Meets St. Louis and Illinois Area Armenian-American Community

ST. LOUIS, Mo.—The Genocide Education Project (GenEd) presented a training workshop for high school history teachers at the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) conference, held in St. Louis from Nov. 22-24.community-gened (1Y)

GenEd representatives Sara Cohan (left of banner) and Roxanne Makasdjian (right) with St. Louis area community members

GenEd’s education director, Sara Cohan, led a conference workshop titled, “The Psychology of Genocide,” which explored the social forces and personal psychology that can lead to extreme acts of cruelty, as well as to heroic acts of compassion, during a genocide.

Approximately 50 social studies teachers participated in the workshop. They learned about the key psychological concepts that apply to the actions of individuals leading to and during genocide. Examples from the Armenian Genocide and other genocides were examined, and participants received instructional materials to use in their classrooms.

“It was gratifying to have such a strong turnout and positive response from all the teachers we met,” said Cohan.

She was joined by GenEd Board member Roxanne Makasdjian, and together distributed Armenian Genocide teaching materials to hundreds of educators visiting GenEd’s information booth. They also displayed the resources found at the organization’s “cyber” teaching library, www.TeachGenocide.com.

“I think the teaching materials will really help me give my students a better understanding of the Armenian Genocide,” said teacher Leah Jardine of Kansas. “I can use the videos and lessons based on personal stories, instead of just lecturing to them.”

While in St. Louis, Makasdjian and Cohan also attended the St. Louis Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) “Antranig” Chapter dance, where they introduced GenEd’s work to community members. Members of the local AYF and ANC chapters, and their supporters, also generously contributed to GenEd’s efforts.

The Genocide Education Project is a non-partisan, non-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) educational organization that assists educators in teaching about human rights and genocide, particularly the Armenian Genocide, by developing and distributing instructional materials, providing access to

teaching resources, and organizing educational workshops. For more information about the Genocide Education Project, go to www.GenocideEducation.org.