At 19, Carla Peperzak risked her life to help others. Today, her story is helping a new generation explore what courage means in their own lives.
As a young Jewish woman in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, Carla joined the Dutch resistance, helping rescue 40 Jewish people and securing false identification papers for another 100. She also knew the Frank family and attended Sunday school with Anne Frank’s older sister, Margot.
In 2027, the Anne Frank Center USA and Rescuer Media will bring Carla’s story into classrooms across the country.
From Spokane to the Classroom
On September 17, supporters gathered in Spokane, Washington, for a special screening of the classroom-length edition of Carla the Rescuer. Adapted from the feature-length documentary, the film will be accompanied by teaching resources to help students explore courage, moral choice, and responsibility.
The following evening, Carla joined AFC USA CEO Dr. Lauren Bairnsfather at the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations’ annual banquet in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Lauren spoke about the enduring power of Anne Frank and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The setting was significant. Coeur d’Alene was once home to the Aryan Nations, and local residents organized for years to confront the group and ultimately drive it from northern Idaho.
The program received local media coverage and gave the Anne Frank Center USA a public voice in a community with a particular history of confronting white supremacy. Read the Coeur d’Alene Press coverage
