CEO MESSAGE

I hope this message finds you well in the new year. Following our Democracy in Action series, we heard appreciation from so many educators about the value those sessions brought to their school communities. One teacher said, 

“All summer I worried about how I was going to teach my elections elective, and your sessions inspired me, gave me hope and also tangible things that I could bring to my classroom.” 

A couple of months ago, an educator shared that he and his students are grappling with the challenging reality that the values their schools work to instill in their school community are in stark contrast to what they witness from elected officials and adults on TV, social media, and in their everyday lives. Having respectful, civil dialogue, asking questions, and hearing different viewpoints are all skills that can have a significant impact on a young person.

That’s why Facing History’s work is so important. It’s critical that young people learn who they are and how they relate to others, learn difficult history and how to discern fact from fiction, and understand that they have civic agency and responsibility.

In the days following the November election, I met with a number of district leaders, philanthropists, and opinion leaders who personally inspired me and gave me hope. Each person mentioned their interest in launching, reinforcing, and sustaining a civics agenda for teachers and students. And, each expressed enthusiasm for partnering with Facing History. We could all use more hope right now, so I hope you’ll read below to hear more from these dedicated individuals and see some of our content that has been developed in recent months.

Desmond K. Blackburn, PhD

Reports from the Field

“

The present is just an accumulation of every little event in history.

-Ava F. (12th grader from Chappaqua, NY)

Follow this link as Ava shares her experience in her school’s Facing History “Democracy in Action” class.

Did You Know?

100%

 of educators agreed Facing History's civics curriculum helped them meet their educational goals for their students

100%

of educators said they would recommend Facing History's resources on antisemitism to others

Staff Spotlight

Aimee Ballans, Senior Director, New Communities

In 2024, Aimee Ballans joined Facing History to oversee the New Communities project, which brings Facing History resources and support to educators in our southern states. Get to know her, as well as what she does for Facing History!  

Aimee, what made you interested in coming to Facing History and what excites you about leading New Communities?

To this day, I think of myself as a teacher first. I began my career as a Florida public school teacher, and I found Facing History very early in my career. This role brings together the two parts of education I love- social studies and supporting teachers and schools in creating impactful student learning experiences. And I desperately want every kid, everywhere, to have these kinds of transformational experiences.

I am especially passionate about it as a Floridian, a Florida educator, and a mother of two students in Florida public schools. I see on the front lines the challenges teachers are facing, because they are my friends and colleagues, and I know we can help them navigate the political and cultural obstacles that impede getting to teach meaningful and important content. 

Can you share with us a story highlighting the value of the work you and your team are doing?

A parent of a student at the Carolina Day School in Asheville, NC reached out to us, concerned over a rise in antisemitic comments; he had adesire to make sure that the faculty at his child’s school was equipped to address them.

Upon meeting with the principal, together we realized that we could partner to build the bridges needed to see an impact in classrooms. Last month we kicked-off our partnership by digging into the results of their school culture survey and setting goals together to support teacher social-emotional learning and student agency. 
  

What are the next steps in store for New Communities?

New Communities is currently focused on “brand awareness” in a few strategic states: Florida, Texas, and North Carolina. And, we have already picked up opportunities to partner with schools in North Carolina and Georgia. These school partnerships bring tremendous opportunities to impact school culture and transform teaching and learning, and will be a major focus of our work over the next few months. Our hope is that the impact of our work there will inspire other schools in the area to partner with us.

Want to Know More?

Join us for our upcoming New Communities Funder Briefing

• On Thursday, February 27th at 3pm EST, hear directly from the educational leaders we work with in Florida and North Carolina. Email Lauren_Rosenberg@facinghistory.org for more information or to register.

New & Notable

In case you missed it, here are a few pieces we recently published in Ideas this Week:

Leading For Democracy: Creating Space for Crucial Conversations

Partner School Educators and Leaders Deeply Value Facing History

You Can Hold Multiple Truths and You Can Hold Multiple Pains: Highlights from our Building Bridges in the Fight Against Hate Webinar

Learn with Us

SAVE THE DATE

Virtual Briefing: Engaging New Communities: Growing Facing History's Impact Across the Southeast

Thursday, February 27th, 2025 | 3 pm ET

Please join us for a special funder briefing on the New Communities Project, our initiative to expand our educator network across the southeastern states. Aimee Ballans, Senior Director of New Communities, and Dimitry Anselme, Chief Officer for Growth and Engagement, will guide us through the impact of the New Communities Project so far, what we have learned, and our plans for future growth. We will also hear from a district curriculum leader and a school principal in the region  about how the Facing History approach has served their schools, teachers, and students.

Email Lauren_Rosenberg@facinghistory.org for more information or to register!