Educational Outreach Program Launched at Jackson Center > Chautauqua Region Community Foundation

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Educational Outreach Program Launched at Jackson Center
Friday, September 30, 2011

Since its' founding in 2001, the Robert H. Jackson Center, located in Jamestown, NY, has provided educational opportunities pertaining to international justice, the Holocaust, genocide, Human Rights, the rule of law and Civil Rights. Education is at the core of the Center's work in advancing the legacy of U.S. Supreme Court Justice and Chief U.S. Prosecutor at Nuremberg, Robert H. Jackson. Jackson's inspiring story of accomplishment and the lessons that can be taken from his life's work provide an amazing framework to advance learning experiences for visitors of all ages, especially students.

Throughout the year, the Jackson Center hosts a number of annual programs for youth including a statewide Young Reader Program with an acclaimed author, Civil Rights film screenings, scavenger hunts, tours of the facility and its exhibits, and many other impactful programs. Going into its next decade, the Center announces plans to grow its' reach and expand the mission of education, particularly though the active engagement of more teachers and classrooms through newly-created fellowships for Directors of Youth Education & Teacher Initiatives.

Andrew Beiter and Joseph Karb, both eighth-grade Social Studies teachers from Springville, NY with impressive credentials, have been recently retained by the Jackson Center's board to serve in these part-time roles and to coordinate the Center's networking efforts among schools, to facilitate workshops for teachers, and to administer educational outreach programs that will benefit students. On December 2-4, Beiter & Karb will exhibit for the Jackson Center at the National Council for the Social Studies 2011 Conference in Washington, DC. They will also work with Jackson Center staff this fall to begin overhauling the "Educators" section of the website with new lesson plans, teaching aids, relevant links, photo galleries, and information on next year's teacher workshops (including a proposed April 2012 RHJC Conference for Educators in Buffalo, NY). There are many other long-range plans being developed, including the establishment of an RHJC Award for Educators, creation of a virtual field trip of the Center's facility and exhibits, and a national teacher fellowship program for educators across the United States.

Mr. Andrew Beiter is a Regional Education Coordinator for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, a Teacher Fellow for the Lowell Milken Center for Tolerance in Kansas, and the Founder and Director for the Summer Institute for Human Rights and Genocide Studies for high school students in Buffalo, NY, which meets during the summer at the Jackson Center. Through the part-time Director of Youth Education fellowship, his work will include developing various means to incorporate the work and mission of the Jackson Center in classroom curriculum through the preparation and
implementation of teacher workshops, outreach to schools, creation of learning tools, and fostering collaborative programs and educational opportunities.

His counterpart, Mr. Joseph Karb is serving in the role of Director of Teacher Initiatives. He has facilitated student participation in several C-SPAN projects, organized student interviews of WWII veterans for the Veterans History Project through the Library of Congress, and created an American History Course with interactive simulations, role-plays and trials. He was recognized with the NYSUT Leadership Award and earned a Holocaust Resource Center of Buffalo's Teaching Recognition. Additionally, Mr. Karb has created resources and developed strategies for expanding C-SPAN classroom membership as well as assisted in the development of C-SPAN's Constitution Clips project.

The fellowships and educational endeavors being driven by Mr. Beiter & Mr. Karb have received early support from a $5,000 Community Service grant awarded through the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation (CRCF). CRCF is a nonprofit, community corporation created by and for the people of Chautauqua County. They assist donors in making a positive impact on their community by establishing a "bridge" between the donor and charitable activities. For more information on CRCF or to make a contribution, please call 716-661-3390.

Mr. Clayton Sweeney of Bemus Point, NY has provided additional endorsement of this program through a recent pledge of $10,000 which he has offered as a 100% matching gift for others to match by December 31st. He is challenging the community to contribute toward this cause and make a donation to the Jackson Center's educational outreach program by calling 716-483-6646 or emailing info@roberthjackson.org for more details on how to help make a difference. Mr. Sweeney's gift is a charitable donation since the Robert H. Jackson Center qualifies as a 501(c)(3) organization. People wishing to make gifts can do so directly, or use a charitable option which is now available thanks to recently-passed legislation which qualifies American seniors (over age 70 ½) to rollover up to $100,000 from an IRA to an eligible charitable organization without increasing one's taxable income. Please check with your financial advisor for more information.

Mr. Sweeney relocated to the Western New York area following a distinguished career as a trial lawyer and Senior Council in various distinguished national law firms. His broad experience in corporate and not-for-profit director positions, as well as executive leadership positions in industry, prepared him for his current volunteer leadership positions of Chairman of the Southwestern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross, New York statewide Chairman of the American Red Cross Commission, Chairman of the Bemus Bay Pops, member of the Greater Jamestown Rotary Club and two-time Paul Harris Fellow, member of the YMCA Chairman's Roundtable and also a team member of the Y's Partner with Youth Annual Giving Campaign in addition to other local clubs and charitable organizations in other locations.

Additional information regarding the Teacher Initiative plans and the backgrounds of these exceptional educators are available upon request. Contact Megan Sorenson, Director of Development & Communications at the Robert H. Jackson Center, directly for more information at 716-483-6646. The Robert H. Jackson Center's mission is to advance the legacy of Robert H. Jackson-U.S. Supreme Court Justice and Chief U.S. Prosecutor of the major Nazi war criminals following WWII at the International Military Tribunal (IMT) trial at Nuremberg-through education and exhibits, and by pursuing the relevance of his ideas for future generations. The Center is located at 305 East Fourth Street, Jamestown, NY. Tours are available from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday - Friday and from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturdays. E-mail info@roberthjackson.org or visit www.roberthjackson.org for additional information, or contact the Robert H. Jackson Center at (716) 483-6646. The Center can also be found on YouTube, Facebook ("Robert H. Jackson Center" fan page) & Twitter (follow "RHJCenter").

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