than 700,000 visits from people in 215 countries. Learn more at facinghistory.org.
Contact: Rebecca Gallant
Landau Public Relations
216.912.2849
rgallant@landaupr.com
