ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT Humanity in Action | 2017 - 2018 Humanity in Action | 2019 OUR MISSION Humanity in Action is a transatlantic non-profit organization that supports democracy, pluralism and human rights through unique educational programs for college students and recent graduates with additional programs for youth and teachers. We educate tomorrow’s leaders on past and present human rights challenges through critical historical as well as contemporary inquiries and cross-cultural dialogue. We connect an ever-growing international community committed to strengthening democracy, human rights and pluralism. We inspire civic engagement to advance social equity, responsibility and justice. Through our work: We affirm the importance of strengthening democratic values. We foster environments in which individuals of diverse backgrounds and identities can engage openly and respectfully with contentious and challenging ideas as well as each other. We support a vision of pluralistic societies that embrace differences and negotiate their boundaries th- rough constructive political, social as well as personal dialogue and relationships. We build a multinational, intergenerational community of emerging and established leaders who share the Humanity in Action values. HUMANITY IN ACTION—PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE We believe that an important test of a genuine democracy is how it advances social equity and pluralism. We strengthen the commitment of our community to democratic values and foster their knowledge around past and present human rights challenges. The intellectual touchstone for Humanity in Action, founded in 1997, has been the study of acts of resistance—and lack thereof—during the Second World War and the Holocaust. These events raise critical questions: Why do some people resist while others remain bys- tanders? What binds those who recognize the need to resist? How are acts of resistance in- fluenced by national and historical contexts? Since Humanity in Action was founded with a focus on the 1943 flight and rescue of the Jews in Denmark during the Holocaust, we have grown conceptually, intellectually and geo- graphically. Our scope has expanded to include the legacies of American slavery and the Jim Crow era; colonialism and migration; peace-building and transitional justice in the Bal- kans; transitions from authoritarian to democratic forms of government in post-communist societies to other human rights challenges in Europe and the United States. LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER JUDITH S. GOLDSTEIN Humanity in Action issues are at the heart of the current dis- course, debate and decisions over societies that struggle “ with pluralistic realities. The work of Humanity in Action is more complex, rel- sights and struggles, in part, as a means to understand- evant and demanding than ever before, given the ing oneself and approaching others with“ respect, empathy ever-growing challenges to the values of equality, and kindness, especially in the regard to issues of social pluralism and democracy in Europe and the United justice. States today. We educate, connect and inspire students Each of the Humanity in Action programs, once nur- and young professionals from the United States, Ukraine, Poland, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, France, tured in their democratic environments, is under stress from extreme beliefs and partisanship on the Denmark and Bosnia and Herzegovina. left and right. Issues of pluralism—centered on migra- Humanity in Action is committed to fostering profound tion, social inequities, historic and contemporary ethnic, cross-cultural and collaborative learning. Our aim is to fa- racial and religious differences—now determine objec- cilitate a respectful, stimulating, immersive and inclusive tives, expectations, ambitions and strategies of political educational experience within the Humanity in Action parties and governments. Humanity in Action issues are community. The Humanity in Action approach connects at the heart of the current discourse, debate and deci- past and present through education and civic action. sions over societies that struggle with pluralistic realities. Each member of our community is expected to engage in We are directly on target in terms of the tensions that in- both learning and teaching; questioning oneself as well as creasingly fraction societies based on gender, race, reli- questioning others; recognizing others’ experiences, in- gion, class and social justice. Page #!5 Our goal is to help Fellows engage specified intention of sustaining contin- ject in some countries to distortions of constructively in civic society and uing involvement with Fellows in some language, duplicitous policies, authori- to promote social justice that will kind of network. In recent years, how- tarian impulses that reverberate within enhance the welfare of both minori- ever, Humanity in Action has devoted countries with ever-growing gross in- ty and majority groups. Today we increasing financial and programmatic come and wealth disparities, anger, find ourselves in opposition to those resources to the needs of the Senior violence and fear for the future. And we who have dogmatic beliefs; those who Fellows. We now draw upon the exper- know that we cannot assume that a think that the United States and Eu- tise of Senior Fellows who have devel- democracy will inevitably correct itself. ropean nations should serve the inter- oped impressive professional careers. We are proud that in 2017 and 2018 est of only a particular part of the popu- Relying heavily upon the guidance and lation; those who define identity in nar- participation of Senior Fellows, we hold we engaged so many Fellows and Se- nior Fellows in so many different pro- row ethnic or religious terms; those two international conferences a year grammatic approaches to confront the who are invested in stringent ideologi- for them—one in Europe and one in challenges of democracy, pluralism cal beliefs who refuse to accept and New York. and human rights. We are indebted to explore the validity of facts, and the richness and complexity of progressive In over 20 years of programs, we the Humanity in Action staff who have never expected to be this relevant— organized and managed this critical thoughts formed over centuries; those right in the eye of the storm—and work. We are also grateful to the who remain passive and unwilling or directly engaged in the issues that boards in each country who guide us in unable to engage in civic improvement; are riling and destabilizing our soci- this ambitious and far-reaching en- those who ignore the power of truth; those who resort to racist and extrem- eties today. We began our programs deavor and to our funders who trust us in the seeming comfort of democratic in realizing our mission and vision. ist fears; those who are unwilling to cultures. We sought to be guardians of engage in the messy business of com- Cordially, the present and future by focusing on promise and those who welcome vio- the treacherous totalitarian and racist lence and vitriolic attacks to suppress those who differ and are considered forces of the twentieth century. We know that the norms and conditions for enemies. sustaining a strong democratic society The original Humanity in Action educa- and transatlantic alliances are under Judith S. Goldstein tional concept was mainly focused on severe pressure from men who now Founder and Executive Director the four-week programs with the un- hold power. We know that we are sub- Page #!6 Fellows from the 2018 Sarajevo Fellowship TABLE OF CONTENTS Partners & Senior Fellow Communities Bosnia & Herzegovina 53 Denmark 60 Germany 67 The Netherlands 74 Poland 82 United States 91 Fellows from the 2018 John Lewis Fellowship Additional Humanity in Action Communities 99 General What We Do 9 Staff & Boards By The Numbers 11 Belgium 102 Bosnia & Herzegovina 103 Denmark 104 Our Work Germany 105 Fellowships 13 The Netherlands 106 Action & Community 23 Poland 107 Conferences & Learning Opportunities 38 United States 108 Publications & Media 49 Board of Directors 109 Page #!8 Fellows from the 2017 Berlin Fellowship WHAT WE DO Humanity in Action provides educational programming designed to bridge theoret- ical and pragmatic approaches to advanc- ing human rights and social justice. We encourage our Fellows and Senior Fellows to deepen their knowledge of the com- plex social fabrics in the sites where our programs are located as well as their own home communities. We ask our Fellows to question and navigate the tensions inher- ent in heterogeneous societies with di- verse ethnic, racial, religious, gender and socioeconomic compositions. Humanity in Action develops critical in- ternational educational programs for uni- versity students and young professionals across Europe and the United States. We explore past and present examples of resistance to dehumanization, injustices and group-focused enmity, with the goal of encouraging emerging leaders to be engaged citizens and responsible deci- sion makers. FELLOWSHIPS, KNOWLEDGE & ACTION, AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES Humanity in Action Fellowship Knowledge & Action International Conferences, Semi- nars, Study Trips, and Workshops The Humanity in Action Fellowship is a year- Through our programming and alumni cultiva- long endeavor with a four week on-site period tion, we foster a community that is constantly We organize international conferences, semi- followed by a phase of individual project im- reflecting critically on, and taking action in, nars, study trips, lectures and trainings for