For the past 10 years the Sonoma County Survivor Project created a unique form
of interaction among the members of our community. Photography, oral history and educational techniques to preserve the memories of county residents who have experienced various losses of human and civil rights, and to celebrate
these individual and their personal stories. It searches for their application and meaning in the context of the problems of our own time and the future. The Project travels to museums, universities, junior colleges
and high schools with integrated resources and curriculum materials. It fits especially well with the secondary schools "Human Rights and Genocide" curriculum.
Among the neighbors represented are Japanese Americans,
European Jews and Cambodians. Reproductions of cherished family photographs and vivid recollections of their past history provide a reminder of what they have lost. The black and white photographic portraits combined
with spirited observations on the world today help to convey an intimate sense of their presence here and now.
"The Essence of Acceptance" is an original program of the Survivor Project that is being offered to
public schools. This program is unique because it partners students and community members to help them gain a deeper understanding of the importance of civil and human rights. These are not easy lessons.
The program
stresses the importance of vigilance and guarding against losses occurring within one's own community. Through the acquired knowledge of diverse experience, individuals begin to reflect upon what is happening in their
own world and how these lesson might be applied. Our methodology emphasizes working closely in equal status partnerships with students. Studies have shown that this process, in and of itself helps to foster acceptance.
Each school, or school district would carefully select three divergent populations that they consider Survivors base on the civil and/or human rights losses suffered. Students take oral histories and photographs
of their neighbors, people whose stories they've never heard before. Within this process they come to understand how dangerous and how easily losses and pain can occur and escalate.
Our plan is to help school
districts with pre/post diversity attitude assessment, gathering resources which will include speakers, books, articles, videos, etc. We will be available to help teachers set up student teams of varying backgrounds to
interview and photograph selected community members, as well as assist in arranging connections or appointments with individual who are willing to be interviewed within the community. If a Hate Crime Response or Violence
Prevention component is requested, we can help to arrange for that piece to be included within the program.
If you would like to know more about The Survivor Project, please call at 707-578-4374, email
survivor@sonic.net, Fax 707-578-3641, or write: The Survivor Project, 5079 Montecito Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95404.
