FL Holocaust Museum Increases Empathy Programs Aimed At Students

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg can continue its mission to help children unlearn hate through a $15,000 grant recently awarded by Duke Energy.

The museum offers free virtual lessons about civility and embracing differences between people to elementary through high school students.

"We teach about the Holocaust because it is one of the clearest examples of where unchecked hatred can lead," communications director Rachel Freeman told Patch. "We need to equip the next generation to recognize and reject all group-based forms of intolerance and discrimination. Unchallenged antisemitism or racism encourages people to believe that prejudice, discrimination, and even attacks on particular groups or types of people are acceptable."

Duke Energy distributed $260,000 in grants across 19 nonprofit organizations in Florida.

"Giving back to communities where we live and work is fundamental to who we are at Duke Energy,” Catherine Stempien, Duke Energy Florida president, said. “These grants will support 19 nonprofits that are critical to the vitality of the communities we serve and will help them continue to deliver important services during a pandemic that is reshaping all of our daily lives.”

Freeman said that the museum wouldn't be able to offer free education without the support of companies like Duke Energy, which has been a partner with the Holocaust Museum for many years.

"This grant is indicative of the commitment that Duke Energy has shown to our community and to our state," Freeman said. "We would like to specifically thank Jeff Baker and Melissa Seixas from Duke Energy, who have shown extraordinary commitment to our ideals. We offer many resources for free, but there are significant costs in creating materials and working with schools and classrooms. We are incredibly grateful for Duke Energy’s support."

The majority of virtual resources are free to everyone, so families at home can access them, too.

For more information about free virtual lessons, visit http://www.thefhm.org and click the "learn" tab. Schools and teachers can find out more information by emailing its education department at education@thefhm.org.