A Virtual Lunch & Learn Series
Misinformation, propaganda, and intolerance are rampant and dangerous.
In response, the Alabama Holocaust Education Center has created Taking Action Together, a virtual lunch and learn program series designed to bring our communities together through conversation. Using the lessons from the Holocaust, they will address pertinent topics and demonstrate actionable ways in which people can create social impact.
All programs will be held on Zoom. Although there is no cost to attend, registration is required. Please register here.
The Series
Taking Action Together: “Exploring the Misinformation Landscape” with News Literacy Project Speaker: John Silva, NLP
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Zoom online
News Literacy Project expert John Silva will discuss how to identify types of misleading, inaccurate and false information, how to recognize common propagators of falsehoods and how to evaluate motivations for sharing misinformation. The session will also demonstrate essential fact-checking skills.
Taking Action Together: “The Twin Dangers of Silence and Indifference” with Yad Vashem Speaker: Sheryl Ochayon
Wednesday, January 24, 2024 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Zoom online
During the Holocaust, many people looked the other way, others remained passive and far too many abandoned the victims to their fate. As Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel said, “To remain silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all.” In this talk, Sheryl Ochayon of Yad Vashem will discuss the twin dangers of silence and indifference, especially as related to the increase in antisemitism after October 7, 2023.
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Zoom online
In this program, panelists Ali Massoud, an Egyptian-born Muslim, and Leah Nelson, a Jewish-American, share their journey of overcoming the silence and fear wrought by October 7th to restore their friendship. Moderated by two-time Pulitzer-prize winning journalist John Archibald, who covered their story for Al.com, this panel will discuss how courage and radical empathy can heal political divides. Join our conversation to learn how people from “different places, different faiths, different ethnicities and mythologies” can spark hard conversations to reconcile our differences.
Taking Action Together: “Tree of Life: A Region Responds to Hate” with Lauren Bairnsfather
Wednesday, March 6, 2024 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Zoom online
In the aftermath of the assault on three congregations at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA, the community came together to combat the hate that stemmed from the shooting. The lives of eleven people were taken on October 27, 2018 in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.
At the time of the shooting, Lauren Bairnsfather was the CEO of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh. The community was forced to grapple with fear with courage as they confronted hate to take on and strengthen the connections they had been building for years. Lauren will discuss how their traumatized community worked to heal as they experienced the impact and dangers of anti-Semitism, racism, hate speech, and gun violence.
Taking Action Together: “What Does It Mean to be News-Literate?” with News Literacy Project, John Silva
Tuesday, April 16, 2024 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Zoom online
News Literacy Project expert John Silva will provide an overview of the news literacy concepts and skills that people need to be reliably and credibly informed. This session focuses on recognizing the credibility of news that informs us and how to identify and avoid false or misleading information.
“Our world has changed so much since October 7. Every day, I receive phone calls from those of you who are grappling with very turbulent issues. We created the Taking Action Together Series to answer your questions and to help all of us find ways to come together. Using the lessons from the Holocaust, we will address pertinent topics and demonstration actionable ways in which you can create positive social impact,” says Lisa Bachman, executive director of the Alabama Holocaust Education Center.
