HMH Bearing Witness - November 2016

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WINTER 2016 9
Engines of Change:
Holocaust Museum Houston
Student Ambassador Program
What kind of world do you dream about?
In September 2016, the HMH Education Department posed this question to 40 high school students in a new, year-long program. As
we expected, the answers varied. However, a common theme ran through all the answers: a world where people can live with equality
and without fear.
Now in its inaugural year, the Engines of Change program is attracting a diverse pool of high school age applicants from across the
Houston area. Some students arrive with a long history of involvement with the museum. For other students, HMH is a new and unique
experience. Some students have Holocaust survivors in their families. Other students come from families who have only recently
settled in the United States. We believe their breadth of experience will allow the group to not only learn together, aided by guest
speakers, but also to learn from one another.
Engines of Change is an opportunity for students from across the greater Houston area to come together not only to explore the
important issues that face society today but also generate ideas for creating a more just and inclusive community.
Engines of Change meetings are scheduled for one Sunday evening each month throughout the year. Each gathering features a
different discussion topic.
Topics include:
• The Holocaust and What We Can Learn From it
• The Election Process
• Countering the Rhetoric of Hate and Intolerance
• Poverty and Related Issues in 21st Century America
• Violence in Our Community, the Nation, and the World
• Ethics
• Education Equity
• Genocide in the 20th and 21st Centuries
• Social Media and Technology
• Equality and Ideals
Our work around these topics is based on a foundation of knowledge of the Holocaust as we examine the influence of history on how
we live and interact today. Each session features an expert to lead the discussion, enhanced by direct connections to the museum and
the Houston community.
The first session on September 18 began with a group tour of the museum followed by a discussion about what it means to gather in a
Holocaust museum to explore current issues.
When the participants were asked what drew them to apply to the program, one student replied, “To stand up for people who don’t have
a voice and to better inform myself.” Other students voiced concerns about a range of issues from “underrepresentation of minorities”
to “equal access to education” and “the manifestation of fear and ignorance as violence.”
The students have already proven themselves to be deep thinkers with a heightened awareness of their role in society and society’s
future. The HMH Education team looks forward to knowing each of the students and learning with them over the next year.
For each gathering, dinner is generously provided by Local Foods.
AROUND HMH
The inaugural class of Engines of Change Ambassadors, Class of 2017.
The Engines of Change Student Ambassadors represent a unique cross-section
of the Houston community. Because the 40 students in the program come from
21 different schools across the region, we have encouraged them to host further
discussion outside of our monthly meetings in the online sphere. This is a space
for the students to share their pictures, questions, ideas and feedback with each
other. These students are given this space to host a dialogue not only with one
another, but with the greater public, with moderation provided by HMH staff.
Please join our Ambassadors with ideas and questions as we create a positive
online discussion space.