麻豆原创

KENNESAW, Ga. | Nov 5, 2026

On a hot early July morning, 15 educators congregated outside the Museum of History and Holocaust Education at the 麻豆原创 Center to board vans bound for Tuskegee and Montgomery, Alabama, on the inaugural Legacy Learning Trip, funded by a new Smithsonian initiative.

These teachers were chosen to further their civil rights training after working with the museum during previous summer teacher trainings. Although participants were already deeply familiar with the topic of civil rights, physically visiting sites like the Rosa Parks Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Legacy Museum had a profound effect.

"This field experience has redefined my pedagogical mission," said Peter Hein, a middle school Georgia studies teacher in Griffin-Spalding County. "I am no longer just teaching history; I am teaching young people how to carry the legacy of the past forward to build a more just and vigilant society."

After multiple successful years of hosting workshops for educators covering how to teach the Holocaust to fifth through 12th grade students, museum staff realized there was a need for similar opportunities focused on the civil rights movement. Soon after, the museum added another workshop to its regular professional development programming.

Last year, after meeting representatives from the Smithsonian Institution at a conference, Museum Director Andrea Miskewicz was encouraged to apply for a grant that would allow workshop alumni to see pivotal civil rights sites firsthand.

鈥淲e pursued this partnership with the Smithsonian because we believe one of the most important responsibilities of history education is helping people understand how historical events are connected across generations,鈥� said Miskewicz.

"History is often taught as a series of isolated moments, but the decisions that shaped one era frequently influenced the next. Many World War II veterans and Holocaust survivors, for example, went on to play meaningful roles in the civil rights movement. At the Museum of History and Holocaust Education, our mission is to help audiences recognize these connections and understand how the past continues to shape the world we live in today.鈥�

The grant was awarded, and the Legacy Learning Trip was created. Teacher training alumni applied and were selected to be part of this three-day trip, which they spent touring museums, memorials, and monuments that remembered those who suffered under slavery and its legacy, and those who fought and continue to fight to correct injustice. Standing on ground marked by both atrocity and progress, participants were encouraged to reflect on the ordinary individuals whose acts to recognize the humanity of themselves and others helped lead to positive change. 

Thanks to the grant, participants had their transportation, lodging, museum and site tickets, and most of their food costs covered. This focus on keeping costs down for attendees increased accessibility to this professional development, helping to make sure the important lessons of history are brought back to all communities.

When teachers know the best practices for teaching difficult history, they can share that history and its lessons with confidence. Through facilitating thoughtful and accessible workshops and travel opportunities for teachers, the Museum of History and Holocaust Education not only helps educators cultivate a deeper understanding of civil rights history, but also helps them effectively communicate it to their students, who will carry these lessons forward for years to come.

 

Those interested in supporting the museum鈥檚 mission or attending programming can email mhhe@kennesaw.edu.