Essays & Articles
Presenters at TWAICB in Small Places, Close to Home
Just announced! Perla Yasmeen Meléndez Mabarak will be part of our March 17th Institute. Perla will lead us in creating a very special lunch, demonstrating the positive dynamics of preparing food to help people connect with each other. This will be just one way Perla’s involvement will add to the “spiciness” of [...]
Student Wins Honor for UDHR-Themed Art
TWAICB Director Sandy Sohcot says: We're delighted to hear from colleague Pedro Mena that Siddharth A., one of the students in his UDHR-themed art program at Columbus Academy, received a Scholastic Art Award for his UDHR-inspired art. We're delighted to share Pedro's letter and Siddarth's work. We're inspired by his depth of thought [...]
Crossing Borders: Human Dignity and the Refugee Experience
When our educator colleague Pedro Mena recently shared his “Human Rights on Record” art project, he also introduced us to Laurie VanBalen, a colleague from Columbus, Ohio. As seen in the documentary Breathe Free, Laurie started the Columbus Crossing Borders Project as a way to raise awareness of the stories behind the [...]
UDHR Presentations: You’re Invited!
Student members of Balboa High School's Polynesian Student club, rehearsing a dance reflecting their culture, choreographed by the students with the help of a teacher in preparation for the upcoming UDHR assembly. On Friday, December 8th, 11:20 - 12:50, Balboa High School in San Francisco will present a [...]
NCSS Adopts Resolution in Support of Human Rights Education
At its annual conference in San Francisco last week, the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) unanimously approved the resolution attached below. Rosemary Blanchard reports: "While it was up for discussion, four state affiliate representatives stood up and asked for their state to be listed as a co-sponsor. We are [...]
Human Rights on Record: Art With a Conscience
We were delighted to get this update from longtime TWAICB colleague Pedro Mena about his art education work at Columbus Academy in Columbus, Ohio. 8th grade students at Columbus Academy created album cover art based on the UDHR. In 8th grade Art at Columbus Academy this year, students are [...]
If You Get Confused, Listen to the Music Play
TWAICB Director Sandy Sohcot writes: With the constant barrage of disturbing news, I have found myself calling upon the familiar Grateful Dead refrain "If you get confused, listen to the music play," finding it all the more relevant and inspiring today! Last week, after reading this NPR article about increased [...]
UDHR As an Antidote to Student Stress
In response to a recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle, in which teachers describe the daily stress in their students' lives in these turbulent times, TWAICB Director Sandy Sohcot sent this letter to the reporter. Dear Ms. Ravani, Thank you for the article on the UCLA Research showing classrooms [...]
TWAICB Is Within Reach at Arroyo High School Launches 2017-2018 Rite of Passage Class
Tuesday, September 12th marked the start of Arroyo High School’s 2017-18 class of The World As It Could Be Is Within Reach Rite of Passage Program, once again under the leadership of Arroyo teacher Jorja Santillan. Last January, we initiated a pilot of the Rite of Passage program as an [...]
(Email Correspondence)
From the Grateful Dead’s Uncle John’s Band, “Wo-oh, what I want to know is are you kind?”
Dear Friends and Colleagues, In 2006, listening to the [...]
2018–19 Class Of The World As It Could Be Is Within Reach Rite Of Passage Program at Arroyo High School
Since Mid-September 2018, Arroyo students that are part of [...]
Arroyo High School Human Rights Townhall, December 2018
Beneath the Surface On February 26th I visited [...]
Perspectives on the Meaning of Dignity
Title: Dignity (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) Artist: Virginia [...]
RECLAIMING DIGNITY: Event Presenters
Virginia Jourdan Virginia Jourdan Virginia Jourdan is an award-winning artist who [...]
Natalia Anciso demonstrates the positive impact of using the arts, play and teaching of the UDHR with second graders
Natalia Anciso has been part of TWAICB since 2011. First, [...]
A Personal Reflection: “It’s time we stop, hey, what’s that sound. Everybody look what’s going down!”
October 2018, TWAIBC Newsletter Dear Friends and Colleagues, Stephen Stills [...]