Purpose
We are stewards of memory, educating the community about the history of the Holocaust and its lessons for our world today.
Vision
We envision a society that remembers the Holocaust and uses its lessons and eyewitness accounts to create respect and dignity for all people.
Mission
The mission of the Alabama Holocaust Education Center is to educate about the history and lessons of the Holocaust to create a more just and compassionate world recognizing the humanity of every individual.
Join Us
Discover
Explore stories of loss, courage, and resilience. Our interactive exhibits spotlight the lives of Alabama Holocaust Survivors, allowing you to hear directly from them, in their own words. Our lending library and extensive archive put thousands of resources at your fingertips. Enrich your knowledge of the Holocaust—explore today.
Connect
Visit our website often to see our growing calendar of programs and events. Join us in examining the past to build connections with the future. From teacher workshops, to memorials, to interactive community events, we take take action to ensure that the Holocaust is never forgotten.
Visit
Get in touch with our team to create a special experience for your classroom, family, or team by touring our new state-of-the-art Center. We’re proud to curate an experience tailor-made for you.
Our Impact
Since 2009, the AHEC has facilitated:
119
exhibitions of Darkness Into Life
168
teacher scholarships for advanced seminars in the U.S. & Europe
333
speaking engagements by Holocaust Survivors, their children, and members of our Speakers Bureau
1889
teachers trained at our Teacher Workshops
HISTORY
The Alabama Holocaust Education Center began as an idea. Formed by an all-volunteer subgroup of the Alabama Holocaust Commission–a state-led agency for Holocaust education–our organization’s founders sought to bring a richer, more vibrant understanding of the Holocaust to Alabama.
And it was personal. Formed by educators, community members, and Survivors themselves, the “Birmingham Holocaust Education Committee” (or the BHEC) advocated for stronger Holocaust education. They sought to commemorate the victims of Nazi-era persecution and to eliminate bigotry in all its forms.
In 2011, the organization changed its name to the “Birmingham Holocaust Education Center” (still the BHEC) as the members established themselves as more than an AHC subcommittee. In 2014, the BHEC officially filed for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, hiring its first full-time, paid employee.
In 2022, the BHEC rebranded to its current name: The Alabama Holocaust Education Center. Driven by that same mission to preserve the lessons and legacy of the Holocaust, the AHEC is now active in over 40 counties statewide. From Mobile to Huntsville, we carry forth the mission to ensure that the Holocaust’s stories of suffering, struggle, and survival are never forgotten.
