A Year of Purpose and Impact: Our 2023 Annual Report
Our work with educators and their students, classrooms and communities remains vital to stopping the spread of bigotry and hate. During times of upheaval, the challenges we face can seem insurmountable. It’s especially during these times that our community leans on what Facing History & Ourselves is equipped to do: examine history and its impact on our present, inspiring individuals to shape a more just and compassionate future.
In working toward that reality, our 2023 fiscal year brought expanded reach and growth to more schools and classrooms, particularly in southern US states, and the launch of several new innovative programs and resources. We also mourned the loss of our founder, Margot Stern Strom, who passed away in March at the age of 81. As we honored Margot’s life and legacy as a devoted educator and champion of justice, we also wished a happy retirement to former CEO Roger Brooks. In April 2023, we welcomed Desmond K. Blackburn as Facing History’s new CEO and president.
As we reflect on our achievements in the past year, we are filled with gratitude for our supporters who made it possible for Facing History to:
- reach more communities — including 30,000 additional classrooms in 2023;
- develop new resources, such as our new US History Curriculum Collection, and initiatives, such as our School Leadership Institute; and
- champion the civic agency of our youth—nearly 93% of whom agree that it is important to work for positive social change.
Read more about these and our other progress in our 2023 Annual Report, available this year in a new, fully digital format.