Every year around this time, Southern California Museums open their doors for free.  And while the official "Free-for-All day" was today, there are many more opportunities to see these great institutions which contribute to and reflect our region. This year, we wanted to do a quick shout-out to some of our museum partners who have not only participated in the annual Free-for-All day but have opened their doors to us in the past and in the future.  We hope to see you at one of these events!

I didn’t see Schindler’s List in 1993, when it first in theaters.   I saw it in 2018 for the first time and I’m glad I waited. As a Program Associate at Facing History, I have had a similar journey in learning about the Holocaust as a Facing History student would have. I have learned about issues of identity, we/they, conformity and consent, as well as the actual history in ways that have made me appreciate the film so much more than I would have 25 years ago.

During the last few months, Southern California has hosted many conferences including three statewide conferences at which Facing History and our teachers presented:

• California Association of Teachers of English (CATE)
• California Council for the Social Studies (CCSS)
• CUE (the largest Education Technology conference on the West Coast at almost 7000 attendees!)

Do you want to see our presentations? Participate in the fun of an Exhibit Hall giveaway without the hassle of missing school? Keep reading. We have a special gift for those who couldn't make it to the conferences in person!

June is undoubtedly a bittersweet month in the teaching world. Days are filled with grading, goodbyes, potential planning for the year ahead, but mainly putting those final touches on what was a rewarding and meaningful teaching year. However, it can also be a time for awards and recognition as it was this June for one group of teachers.

I've been thinking about courage recently.

There is so much going on in the world that is challenging, disheartening, and complex. Sometimes we think of courage in big acts:

• Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr. leading enormous, history-changing non-violent movements
• the heroism of a firefighter entering a burning building
• the choice to go in to the heart of a conflict, bringing the stories of others to the world through reporting or physically saving others' lives

I think that courage also comes on a daily and individual level just in making the commitment to stay engaged with the world, to learn about difficult moments and to be willing to question what we have grown up believing, assuming, or simply not knowing.

Stories matter. The stories we tell have the power to effect history. By sharing and listening to stories, we recognize ourselves as part of the human story, as individuals who can change the narrative by making positive choices and shaping our world.

I love teaching.

I am an artist at heart, though that part of my identity is usually restricted to my non-work hours. On Friday, however, I got to learn and practice art with individuals who do art professionally through teaching and their own work. What a spectacular day!

A snapshot from a Facing History seminar. During the summer, we lead educator seminars for three to five days at a time. This week, Stephanie Carrillo visited our seminar on "Identity, History, and Adolescent Choices in Literature" which provided a Facing History lens to explore "The Diary of Anne Frank," "The Giver ," and "Red Scarf Girl." She brings us this story.