HCHS observes Human Rights Day 2024

 

Mr. Zygmuntowicz’s mother, Itka Fraijman Zygmuntowicz, survived the Holocaust and committed early on to bearing public witness to the dangers of bigotry and indifference. Mr. Zygmuntowicz will share his mother’s story and carry on her legacy. His presentation is entitled “Survivor’s Son”.

 

 

As a cartoonist and author of Unaccompanied: Stories of Brave Teenagers Asylum, Ms. White brings to life the harrowing journeys of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the U.S. She will talk about her research practice and how she, as an author, goes about telling someone else’s story with authenticity and sensitivity while forging partnerships with the people whose stories she is telling. She will also talk about her process as a visual storyteller. 

 

7th period: Learn about the work of the IOLA FUND with Licha Nyiendo, General Counsel of this organization and former Chief Legal Officer of Human Rights First. 

 

About the IOLA FUND: “Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) is a unique and innovative way to increase access to justice for individuals and families living in poverty and to improve our justice system. Without taxing the public, and at no cost to lawyers or their clients, interest from lawyer trust accounts is pooled to provide civil legal aid to the poor and support improvements to the justice system. Every state, along with the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands, operates an IOLTA program.”

8th period: Learn about the work of the New York Immigration Coalition with Wennie Chin, Senior Director of Community and Civic Engagement

 

The New York Immigration Coalition’s mission: it is a “state-wide member-led coalition of immigrant and refugee organizations, that works to transform the lives of all New Yorkers by strengthening and building our members’ power, organizing and educating our communities and the public and using our collective voice to advocate for opportunity and justice.” 

 

Thanks to Ms. Eliasson, Ms. Jawanda and the Social Studies Dept for arranging this important educational day.