Facing History and Ourselves is an international educational and professional development organization whose mission is to engage students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice, and antisemitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry. By studying the historical development of the Holocaust and other examples of genocide, students make the essential connection between history and the moral choices they confront in their own lives.

Since 1976, Facing History and Ourselves has provided middle and high school educators with in-depth professional development services, curricular resources, and ongoing support for teaching history and ethics, with a particular focus on themes of racism, prejudice and antisemitism.  Facing History's work is based on the premise that we need to teach civic responsibility, tolerance, and social action to young people.  Internationally recognized for quality and effectiveness, Facing History partners with school systems, universities and ministries of education worldwide to bring classroom strategies, resources and lessons that help students learn that their choices and actions matter, and that young people can, and should, be agents of change.

Preparing Teachers:  Many educators begin their Facing History journeys at weeklong seminars that explore the program’s content and methodology, challenge their thinking, invigorate their teaching, and spark new ideas about how to approach history and ethics with their students.  Seminars are conducted in the United States and internationally.  Online seminars and forums also enable us to reach teachers throughout the world.

“Facing History and Ourselves has made me more confident in approaching difficult topics… [and] has had a profound impact on how I personally think of my responsibility as a citizen and a teacher.” – Facing History teacher

Providing Follow-Up:  Educators in the Facing History network receive one-on-one follow-up from our staff, the opportunity to participate in workshops and community events, and access to our wealth of resources.

Delivering Resources:  Facing History creates resource books and study guides, many of which can be downloaded from our website.  Educators can also borrow materials from our extensive resource library, or arrange to bring students together with survivors and witnesses of genocide, rescuers, community activists, and scholars.

Connecting Through Technology:  Our website offers a wealth of information, readings, curriculum outlines, downloadable study guides, and online discussion forums to educators internationally.  It expands delivery of the core program and extends follow-up services for educators, allowing them to access lesson plans and teaching strategies, and share ideas with Facing History staff and colleagues.

In 1976, Margot Stern Strom developed an educational program that relates to her work in moral development to the history of the Holocaust.  Since then, Facing History and Ourselves has grown from a single office in Brookline, Massachusetts, to an international organization.  For more details, view the Facing History timeline.

We engage more than 1.8 million students annually through our global network of 26,000 educators and reach the public through community events and extensive online resources.  There are more than 160 staff members in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, London, Los Angeles, Memphis, New England, New York, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Toronto.  We also have educational partnerships in a growing number of countries, including Northern Ireland, Israel, Rwanda, and South Africa.