In 2024, the Nancy & Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center’s Cori Silbernagel and Trinity Johnson made a trip to Poland for a chance to widen their professional and personal experiences.
“Being part of this institute was an incredible privilege. The responsibility of transmitting these lessons is immense, but it is also our hope for a better future.” — Trinity Johnson, Director of Holocaust Programs & Museum Experiences
It was an emotional and transformative exploration of Holocaust history, made possible by their acceptance into the prestigious International Summer Academy at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The 11th International Summer Academy (ISA) was organized by the International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust (ICEAH). This globally renowned program, dedicated to advancing Holocaust education through intensive study with leading historians and educators, accepts only a select group of professionals worldwide. Their inclusion highlights their dedication and expertise in the field, making this opportunity even more significant.
Over ten days, Cori, Director of Collections & Exhibitions, and Trinity, Director of Holocaust Programs & Museum Experiences, and Trinity undertook a profound study on the grounds of Auschwitz-Birkenau. They also toured sites including the Sobibor killing center, Warsaw and its remaining ghetto, Krakow, and the Plaszow camp depicted in the film, Schindler’s List. This unique opportunity deepened their understanding of Holocaust history and continues to enhance their work at the Holocaust & Humanity Center.
A particularly moving moment for Cori was seeing the fingerprint marks left by Soviet POWs in the mortar of a barrack wall. She described it as a deeply humanizing realization: “The people who built these spaces left their trace, a reminder that even in the face of dehumanization, their stories endure.”
We’re so grateful to be able to share their reflections in this episode. Their journey reminds us all of the enduring power of education to foster empathy and change.
This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity
Our gratitude to Margaret & Michael Valentine for their ongoing support of this series.
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Episode Resources
Information about the Holocaust and Humanity Center, including our mission, exhibits, and programs: https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/
Details on the International Summer Academy program that Trinity and Cori attended at Auschwitz-Birkenau: https://www.auschwitz.org/en/education/international-summer-academy/
Background on the Sobibor extermination camp and the museum/memorial site: https://www.sobibor.info/
Resources on the history and preservation efforts at the Plaszow concentration camp site: https://www.yadvashem.org/articles/general/plaszow-concentration-camp.html
Warsaw ghetto history:
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/warsaw
https://www.yadvashem.org/holocaust/about/ghettos/warsaw.html
The Jewish population of Krakow: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/krakow-cracow
Plaszow concentration camp history:
