Ideas This Week
Ideas This Week is your hub for updates on all things Facing History—from announcements and featured press to expert interviews, impact stories, and essays on the ideas driving our work.
Trust Youth, Trust Educators
Facing History’s CEO discusses the importance of empowering teachers to create a safe learning space amidst growing polarization in the classroom.
![Desmond Blackburn and John Deasy speaking together on stage](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2024-04/Desmond%20Blackburn%20and%20John%20Deasy%20%28FH2204226%29.png?h=ca877ec0&itok=9bKW-unu)
Fostering Civic Imagination and Empowering Students to Shape the Future
Help students consider and pursue a better world, become empowered civic actors, and build connections using their imaginations.
![Students sitting around round table working on projects](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2024-04/Students%20sitting%20around%20round%20table%20working%20on%20projects%20%28FH2196858%29.jpg?h=1ed8eb50&itok=ijO4D_s5)
Poetry and Civic Agency
Poetry has the power to connect us with the stories of others. Help your students amplify their voices, challenge inequalities, and consider social change in verse.
![High School Girl Writing](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2024-04/FH287141.jpg?h=4362216e&itok=0DEvuQJn)
We Learn by Doing and Reflecting: Civic Voice and Action
Discover best practices on cultivating your students’ voices and facilitating civic action projects.
![Image of youth from KQED Youth Media Challenge event](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2024-02/CallForChange-Lockup.jpg?h=4c6c0eb8&itok=0Bah1OEZ)
Educators Have the Power to Strengthen Democracy
See how Facing History's civics education resources strengthen students' civic skills and attitudes about democratic participation.
![Teacher And Students having a discussion](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2024-01/SL_190522_0014.jpg?h=4362216e&itok=gP64QyiG)
Inclusive Leadership: Lean into Discomfort
Facing History’s President and CEO offers advice for school leaders on how to navigate polarizing moments with students, staff, and the communities you serve.
![Our President and CEO, Desmond K. Blackburn PhD addresses a crowd of educators, alums, students, and supporters in Memphis, TN](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2023-12/Desmond2.png?h=e9403ca4&itok=txkL8JvY)
Bringing Proximity and Perspective to the Emmett Till Story
Prof. Chris Benson helped develop Facing History’s unit about Emmett Till's murder. He discusses the project and the profound lessons still left to learn.
![Emmett Till and his Mother](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2023-06/EmmettTill_and_His_Mother.jpg?h=9f031508&itok=9iXxMhu5)
Monuments and Memorials Are Conversation Starters
Dimitry Anselme discusses how monuments and memorials can be an entry point for students to discover underrepresented stories.
![The Robert Gould Shaw And Massachusetts 54th Regiment Memorial](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2023-05/The_Robert_Gould_Shaw_and_Massachusetts_54th_Regiment_Memorial_%28c65efc6a-6b80-4def-aad7-88012b9b9e14%29.jpg?h=c9f93661&itok=LnNQzsv4)
Black Women Educators' Roundtable on Teaching and Current Events
What is the impact of racial violence and tensions on Black educators? We explore the challenges, joys, and opportunities in education with our panel of Black women educators.
![A black female educator smiles as her elementary school class writes at their desks.](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2024-01/iStock-522138534.jpg?h=4362216e&itok=vgm7mdB0)