Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Yvonne and I have learned that The World As It Could Be Human Rights Education Program (TWAICB) is receiving the 2025 Edward O’Brien Award from Human Rights Educators USA (HRE USA).  We are deeply honored to receive this prestigious recognition.

The award will be presented to us at the HRE USA Human Rights Day Celebration: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at 1pm (PT)/4pm (ET). The Zoom registration link to attend is: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/B0T6zgEuT6Sc-Hb6oZd9-Q.

The journey of TWAICB began on December 8, 2006 when we presented The World As It Could Be – A Declaration of Human Rights at Balboa High School in San Francisco.  Observing how the youth and adults involved in the production of this performance responded to learning about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) led us to a collaboration to develop our curriculum.

Over these last 19 years we have enjoyed wonderful collaborations with so many who have made this work possible. While naming everyone would require pages of space, I do want to call out Ellen Sebastian Chang, Creative Director of TWAICB since its inception.  Ellen has contributed her creative genius and passion for the importance of the UDHR to many of TWAICB’s initiatives, and still continues to encourage this work at so many levels.  Our colleagues from the University of San Francisco’s Department International and Multicultural Education of the School of Education, teachers and administrators from Balboa High School and Arroyo High School, and the scores of teachers, organization leaders and students who have participated in our Institutes, school presentations and forums have contributed to the quality and vitality of our curricula.  The people and organizations who have so generously contributed financially have been integral to our continued efforts.  All of you reading this message have been an essential part of the TWAICB journey.  This presentation helps describe the work that you and our community of participants have made possible.

It is exciting that Yvonne carries forward TWAICB as part of The Initiative for Civility in Everyday Life.  I look forward to continued participation, particularly to bring attention to the importance of community rites of passage where the adults of the community welcome and embrace the contributions of their youth.  Receiving the distinguished Edward O’Brien Award from HRE USA is a tremendous boost of validation and encouragement to continue the work of TWAICB to bring attention to the continuing relevance of the UDHR as a vehicle to support equality, equity, justice and dignity for all.

We hope you will join us on December 10th and look forward to our continuing connections.

Thank you!

Sandy Sohcot and Yvonne Vissing

Rites of Passage – The World As It Could Be by Jazzmin Chizu Gota