A New Educational Program
The HHRC offers seventeen carefully curated educational programs free of charge, designed by our experienced educators, free of charge to schools and community groups in Maine. Each session includes a slideshow and presentation, followed by discussion or activity. Individual sessions, depending on the program, range between sixty and ninety minutes and can be combined for more extensive, in-depth experiences for both students or educators. If you are interested in speaking with us, fill out the intake form
Our newest educational program is entitled Be An Upstander. This replaces the former program Speak Up At School. What can you do when you see or hear something harmful and you're not sure what to say or do? In this interactive workshop, students explore identity-based harm—what it can look like and how harmful words, actions, stereotypes, and exclusion can affect both individuals and the larger school community. Students also consider why people sometimes stay silent or freeze when they witness harm, and how even small responses can make a difference. Through discussion, realistic school scenarios, and practice, students acquire skills for responding safely in different situations—from speaking up directly or supporting someone to getting help or taking action afterward.
Rent the Michael Klahr Center for Your Event
The Michael Klahr Center is a wonderful venue for gatherings, presentations, and celebrations. If you would like more information, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page or email us at: info@hhrcmaine.org
Quick Facts:
Capacity: 75
Grounds: UMA campus in Augusta
Hours: Available evenings, weekends and holidays
Building: Architecturally and historically significant
Interior: A cultural center with art exhibits and audio-visual installations
Location: In state capital close to the Sate House and government buildings
Events: Celebrations, presentations, meetings, performances, parties, gatherings
We look forward to speaking with about the possibilities for you event: 207-621-3530. Learn more here
There is Always an &
Exhibit Developed by the Maine Jewish Museum on loan to the HHRC. Photographs by Hedva Rokach
There ls Always an & is part of MJM’s exhibition of the same name and its related Ampersand Project, an exploration of the diversity, complexity, and interconnectedness of Jewish life in Maine.
We are profoundly grateful to the Maine Jewish Museum for their generous loan from the extensive project they undertook with Photographer Hedva Rokach. We are eager for our community to come experience these works, which will be on display in the gallery for a year. There Is Always an & is the signature photography exhibition of the Ampersand Project, a first-of-its-kind documentation initiative exploring the layered identities of Jews across Maine. The ampersand reflects the expansive nature of Jewish life in Maine: personal and communal, rooted and restless, traditional and innovative, ancient and forward-looking. Each portrait invites viewers to embrace the fluid, unfinished, and surprising stories that shape us. In just six weeks, Hedva traveled more than 7,000 miles, documenting Jewish life across the state. She met with nearly 300 Jewish Mainers creating an unprecedented portrait of community that spans coastal towns and inland villages, urban neighborhoods and rural backroads, established congregations and emerging micro-communities. See the Photographs
Dismantling Democracy: 53 Days in Nazi Germany
Dismantling Democracy: 53 Days in Nazi Germany explores the critical weeks following Hitler’s appointment as chancellor in 1933, when the Nazi Party legally and systematically dismantled the democratic foundations of the Weimar Republic. Grounded in primary sources and historical context, the program offers an opportunity to learn about this pivotal moment in history—one that reminds us how quickly democratic institutions can erode. At the HHRC we work to promote Holocaust education, confront antisemitism and bias, and strengthen a more informed and compassionate civic culture across our state. One way we pursue that mission is through educational programs that invite communities to examine history in ways that deepen understanding and inspire civic engagement.
On Tuesday, April 21st, Erica and Tam presented at the Kennebunk Free Library for 65 people. The program has been very popular, attracting dozens of interested people in towns and communities across Maine. We are delighted, and indebted, to the Maine Humanities Council for their generous funding and support of this initiative! Please join us at an Upcoming Event:
Windham Public Library - October 21st at 5:30
Millinocket Memorial Library – October 29th at 6:00
Gardiner Public Library – November 9 at 6:00
Skidompha Public Library in Damariscotta - December 2nd at 11:00 and 5:30
Gerda Haas Award Honors Four Maine Organizations Advancing Human Dignity
We are so proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Gerda Haas Award for Excellence in Human Rights Education and Leadership, the Center’s highest honor. This year’s recipients are: Sue Roche, Executive Director of the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project; Mufalo Chitam, Executive Director of the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition; Claudette Ndayininahaze, Executive Director of In Her Presence; and Madeleine Saucier, Executive Director of Hope Acts. These extraordinary women are recognized for their leadership in advancing human dignity, strengthening communities, and expanding opportunities for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers throughout Maine. Together, the four organizations reflect the enduring values the Gerda Haas Award, which was established to recognize individuals and organizations whose work reflects the values at the heart of HHRC’s educational mission. Through legal services, education, leadership development, housing, and community support, they have strengthened Maine communities while affirming the dignity and worth of every person.
2026 Student Awards
The Lawrence Alan Spiegel Remembrance Scholarship is awarded to a high school senior who authors the prize-winning, original essay on the prompt: “Learning about the Holocaust affected my view of the world and it is important for others to learn about it too.” Lauren Jordan won the $1,000 scholarship for her essay More Than Memories. She enjoyed the writing process because it gave her the opportunity to learn more about her family’s history. She graduated from Noble High School in North Berwick and plans to attend the University of Rhode Island as a Public Health major on the premed track, where she hopes to continue serving others through medicine and community involvement.
Mathilde Schlossberger Outstanding Student of the Year Award recognizes an exceptional piece of original writing, or an expressive piece of visual or performance art relating to human rights. The award was created by Florence and Kurt Strauss in memory of his maternal grandmother, who was murdered at Theresienstadt. There are two Schlossberger Award winners this year. Nela Parker of Cony High School received the award for her short story entitled Have you seen Sofia? Nela will be attending Emerson College, where she hopes to grow as a writer and learn how to create stories that reach even more people. She has always loved creating, and hopes to spend her life telling stories that give a voice to people whose experiences deserve to be seen and understood. Grace Jiang of Dexter Regional High School received the award for a drawing she created. Says Grace, “What was initially a school assignment turned into something more profound. I delved into theme of Jewish Resistance and focused on spiritual defiance. I was inspired by a lyric in Radiohead’s song Let Down: “One day, I am gonna grow wings.” It cuts deep in the sense that death could have meant the same thing as freedom to the inmates. I’m honored this piece meant something to The HHRC. Thank you!”
Jack Montgomery’s Book
From the Holocaust to Maine: Testimonies of the Survivors is Jack’s recently published book that showcases portraits and survivor stories. Writes Jack, “The things we save can become the means for our recovery. I am moved by every aspect of these stories … And I am forever grateful to the survivors for giving us this record, which no amount of denial or historical revisionism can ever erase. We are in their debt.” With gratitude to a very generous donor, these books were distributed to schools that teach students in grades 6-12, as well as public libraries throughout Maine. The content is also available online and may be copied by schools and teachers for educational purposes only. If you would like to buy a copy of the book, please email us at info@hhrcmaine.org.
Juneteenth
Today, June 19th, our nation will celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States. It marks the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom, following the arrival of Union troops and the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation. The day became a U.S. federal holiday when it was signed into law by President Joe Biden on June 17, 2021. A few years ago our staff pondered why this important date was celebrated in Black communities across the nation for well over a century before it entered the consciousness of most Americans. The more we learned, the more questions we had. Why for so many years hadn’t people heard about something so important to Black Americans? Why wasn’t it taught in schools? What brought it into our national consciousness after 150 years, becoming a federal holiday in 2021? We each shared a ‘What surprised me most’ observation for discussion. In a spirit of humility, we shared our questions and eagerness to discover more about this consequential holiday. Read it here. Learn more here about Juneteenth—its interesting origin, history, and eventual designation as a national holiday. And this website offers many opportunities to commemorate and celebrate tomorrow.
A Teacher’s Guide
At the Holocaust & Human Rights Center, we believe that history comes alive through the voices of those who lived it. That’s why we are committed to uplifting Holocaust survivor testimonies and making them accessible to students across Maine and beyond. This year, our Holocaust Scholar and Education Coordinator, Erica Nadelhaft, has been leading an ambitious project: a Teacher’s Guide to accompany Jack Montgomery’s book From the Holocaust to Maine: Testimonies of the Survivors. We know that the study of the Holocaust can be overwhelming. Students can get lost in the numbers, dates, and places, but survivor testimonies transform statistics into real lives filled with stories of resilience, courage, and the enduring human spirit. These first-person accounts do more than teach history. They foster empathy, understanding, and a connection to the past that no textbook alone can provide. With generous support from the Sam L. Cohen Foundation, we have made tremendous progress. Over the next nine months, we will expand the guide to include all nineteen survivors in the book.
Blog Posts & HHRC in the News
The Michael Klahr Center
The stunning Michael Klahr Center houses significant artifacts, offers permanent exhibits that chronicle the lives of Holocaust survivors, and curates arresting exhibits from diverse artists. We warmly welcome visitors and host students and community groups for classes, tours, lectures, and performance. The building’s soaring architecture is worth a visit—once inside, you will discover stories and voices, memories, and relationships. It is our home, a place for work on truth, justice, and human rights.
We are open weekdays from 8:00–4:00 Monday through Friday and welcome visitors.
We are housed in The Michael Klahr Center located at the University of Maine, Augusta. Our address is 46 University Drive, Augusta, Maine. Click on the map to view the UMA campus. To access the Michael Klahr Center by elevator, click here.
From the South: Take 95 North to exit 112A, stay right at the intersection to merge onto ME-8 South. Tavel 0.6 miles then turn right onto University Drive. At the top of hill, bear right into the parking lot. From the North: Take 95 South toward Augusta. Take exit 112, merge onto ME-8 South. Travel 0.7 miles then turn right onto University Drive. At the top of hill, bear right and into the parking lot.
The Center is available for rentals. The classroom has zoom and projection capabilities. The atrium can accommodate seating for a presentation, tables for a meeting, or area for receptions. The 75-seat auditorium is a warm, welcoming space for events. The art gallery features exhibits by Maine artists. We assist with planning, equipment set-up, tours and can recommend quality local food services. If you would like more information, please fill out the form below.
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