Gov. Newsom Taps Experts and Advocates for Council on Holocaust and Genocide Education

Holocaust Monument Berlin

SACRAMENTO — In the wake of a disturbing increase in antisemitic hate, Gov. Gavin Newsom Oct. 31 named nine leading academic experts and advocates to serve on the Governor’s council on Holocaust and genocide education, which is tasked with promoting Holocaust and genocide education throughout California to provide young people with the tools necessary to recognize and respond to bigotry or discrimination on campus.

“An attack on any of our communities is an attack against all Californians and our state will not stand by as the forces of hate instigate acts of violent extremism that put lives at risk,” said Gov. Newsom. “California is taking action with major investments to support anti-hate programs and enlisting the expertise of demonstrated leaders in Holocaust and genocide education to inoculate young people against the dangerous messages of hate and division pervading our public discourse.”

Launched by the Governor last year, the council is co-chaired by state Senator Henry Stern, Attorney General Rob Bonta, state superintendent of public instruction Tony Thurmond and Dr. Anita Friedman, executive director, Jewish Family and Children’s Services/Northern California.

The new members announced today are distinguished leaders and experts in Holocaust and genocide education, representing organizations that reflect the diverse groups impacted by the Holocaust and genocide throughout history: 

• Beth Kean, CEO of the Holocaust Museum LA
• Brian Fong, California program director for Facing History and Ourselves
• Joyce Newstat, former chair of the Jewish Family and Children’s Services Holocaust Center
• Kori Street, deputy executive director of the USC Shoah Foundation
• Liebe Geft, director of the Museum of Tolerance
• Michael Berenbaum, director of the Sigi Ziering Institute, professor of Jewish studies at the American Jewish University
• Roxanne Makasdjian, executive director of the Genocide Education Project
• Seth Brysk, central pacific regional director for the Anti-Defamation League
• Taylor Pennewell, executive director of the Redbud Resource Group

Gov. Newsom previously named Assemblymembers Adrin Nazarian, Jose Medina, James Ramos and Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, and Senators Scott Wiener, Connie Leyva, and Susan Rubio to serve as members on the Council.

The Council will assess the status of Holocaust and genocide education in California, make recommendations for how to improve Holocaust and genocide education in our schools, promote best practices for educators, schools and organizations and sponsor Holocaust and genocide remembrance. 

Working with the Jewish Caucus and the Legislature, the Newsom Administration has funded more than $150 million to support anti-hate programs that provide direct support for impacted communities and victims, and an additional $115 million for the state nonprofit security grant program, which helps nonprofit organizations that are targets of hate-motivated violence improve security at their facilities. The state has also invested:

• $40 million to rebuild six summer camps lost in recent wildfires, including Jewish summer camps
• $36 million for the California Holocaust survivor assistance program
• $10 million for the Jewish Family Service Los Angeles for Holocaust survivor assistance
• $10 million to fund the anti-bias education grant program
• $5 million for the Museum of Tolerance
• $3 million to renovate and enhance the Jewish Family and Children’s Services Holocaust Center in San Francisco
• $2 million to establish the statewide teacher collaborative on Holocaust and genocide education to bring together all groups who teach this subject matter in order to share information, create a statewide central website and establish best teaching practices
• $2 million for the International Genocide Memorial
• $1.4 million for the Governor’s council on Holocaust and genocide education