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What is LIGHT?

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LIGHT is...

An Acronym...

for “Leadership through Innovation in Genocide and Human rights Teaching.”

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An Acronym...

for “Leadership through Innovation in Genocide and Human rights Teaching.”

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Free...

for school districts to implement, with opportunities for grant support from individuals, businesses, foundations, and institutions.

A Movement...

to inspire, prepare, and empower students for leadership roles in Holocaust, genocide, and human rights education, remembrance, and advocacy.

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A Movement...

to inspire, prepare, and empower students for leadership roles in Holocaust, genocide, and human rights education, remembrance, and advocacy.

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A Place...

in schools where students collaborate to counter identity-based violence and discrimination, antisemitism, and hate speech, both locally and globally.  LIGHT gives a permanent home to human rights and genocide programming, institutions, and organizations.

A Network...

of students, teachers, and community leaders working together to bring innovation to human rights advocacy and genocide prevention.

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A Network...

of students, teachers, and community leaders working together to bring innovation to human rights advocacy and genocide prevention.

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An Opportunity…

for students and teachers to practice advocacy work in a safe environment and create new, youth-led programs and events.

Collaborative, Cooperative...

bringing together unlikely allies and giving existing Holocaust, genocide, and human rights classroom resources, institutions, and organizations a home where students can transform education into action.

A graphic of three signs. To the left, a heart, to the right, an = sign, and in the center, a sign that reads "The Future is Now!"

Collaborative, Cooperative...

bringing together unlikely allies and giving existing Holocaust, genocide, and human rights classroom resources, institutions, and organizations a home where students can transform education into action.

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Open-Source...

able to adapt to the specific needs or challenges of any school district. There’s no “right way” to implement LIGHT.  Whether it’s during the school day, as an after-school club or activity, an elective course, a school-wide initiative, virtual, or in-person, LIGHT is able to adapt to your environment.

Dynamic...

Functioning as a tool schools districts can use to help their students stimulate change and progress surrounding real world problems, like systematic racism and all forms of identity-based violence and discrimination.

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Dynamic...

Functioning as a tool schools districts can use to help their students stimulate change and progress surrounding real world problems, like systematic racism and all forms of identity-based violence and discrimination.

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An Incentive...

to motivate and encourage school districts to better address human rights and genocide education through support of the LIGHT Network, exclusive LIGHT Professional Development, LIGHT Conferences, LIGHT Resoures, LIGHT Seed Grants, and LIGHT school fundraising opportunities.

A Bridge...

between schools and community libraries, local businesses dedicated to equity and justice, and local, state, and national elected officials.

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A Bridge...

between schools and community libraries, local businesses dedicated to equity and justice, and local, state, and national elected officials.

From left to right: LIGHT Founder Nick Haberman, Lauren Bairnsfather, and David Estrin.

Inter-generational...

connecting K-12 students to community members of all ages through themes within human rights and genocide, like being an upstander, making responsible choices, social and environmental justice, kindness and love, and volunteerism and humility.

Our Mission

To see the creation of LIGHT Centers in schools across the nation, to shape students into socially and globally responsible leaders through the study of human rights and past and present genocides, and to help schools create LIGHT Coordinator positions for teachers to oversee LIGHT Programming as part of the LIGHT Network.

Founder Nick Haberman, Dan Shaner, and Lauren Bairnsfather attend a remembrance event with Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.

Founder Nick Haberman, Dan Shaner, and Lauren Bairnsfather attend a remembrance event with Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.
A graphic of a speech bubble with a heart in itA graphic of a flying doveA graphic of a rainbowA graphic of two eyes
A graphic of a speech bubble with a heart in itA graphic of a flying doveA graphic of a rainbowA graphic of two eyes

The Four Elements

LIGHT is comprised of four main elements: LIGHT Centers, LIGHT Programming opportunities, LIGHT Coordinator positions, and participation in the LIGHT Network.

Centers graphic showing buildings with hearts, paintbrush posts, and clouds.

LIGHT
Centers

Educational hubs where students plan, organize, and carry out LIGHT programming.

  • Permanent spaces dedicated to remembrance and advocacy for victims of the Holocaust and other past or present genocides and human rights violations.
  • Connects students to local libraries, museums, universities, other school districts, local businesses and organizations, and online opportunities.
  • Embeds the resources and programs of institutions, like Holocaust and human rights centers and museums, in school buildings.
  • The ideal LIGHT Center is shared, collaborative, and innovative - the LIGHT Network can help make that happen.
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LIGHT
Programming

Unique educational opportunities to bridge the gap between education and action, counter the rise in antisemitism and hate speech, and help students nurture their "Beloved Community."

  • Opportunities to hone professional skills, explore post-secondary options, build resumes, celebrate the arts, identify and address inequity within communities, and promote social, racial, and environmental justice through remembrance.
  • “Culminating Curricular Anchor Points” like guest speakers, assemblies, panel discussions, video projects, and community events, all planned by students.
  • Community Library collaborations focused on children and family events.
  • Memorial creation, remembrance projects, monthly awareness campaigns, artist-in-residence programs, and arts and writing competitions.
  • School and community antiracism advocacy campaigns and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs.
  • Student-created “spotLIGHT” profiles of local, national, and international leaders, LIGHT Ambassadors and Coordinators, and lesser-known historical pioneers.
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LIGHT
Coordinators

Pioneering educators who oversee LIGHT Centers, "coordinate" LIGHT Programming with students, and maintain a relationship with the LIGHT Network.

  • Most commonly, LIGHT Coordinators are teachers who devote part of their regular teaching schedule to oversee LIGHT Centers and LIGHT Programming or who run LIGHT as an extracurricular club.
  • Often a stipend-based position and/or in-lieu of teaching periods or duties, but adaptable within each unique school environment.
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LIGHT
Network

A beloved community of sharing among students and teachers, schools, and local and national institutions, libraries, organizations, and businesses.

  • Provides opportunities for collaborative LIGHT Programming, professional development, student and educator toolkits, local LIGHT Center fundraising, and educational “creative destruction.”
  • Promotes ongoing LIGHT growth and development through regional collaboration.

LIGHT
Hierarchy

The LIGHT Network is designed to connect pioneering individuals and organizations to one another, bringing together likely and unlikely allies, all in the spirit of remembrance and advocacy.

LIGHT
Education
Initiative

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Sponsoring
Institution

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LIGHT
Center

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LIGHT
Coordinator

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LIGHT
Ambassador

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