The Anne Frank Center USA CEO, Dr. Lauren Bairnsfather, and Education Specialist, Katie Meade, were in Birmingham, Alabama, this week for the Teaching the Holocaust Conference hosted by the Alabama Holocaust Education Center.
Lauren’s presentation, “Teaching Anne Frank in the Larger Context of the Holocaust,” explored how the Frank family’s story can serve as a powerful entry point for understanding the history of the Jewish Diaspora as well as the broader history of Nazi persecution and the Holocaust. While many of the educators at the conference teach Social Studies, the English Language Arts teachers who attended Lauren’s session left with tools to bring history into their classrooms to enhance their teaching of Anne Frank’s diary.
Every seat was filled for Katie’s presentation, “Exploring the Story of Anne Frank through the Arts.” A hands-on workshop, the session equipped educators with creative, trauma-informed strategies for teaching Anne Frank and the Holocaust through the Arts. Topics included storytelling, visual art, and improvisational exercises to foster empathy, critical thinking, and meaningful engagement. Teachers left this energetic and thought-provoking session with lessons to implement in their classrooms that will both engage and support students.
Thank you to Lisa Bachman and her team at the Alabama Holocaust Education Center for inviting us. Alabama is leading the country with clear Holocaust Education standards and support for teachers. We were honored to join educators, scholars, and advocates from across the country, including Erin Gruwell from the Freedom Writers, who are committed to ensuring that Holocaust education remains accurate, meaningful, and relevant for future generations.
