PRESS RELEASE
The Genocide Education Project
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 264-4203
[email protected]
www.GenocideEd ucation.org
THE GENOCIDE EDUCATION PROJECT REACHES OUT TO CALIFORNIA STUDENTS AND
TEACHERS
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The Genocide Education Project concluded a series of
workshops over the last two months targeting junior high and high school
students and teachers throughout California. Developed by a team of
educators, Sara Cohan, Armen Sedrakian, and Hasmig Tateossian, the
interactive workshops provided a vehicle for students and teachers to learn
about the Armenian Genocide in more depth, and also how it relates to
current human rights issues.
At John Muir Middle School in Burbank, Hasmig Tateossian, Southern
California Regional Assistant Coordinator for The Genocide Education
Project, conducted workshops throughout April for over 600 students,
engaging them in discussions about the problem of genocide. She presented a
comparative perspective to the Armenian Genocide, and together with the
students, explored actions they can take in response to modern-day
genocides.
John Muir social sciences teacher, Glenn Jaffe, was very satisfied with the
workshop for his students, saying the "same presentation should be done
yearly at Muir." Mim Oettinger, Assistant Principal of Instruction at Muir,
found most beneficial ‘the fact that other genocides, both past and
current, were discussed and students were informed that they were
responsible to take action to prevent genocides.’
In San Francisco, The Genocide Education Project presented two workshops to
high school students at the Holocaust Center of Northern California, during
its "Day of Learning" program on April 30th. Armen Sedrakian conducted one
of the first workshops focused on the Armenian Genocide and the Rape of
Nanking which was part of the "Generation to Generation" theme. The second
workshop focused on armed resistance during the Armenian Genocide with a
particular focus on Musa Dagh.
In Fresno on May 13th, The Genocide Education Project held a joint seminar
on genocide for more than 100 high school students, with Dr. Matthew A.
Jendian, Professor of Sociology at Fresno State University. The three-hour
seminar included discussions about the Armenian, Cambodian, Rwandan and
Darfurian genocides. It also contained crucial lessons regarding the
responsibility of individuals when genocide occurs. The seminar was
organized by the Fresno Chapter of the Armenian National Committee and
funded by the Bertha and John Garabedian Foundation.
Earlier this spring, The Genocide Education Project conducted several
successful workshops in San Diego, Los Angeles and Glendale, California
targeting educators. Positive feedback included comments like those of
teacher Karen Bennett, "Please keep up the work you are doing! This
information needs to be kept alive in our schools!!" and teacher/curriculum
coach Nancy Witt, "A very worthwhile day – I have already thought of a way
to incorporate this in class."
"Genocide education is imperative, especially at a time when such a crime is
not just a historical reality, but is part of our contemporary reality as
seen in Darfur," said Raffi Momjian, the Executive Director of the
organization. "The opportunity to work directly with students and teachers
over the last few months was truly rewarding, as their passion for the
subject was palpable in all the workshops."
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The Genocide Education Project is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3)
organization that assists educators in teaching about human rights and
genocide, particularly the Armenian Genocide, by developing and distributing
instructional materials, providing access to teaching resources and
organizing educational workshops.
