Wassmuth Education Center
A one-of-a-kind human rights educational center within a one-of-a-kind human rights memorial.
For over two decades, the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights has proudly served Idaho educators and students. The scope of our programming, resources, and services has grown dramatically. Now it is time to look to the future. And the future is bright. Exploring new ways to better serve Idaho’s classrooms and communities — and meet the demand — our resources, technology and facilities must grow too. We look forward to bringing all aspects of daily operation and programming into one comprehensive education center.
Donor Recognition Opportunities
Community Partners will be permanently recognized on a prominent stone plaque set into the towering feature wall outside the main entrance – a public and enduring record of those who so generously contributed to expanding and sustaining human rights education in Idaho.
Ambassadors of Hope: $100,000+
Advocates of Justice: $75,000 – $99,999
Allies of Dignity: $50,000 – $74,999
Architects of Community: $25,000 – $49,999
Agents of Empathy: $10,000 – $24,999
Email dan@wassmuthcenter.org for a list of donor recognition opportunities or to schedule a meeting.
The Human Rights Classroom, planned for the second floor of the new Wassmuth Center, will serve as a public meeting place and education center. This much-needed new space will include a research library, conference room, restroom, kitchenette, and storage area.
With more than 1,400 square feet of open exhibit space, the classroom will comfortably accommodate banquet seating for 50, classroom seating for 40, or theatre seating for 75. Two large-screen projection units will link to a central computer presentation station. The inspirational, moving quotes of the adjacent Memorial will be “ghosted” onto the walls of the room.
We have a number of current needs for the classroom as well as exciting opportunities for expanded Center programming:
The new Human Rights Classroom will accommodate the following – all currently outsourced to locations throughout the Valley:
- Traveling Exhibits – The new Human Rights Classroom will enable the Center to host future exhibits in a secure onsite location. Previous exhibit audiences have ranged from 20,000 to 45,000.
- Educator Professional Development –The Human Rights Classroom will enable the Center to host all trainings onsite as well as provide easy access to integrate features within the Memorial as part of the training agendas. Approximately 100 educators attend trainings every year.
- Center and Memorial Operation Meetings (Board of Directors, Advisory Board, Docent Committee, Volunteer Group Projects) – Currently, all meetings and volunteer projects are scheduled off-site for lack of gathering space in the existing office. Monthly volunteer meetings range in attendance from 25 to 40.
- Community Programming (Human Rights Book Club/Dessert with the Author, Lunch and Learn Speaker Sessions, Community Conversations/Human Rights Films) – The Human Rights Classroom will enable the Center to bring special event programming into its own facility, creating an enhanced relationship between the Center and the Memorial that will benefit the public at-large. Average event attendance is 150.
The new Human Rights Classroom will provide the space for expanded Center programming which includes the following:
- Presentation for Participants on Docent-led Tours of the Memorial – The Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial, recognized as an open-air classroom, is visited by over 120,000 annually, with another 10,000 participating in free docent-led tours. The Human Rights Classroom will provide ready access to space and materials for businesses and schools looking to enrich time spent in the Memorial with an extended Center presentation.
- K-12 Human Rights Art Contest “Gallery Walk” – The Center will conduct the 21st annual K-12 Human Right Art Contest in 2021. Each year hundreds of entries are received from students throughout the state. While some award-winning entries have been featured on the Center’s website, it has not been possible to display a gallery of entries for the general public.
- Afterschool “Human Rights Ambassador Club” for Students in Grades 7-10 – Afterschool programs generate positive outcomes for youth including improved academic performance and classroom behavior. Communities and businesses also benefit when youth have safe and productive ways to spend their time while their parents are at work. While federal and state agencies provide support and resources to launch afterschool programs, available funding is contingent upon access to appropriate and dedicated space.
- “Human Rights Club” for Boise State University Undergraduates – Based upon a recent campus survey of student interests conducted by Boise State undergraduates in a Design Thinking course, the Wassmuth Center has been asked to design and deliver an off-campus opportunity to engage college students in both human rights scholarship and service. The request has been tabled until adequate facilities are available.
When the founders of a proposed human rights memorial in Boise, Idaho, first created a 501(c)3 nonprofit education center in 1996, they could not have imagined the long-term impact of their efforts. The combined presence of the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial and the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights is a resounding statement in the value of “promoting respect for human dignity and diversity through education.”
Ceremonial
Groundbreaking / Ground Blessing
for the new Wassmuth Education Center
Watch the celebration we hosted and the ceremonial groundbreaking of the new Wassmuth Center for Human Rights, coming in 2022 – with land acknowledgment and ground blessing conducted by descendants of the original Boise Valley People.