Last week, the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies had the honor of hosting a two-day workshop with 25 educators in partnership with Yahad–In Unum, an organization internationally recognized for its work uncovering forgotten sites of mass violence and amplifying survivor voices.

We were thrilled to see so many educators sign up, eager to learn and engage with challenging, timely material. The energy in the room was palpable, from the very beginning, participants asked thoughtful questions, shared insights, and leaned into the difficult but vital work of studying genocide and mass atrocity.

It was especially meaningful to learn from Yahad–In Unum’s educators, whose field investigations and oral history work continue to expand our understanding of the Holocaust and of genocide more broadly. Yahad’s research began with documenting the Holocaust by bullets in Eastern Europe, and they are now applying these same investigative methods to other contexts, including crimes committed against the Maya people in Guatemala, the Yazidi in Iraq, and Ukrainians during the ongoing Russian invasion.

These cross-regional connections help deepen our understanding of patterns of violence, silence, and resistance. Yahad is also playing a leading role in developing educational materials based on these oral testimonies—resources that make it possible to bring these stories directly into our classrooms.

Workshops like this are essential not only for building knowledge, but for building community. They offer educators a chance to come together, reflect, and prepare to pass on these lessons in meaningful, thoughtful ways. We are incredibly grateful to Yahad–In Unum for sharing their expertise and for the powerful work they continue to do around the world.

We look forward to future collaborations—and to bringing these stories and tools to the next generation of learners.