At the Museum

Susan Suarez, President & CEO

Now that fall is here, school is underway and the Museum is ready to welcome students and teachers back for field trips, virtual lessons, installations of our “Pop-up Museum” displays at school libraries and much more. As we celebrate our 20th Anniversary, we hope you’ll join with us in a year of special programming.

We are so blessed to have had the many volunteers and donors who came together to turn a middle school project into a nonprofi t organization that has served nearly half a million people since it began. Today, seasoned and new volunteers continue to fill me with gratitude for their dedication, resilience and generosity to provide Holocaust education during a year filled with challenges.

We have many interesting programs planned for the coming year, both in person and on Zoom. Here are just a few in which we hope you will participate:

October: Movies that Matter Zoom discussion series

For the last several years, the “Movies that Matter” series has provided an opportunity for the community to discuss national and international human rights issues impacting Southwest Florida. This year, we will address genocide education, homelessness and farmworker rights.

We’ll provide you with viewing information on the three selected documentary films prior to each of the scheduled Zoom discussions. All discussions will include a Q&A with experts who will explain the broad issues and how local action can make a difference. Audience members are encouraged to submit comments and questions in the “Chat” section.

Please note that reservations are required to receive the Zoom links, which are sent 24 hours prior to the start of each program. You can RSVP for the whole series or for individual discussions on our website at www.HMCEC.org.

The series is free of charge and donations are welcome. Sponsorships are also available. Please visit our website for more information. All Zoom discussions will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. (ET) on the dates noted in the program schedule below.

Quo Vadis, Aida Wednesday, Oct. 13 Discussion issue: Genocide

Food Chains — The Revolution in America’s Fields Wednesday, Oct. 20 Discussion issue: Farmworker Rights

The Florida Project Wednesday, Oct. 27 Discussion issue: Homelessness

November: New special exhibit and Kristallnacht commemoration

We are excited to present a new special exhibit in the Estelle and Stuart Price Gallery. “Vedem Underground in Terezin” explores the little known but brave publication created and published by the teenage prisoners in the Terezin/Theresienstadt camp.

It will be on display through Feb. 28, 2022. The annual community commemoration of Kristallnacht, in partnership with the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County, will take place on Sunday, Nov. 7.

We are also planning a Volunteer Appreciation/Welcome Back event in November. Additional details will be available in next month’s column.

December: The Luncheon

Join with us on Dec. 2 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for the kickoff of our 20thanniversary celebration, The Luncheon. It will take place at the Arthrex One Event Center and include the premier of the new, short play, “Remember — The Story of Abe Price.” The play honors the late Holocaust survivor and co-founder of the Museum. It was created in partnership with Gulfshore Playhouse’s education department for use in middle school Holocaust education programs.

With the new year, we will have many more interesting programs, including two docent lecture series; a new special exhibit, “Letters from Westerbork;” and a special 20th- Anniversary Triumph event. We hope you’ll join us!

All of us at the Museum are saddened by the loss of Museum member Phyllis Maizlish, who was a strong supporter of our mission. Phyllis and her husband, Irv, were very active in the Naples community. After Irv passed away, she moved to Arizona to be closer to family. Our condolences to her children Leslie, Shelly, Jody and Scott, along with their families.

I hope to see you soon at the Museum (or on Zoom)!