Facing History & Ourselves 2025 Leadership Summit

We are looking forward to gathering Facing History & Ourselves’ valued community members at this year's Leadership Summit in Atlanta from November 7-8, 2025.

Information about featured sessions, speakers, and outings can be found below, and will be updated throughout the summer and fall. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the summit, please reach out to events [at] facinghistory.org (events[at]facinghistory[dot]org).

Breakout Sessions

We are pleased to offer breakout sessions on Friday, November 7, and Saturday, November 8. While all breakouts will have capacity limitations we hope to honor guests' individual preferences and will share a survey with all registered guests in the weeks leading up to the summit. 

Friday, November 7

Lessons from Little Rock: A Conversation with Terrence Roberts
Join Dr. Terrence Roberts, author and member of “The Little Rock Nine”, in a reflective conversation examining his book, Lessons from Little Rock, and hispersonal story as one of the nine students to desegregate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. How does this history shape the pursuit of educational justice and equity today? This session will also highlight the updated Facing History unit “Choices in Little Rock” and explore the lasting significance of this history.

Crucial Conversations in Challenging Times
Facing History’s approach to navigating complex conversations about identity, community, and history empowers educators and leaders to confidently navigate diverse opinions, respond to unplanned moments, and create spaces where all voices can be heard. This session will explore the tools and resources Facing History has developed to support this proven approach. 

Combating Contemporary Antisemitism: Educator Resources
What kind of impact are we having combating antisemitism? Is our professional learning helping educators gain the necessary tools to address this issue in the classroom? The continued rise of contemporary antisemitism presents a danger to our civic values and our democratic co-existence, as it erodes civil dialogue, pits us against one another, and reinforces negative stereotypes and conspiracies about Jews. This interactive session will peer into resources for Brave Classrooms, our online professional learning offering, and examine evaluation results to assess impact.

Standing Together Against Hate: How Allyship Can Strengthen Black and Jewish Communities
In a world facing rising extremism and hate, the need for solidarity has never been more critical. This session will examine the historical and contemporary challenges of anti-Black racism and antisemitism, explore the dynamics between the two communities, and discuss the complexity of moments of solidarity and distance, considering the various choices people can make in the face of bigotry and hate.

Saturday, November 8

Strengthening Democracy
Facing History’s new civic education resources engage students in learning about the fundamentals of what makes democracy work. This session will explore the multifaceted nature of democracy, how we can assess the strength of democracy, and the importance of civic engagement in democracy. 

Evaluation at Facing History 
Join us to explore the powerful evidence behind Facing History & Ourselves' work. Drawing from decades of internal evaluation, we'll demonstrate how our program consistently leads to meaningful results, including improved academic success, stronger civic engagement, and a more positive school climate. You will leave with a deep understanding of our impact, compelling statements to use in your work, and a look ahead at our plans to continue measuring and sharing our unique value in the education landscape.

District Partnerships: Collaborating with Facing History for Lasting Impact
Join us to explore how Facing History's district partnerships help districts reach important academic goals by providing high-quality instructional materials and customized professional development. Learn how we have supported districts in improving educator confidence, meeting state mandates, and bolstering student engagement, and how we can continue to spur meaningful change in more and more districts.

Building Belonging through Social Studies and English Language Arts
School leaders know that a feeling of belonging is essential for student well-being and academic mindsets and perseverance. In this session, learn how Facing History curricular resources in English Language Arts and Social Studies combine academic rigor with the development of students’ social emotional competencies to deepen their understanding of what it means to truly belong – and to create a space of belonging for others.

Optional Cultural Excursions

All summit attendees are invited to participate in one optional museum or landmark tour of their choosing on the evening of November 8. While all excursions will have capacity limitations we hope to honor guests' individual preferences and will share a survey with all registered guests in the weeks leading up to the summit. Transportation will be provided.
 

APEX Museum — 1:30-3:00 PM
In the heart of historic Sweet Auburn district, experience African-American history at the APEX (African-American Panoramic Experience) Museum. Our visit will begin with two short films and then guests will tour the gallery, viewing exhibits like Sweet Auburn Street of Pride, which celebrates Black achievement and entrepreneurship, and Africa: The Untold Stories, a comprehensive look at ancient African history that challenges common textbook narratives.

The Breman Museum — 2:00-4:30 PM
The Breman Museum is a cultural center that weaves Jewish History through everyday life. Visitors will be guided on a tour of the permanent Holocaust exhibition, Absence of Humanity: The Holocaust Years 1933–1945. Following the guided tour, visitors will attend a presentation with Holocaust survivor and author Robert Ratonyi.

National Center for Civil and Human Rights — 2:30-4:30 PM
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is more than a museum—it’s a journey into truth, memory, and movements. On this tour you’ll explore the stories of past freedom fighters and today’s changemakers. NCCHR reopens on November 8, 2025, after extensive renovations, and we are excited to offer this opening day tour to our Facing History community. If the opening date shifts, you’ll be notified and reassigned to your second or third choice.

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park — 3:00-4:30 PM 
The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District was established to protect and promote the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. This visit will offer opportunities for inspiration and contemplation through a self-guided tour that explores key sites such as MLK Jr’s birth home, the King Center, and most notably a visit to the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where guests will listen to sermons delivered by Dr. King. This tour requires walking between sites (0.6 miles round trip) outside.