Exciting Season of New Exhibits and Programming

Hello from the Holocaust Museum

Hope you are enjoying this very busy “season” in Southwest Florida! We have hosted a record number of school fieldtrips and private group tours, as well as many visitors from all over the country. If you would like more information about the variety of tour options we offer, please email David Nelson at David@hmcec.org.

“Movies that Matter”

Each year, the Human Rights Film Coalition of Southwest Florida presents a series of outstanding documentaries for community viewing and discussion with a panel of experts on the topic. This year, the series was re-named “Movies That Matter SWFL – The Steve Brazina Memorial Film Series” to honor the late Steve Brazina. Steve was instrumental in founding the series and arranging film selections.

Some previous “Movies That Matter” topics included human trafficking, hunger and homelessness, and the plight of farmworkers. This year’s topics have included real estate redlining and race relations.

The final film discussion of this year’s series will be via Zoom on Wednesday, May 3 from 4:00–5:00 p.m. EST. We’ll discuss the documentary “APART.” The film looks at the impact of incarceration on drug-related charges on women and their families. “APART” follows Tomika, Amanda, and Malika as they try to restore family life during and after their prison terms. Zoom panelists will include Tammy Franklin, Associate Director, Academy Programs at Prison Fellowship. Prison volunteers shaped her life. Today, Tammy is bringing that same ray of hope back to incarcerated women. Also joining the panel will be a representative from Avow’s counseling program for children with incarcerated parents. One week prior to the Zoom discussion, a link to watch “APART” will be sent to all RSVPs. A link to the Zoom will be sent 24 hours before the program. Please our website to RSVP – www.hmcec.org.

Other Museum News …

Thank you to our sponsors and all who attended our annual Triumph event at the Arthrex Conference Center. The event was a great success! Guest speaker Michael Abramowitz from Freedom House gave a most insightful presentation on the current state of international human rights and pro-democracy movements. He was well qualified to speak on the subject due to personal contacts with people on the ground in those movements. Net funds raised benefited our education programs.

Museum Education Specialist David Nelson and Keith Stringfellow, a USHMM Teaching Fellow from Winter Haven, Florida, conducted a Spring Teacher Workshop at the museum. Participants in the all-day session represented elementary, middle and high schools and college from across Southwest Florida.

The Boxcar Exhibit, on loan to the museum from F.E. and Jack Nortman and The Boxcar Foundation, will be at the Lehigh Acres Middle School this month, and then it travels to the Punta Gorda Library for May.

“Two Regimes,” our temporary exhibit in the Estelle and Stuart Price Gallery is on display through April. Through special arrangement, giclée prints of some of the paintings in the exhibit by Artist Nadia Verbitsky are available for $35 plus tax. Please contact Museum Curator Cody Rademacher atCody@hmcec.org for more information.

Construction continues to progress on our new North Wing. The interior walls are now up and lighting and new window installations are nearly complete. The additional space will allow for a new classroom, an Auschwitz Gallery and another Gallery for Other Genocides and Human Rights, larger temporary exhibit space, and more. Upon completion, the museum will increase from 6,000 square feet to 9,600 square feet. This will allow us to serve thousands more students and guests each year. North Wing naming opportunities areavailable.

Many thanks to our 2022-2023 “Movies That Matter” Series Sponsors: Sustainer: Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, LLP, Debbie Laites and BenZ. Post; Supporter: Rhonda Brazina, FineMark National Bank & Trust, Habitat for Humanity of Collier County; Patron: Marcy Aizenshtat, Monica and Allan Goodwin, Barbara Kanter, Jenny and Mel Kaplan, Ida and Jeff Margolis, Marci Margolis, Alys Morande.

For more information on making a gift to help us grow, please contact239-263-9200 or susan@hmcec.org. We look forward to seeing you at the museum soon!