The HHRC hosted 25 people for an egg-dyeing workshop on Saturday morning, March 25th. Lesia Sochor taught the ritual of Pysanka, decorating an ordinary egg with colorful designs and ancient symbols. Sochor learning the practice from her parents who fled Ukraine after WWII. Images by Kennebec Journal Staff Joe Phelan.

AUGUSTA – The Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine (HHRC) today announced that it is supporting two bills in the Maine legislature that will require Holocaust education in Maine schools. The filing of the bills followed the release of surveys in 2020 that found a widespread lack of knowledge of the Holocaust among Maine students.

Educating and encouraging individuals and communities to reflect and act upon their moral responsibilities to confront prejudice, intolerance and discrimination is at the very core of the HHRC’s work. Our educators are engaging with teachers, organizations, and communities all across Maine to spread awareness about the importance of taking a stand against hate and prejudice.

Their intent is to share, what they call, a ‘complete’ and ‘truthful’ history of Maine to ensure, as they put it, “the vision of Maine’s history and future is 2020.”Click here for more information or to nominate someone:https://hhrcmaine.org/vision2020/

As we transform our offerings, we'd love to hear from you. What can we do to support you? What sorts of resources will be helpful? Most importantly, how are you doing? We are here if you need us this spring.

As communities across Maine and the world grapple with the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, diseases of old, namely hate and prejudice, have made their appearance. But so too have the remedies for such vices become apparent as we strive to care and create community amidst the chaos; remedies such as hope, love, resilience and tolerance.