Positive change takes root in communities.
We’re on a mission to create positive change – one community at a time. Because positive change takes shape when we stand together. By challenging intolerance, fostering unity and inspiring compassion, we’re planting seeds of hope, understanding, and action across the country – and helping build communities committed to a brighter, more just future for all people.
The Sapling Project
The Sapling Project awards and plants Chestnut Trees in communities across the U.S., each sapling sourced from the original chestnut tree that stood outside of the Secret Annex that Anne wrote about in her journal—an enduring symbol of beauty and hope in the face of adversity.
The Sapling Project is a living tribute to Anne Frank’s legacy, honoring the strength, hope, and resilience she embodied during the Holocaust, a time of unimaginable darkness. Just as Anne’s tree provided her with solace and a connection to the world beyond her hiding place, the trees planted through the Sapling Project will serve as living reminders of our collective responsibility to challenge intolerance, foster unity, and grow together toward a more compassionate tomorrow.
These trees are more than memorials; they are living symbols of a commitment to a better future. Each tree’s roots connect the past to the present, fostering a tangible sense of community, growth, and resilience. As the trees grow and thrive, so do the communities they grace—creating spaces for reflection, unity, and the cultivation of empathy.
Online Film Screenings & Virtual Seminars
A Powerful Learning Experience
Bring the profound story of Carla Peperzak to your school or organization through our Online Film Screenings & Virtual Seminars. Carla the Rescuer chronicles the life of Carla Peperzak, a Holocaust survivor who grew up alongside Margot Frank and witnessed the tragic realities of the Holocaust, losing three-quarters of her extended family. Despite enduring unimaginable hardship, Carla emerged with a powerful determination to speak out against injustice—a mission she continues to pursue at the remarkable age of 100.
In partnership with Teen Screen, we also offer a live, virtual seminar with Carla Peperzak who will share her story, alongside insightful remarks from the filmmakers, Dr. Clement Lye and Dr. Kristine Hoover, and Dr. Lori Sisson, Film Pittsburgh’s Teen Screen Director and moderated by AFC USA’s CEO, Dr. Lauren Bairnsfather.
Engage with history in a deeply meaningful way.
Virtual Programs: Connecting Communities Around the World
We believe in the power of sharing stories that inspire change. Through our free virtual programs, we bring important moments of history to our global community.
In honor of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we were honored to present Carla the Rescuer, a film that tells the incredible story of Carla Peperzak, a courageous Jewish teenager who helped save lives in Amsterdam during World War II. We also hosted a special webinar with Carla herself, where our viewers had the unique opportunity to hear her powerful story firsthand. This program reached 360 viewers from 32 states and 7 countries, with a combined viewing time of 418 hours.
For educators, Carla the Rescuer is also available for screenings through our partners at Teen Screen, a program of Film Pittsburgh: Teen Screen.
If you’re interested in bringing the film to your community, please reach out to filmmaker Kristine Hoover at Hoover@gonzaga.edu.
Stay connected with us for more opportunities to engage with impactful stories.
