“The students were really invested in Lynne (Ravas)’s story and kept talking about it afterward. I can’t thank you enough for arranging this for us. I’m so appreciative of her coming out here to speak with our students. It was something new for a lot of them and a very heart-warming presentation for me, personally.”
Alisa Hasanagic, teacher, Chaney Middle School (Youngstown City School District)
Generations Speakers Bureau
We are so proud of our robust Generations Speakers Bureau, and to offer these wonderful speakers to fulfill requests from schools, churches, synagogues, businesses, libraries, social groups, and any other organizations wanting to hear a personal account about a Holocaust survivor!
Generations Speakers are the children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. They have all been recruited, vetted, and coached by the Holocaust Center staff and veteran Generations Speakers to develop presentations about their survivor relative’s story. The Generations Speakers are all extremely passionate about what they do: preserving their family legacy; making sure that future generations hear a factual, well-researched, personal account of a Holocaust survivor; and most importantly, never forget what their parents and/ or grandparents experienced. They offer engaging presentations suitable for middle school students through adult audiences.
With the loss of so many Holocaust survivors in recent years, we understand that engaging the next generations is the best and most effective way to keep the collective memory of the survivors alive. And while the Generations Speakers lack the first-hand experience of witnessing the horrors of the Holocaust themselves, we have found that students and adult audiences alike respond extremely positively to their presentations, finding them very moving and informative. We often hear from educators, as well as faith, business, or community leaders that Generations Speakers’ talks lead to dynamic discussions in their classrooms, houses of worship, workplaces, and communities, and that the lessons gained from these talks remained long after the Speaker’s presentation concluded.
Slide
“The Generations Speakers program combines poignant recollections of individual Holocaust survivors, passed down to their relatives. Incorporating photographs, family histories, and personal research into presentations for young people makes it a fundamental resource for teachers and students of Holocaust Studies. My seventh-grade students are always riveted, and the speakers who have presented to my classes over the years thoughtfully engaged them in ways that they'll never forget.”
Rebecca Baverso, Middle School Language Arts Teacher, St. Bede School in Pittsburgh
Slide
"When my mother came to the United States after being in two concentration camps and losing her parents and siblings in the Holocaust, she was strongly discouraged from speaking about her experiences. People told her, ‘You are in America now. You should just forget about that!’ I am speaking because she didn’t get to tell her story."
Susan Hawkins, Generations Speakers Bureau volunteer
Slide
“I believe there is no better way to teach about the tragedy of the Holocaust than to bring survivors or Generations Speakers into the classroom. I have had the opportunity to introduce my students to survivor Oscar Singer and his daughter, Lee Fischbach, as well as Generations Speaker Lee Kikel. My students have been engaged and appreciative of the experiences and have also kept in touch with the speakers after our meetings. These experiences have been invaluable, and I am grateful to the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh for the opportunities and support.”
Hallie Leach, Middle School ELA Teacher, St. Therese School in Munhall
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect from a Generations Speaker’s presentation?
Most, if not all, of the Generations Speakers utilize technology (PowerPoint, Google Slides, etc.) so having basic technology on site and made available to them (wifi access, a screen on which they can connect to project their presentation, access to a laptop/ desktop computer) is preferred. If you don’t have any of this available, though, some of the speakers are happy to adjust and only give a spoken presentation.
Presentations can range from about 30 minutes to 60+ minutes. Most of the speakers can adjust their talks to work with whatever time frame you have available, though.
The Generations Speakers tell stories covering a wide range of topics and experiences during the Holocaust. Depending on which Speaker fulfills your request, you may hear a presentation with a focus on topics including: Kristallnacht, the refugee experience, hidden children/ living under false identities, surviving the camps/ death marches, and/ or immigration and rebuilding their lives in America. If you would like to have a Speaker cover a specific area of Holocaust history you are studying in class, please let us know, and we will try our hardest to find an appropriate Speaker to fulfill your request!
The Generations Speakers are always happy to take questions from the audience! If you would like your students to come prepared, please let us know when requesting your speaker, and we can give you some background information on your speaker’s story and/ or some supplemental information relating to their presentation in advance of their talk, for your students to review in advance.
The Generations Speakers are thrilled to speak to groups in person! However, sometimes it is preferable or necessary for them to give their presentations virtually – if a request comes in from a location outside of our usual local area, in the event of inclement weather, etc. If you would prefer to have a speaker present virtually, we can certainly make this happen! Please be sure to specifically ask, when requesting a speaker.
Is there a fee or honorarium for a talk given by a Generations Speaker?
We are happy to make the Generations Speakers Bureau talks free to all K-12 schools and degree-seeking university classes requesting a speaker! However, if you or your school feels moved to make a donation in any amount, we would be grateful to accept whatever you can give. If you would like to provide an honorarium or donation, please contact Christina Sahovey at csahovey@hcpgh.org.
For for-profit businesses requesting a speaker, we request an honorarium in the amount of $250-$500 to acknowledge the speaker’s time, and to help with the Holocaust Center’s mission of education outreach. We are happy to invoice you (please contact Christina Sahovey: csahovey@hcpgh.org with any questions) or make your gift online: Holocaust Center Donation Page - Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh (hcofpgh.org)
Non-degree-seeking university classes and other groups may be asked for an honorarium, too, on a case-by-case basis.
I am a child/ grandchild of Holocaust survivors, or I know someone who is, and may be interested in telling my family member’s story – or at least learning more about the Generations Speakers Bureau. What should I do next?
We are ALWAYS looking for more Generations Speakers to get involved with the Speakers Bureau, and would be thrilled to have you join us! Please email Christina Sahovey, our Operations Manager who oversees the Generations Speakers Bureau, at: csahovey@hcpgh.org.
How can I request a Generations Speaker?
We’re glad you asked! Please complete the form below, and someone will follow up with you shortly.
