Grappling with Genocide: Fostering Empathy and Engagement through Text and Image

FAIN: ES-281207-21

Seton Hill College (Greensburg, PA 15601-1548)
Christine Cusick (Project Director: March 2021 to October 2023)
John Spurlock (Co Project Director: July 2021 to October 2023)

A two-week, residential institute for 22 high school teachers using textual, visual, and oral narratives to address genocide education.

This two week institute for educators of grades 9-12 connects best practices in genocide education with contemporary global conflicts through the power of narrative. Sessions will focus on 18th-21st century conflicts, including Native American erasure, the Holocaust, the plight of the Rohingya, and the Yazidi genocide under ISIS. Each day will introduce new textual, visual, and oral narratives, with mornings dedicated to guest lectures and afternoons focused on discussions and experiential learning. Participants will visit Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh and the City of Asylum writing community, meeting with local leaders to discuss opportunities for dialogue. Participants will also explore a range of pedagogical tools, including the Narrative 4 story exchange curriculum and the Question Mark/er Project. Participants will leave the institute equipped to share informed histories related to genocide, and ready to bring complex issues to life via text, image, and encounter.