Brings decades of experience to American outreach programs
New York – Gillian Walnes Perry, MBE, has been announced as the Community Outreach Ambassador for the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect. In this consultancy role, anticipated for the duration of 2019, the author and founding director of the Anne Frank Trust UK will assist with establishing new connections among individuals and partnerships.
With “Anne Frank’s life, writing and values as its foundation, the Center is now preparing a range of exciting new educational programmes to address the needs of 21st century American teenagers, to help them understand the damage prejudice and discrimination can cause and to help build our community leaders of tomorrow,” Perry explained. “I am looking forward to helping them spread Anne Frank’s vital message throughout the United States.”
Those programs include emerging partnerships with Holocaust education nonprofits like TOLI (the Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies and Human Rights) and the ADL (Anti-Defamation League), enhancing diversity through the AFC’s young professionals group, expanding the AFC’s 50-state genocide education initiative, and establishing a “rite of passage” program to help nurture moral responsibility, confidence, and philanthropy among teenagers.
She also will help to identify corporations committed to fostering social responsibility and diversity through community-based arts education.
Founding the Anne Frank Trust UK in 1990 along with family and friends of Anne’s father, Otto Frank, Perry grew the British organization to serve over 40,000 young people per year in some of Britain’s most economically-deprived and socially-divided areas. Since retiring in 2016, she has traveled the world delivering historical lectures, including through her 2018 book, The Legacy of Anne Frank, which details the numerous ways Anne’s story has inspired millions throughout the world.
For decades, the Anne Frank Center USA has similarly addressed discrimination by challenging youth to confront intolerance through arts-based educational programs that routinely reach more than 50,000 Americans annually. AFC board chair, Peter Rapaport, anticipates an even wider impact with Ms. Perry’s arrival:
“Millions of us appreciate the task of confronting hatred through education. Few can claim the grace, focus, and creativity Gillian wields so effortlessly. We are thrilled to bring her warmth and vitality to the communities we serve.”
For more information on programs, sponsorship opportunities, or a public event featuring Gillian Walnes Perry, please contact the Anne Frank Center at info@annefrank.com.
