"Choosing to Participate"

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
– Margaret Mead (1901-1978), anthropologist
As the world has become more interconnected,
it is more important than ever to inspire people of all ages to create positive social change.

The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) has partnered with the educational organization Facing History and Ourselves to dramatically increase access to the themes and content presented in its national initiative “Choosing to Participate” with poster exhibition designed to encourage dialogue, engagement, respect, and participation in classrooms and communities.
Choosing to Participate resource guide
The Choosing to Participate posters were created by Facing History and Ourselves and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service to encourage dialogue, engagement, respect, and participation in our communities.

Additional Resources

Facing History and Ourselves is an educational organization whose mission is to engage students in an examination of racism, prejudice, and antisemitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry. By studying the historical development of the Holocaust and other examples of genocide, students make the essential connection between history and the moral choices they confront in their own lives.


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Classroom Resources from Teaching Tolerance

Founded in 1991 by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Teaching Tolerance is dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations and supporting equitable school experiences for our nation's children. Teaching Tolerance provides free educational materials to teachers and other school practitioners in the U.S. and Canada.


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Talking about Race

The National Museum of African American History and Culture recently released the web portal, Let's Talk! Talking About Race. Educators from the museum have been examining the construction of race, its role in American culture, and impact on human development for nearly a decade. The online portal provides digital tools, online exercises, video instructions, scholarly articles, and more than 100 multi-media resources tailored for educators, parents and caregivers – and individuals committed to racial equality.


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