FTH 2022 Supported Organization: Unsilence
The last few years have been filled hateful language from persons in positions of power. The actions and beliefs of fascism and violent bigots have been amplified while those who combat injustice were silenced. For four years, the language of compassion, community and vulnerability was erased from presidential messages, replaced with rhetoric demonizing cultural, ethnic, and racial groups, and members of the LGBTQIA community. This still happening on a local and state level, as the recent banning of MAUS by a Tennessee school board demonstrates.
Unsilence believes that in order to heal from the damage done by such assaultive language, it is vital that the upcoming generations embrace an attitude of empathy, inclusion and understanding.
Unsilence targets the education of young people, filling a critical gap in civics education through storytelling, the arts, and game design, working with educators at all levels and creating online educational material. Unsilence aims to give voices to hidden injustices and marginalized experiences in order to spark dialogue, support critical thinking, build empathy, and inspire healing and social change through informed action by guiding youth to challenge stigmas and engage in thoughtful conversation.
Founded by a Holocaust educator, the original programs designed by Unsilence focus on the Holocaust and its lasting effect on Jewish, Roma, and LGBTQIA communities. In the past decade they have expanded their educational offerings to address such issues as gun violence, mental health and suicide, and the experiences of refugees. Most of their programs are available for free on their website, along with teacher’s guides, and each year they lead dozens of virtual or in-person workshops across the country.
You can support Unsilence as a creator in the 2022 FTH auction (or as a bidder, when the time comes to donate for the auctions you’ve won.)
