Speakers Bureau

Personal stories that bring the Holocaust’s history and lessons to life.

History feels different when you hear it from people with a personal connection to the past.

The Alabama Holocaust Education Center’s Speakers Bureau connects classrooms and community groups with descendants of Holocaust Survivors, who bring history to life through family stories and meaningful conversation. Our speakers make Holocaust history personal, memorable, and relevant, helping to ensure that the history and lessons of the Holocaust are carried forward.

There is no charge to host an AHEC speaker. Explore our speakers’ videos and bios to find the right speaker for your group, or let our team help you choose.

Meet Our Speakers

Headshot of Chris Berdy

Chris Berdy

Austrian-Jewish history and survival in Occupied France
Second-generation survivor, Austria and France
Headshot of Brenda Hancock

Brenda Hancock

French resistance, concentration camps, and resilience
Second-generation survivor, France
Headshot of Esther Levy

Esther Levy

Life in the Lodz Ghetto, concentration camps, and forced labor
Second-generation survivor, Poland
Headshot of Denise Lewis

Denise Lewis

Survival in Occupied France, small acts of kindness, and Americans in the Holocaust
Second-generation survivor, France
Headshot of Ann Mollengarden

Ann Mollengarden

Hitler’s rise to power, the interwar years, Kristallnacht, and refugees
Second generation Survivor, Germany
Headshot of Eli Pinhas

Eli Pinhas

Sephardic Jewish history, the Holocaust in Greece, the destruction of Thessaloniki, ghettos, and concentration camps
Second-generation Survivor, Greece
Headshot of James Sedlis

James Sedlis

Jewish resistance, survival in Lithuania, and Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe
Second-generation survivor, Lithuania
Headshot of Chris Berdy

Chris Berdy

Austrian-Jewish history and survival in Occupied France
Second-generation survivor, Austria and France
Headshot of Brenda Hancock

Brenda Hancock

French resistance, concentration camps, and resilience
Second-generation survivor, France
Headshot of Esther Levy

Esther Levy

Life in the Lodz Ghetto, concentration camps, and forced labor
Second-generation survivor, Poland
Headshot of Denise Lewis

Denise Lewis

Survival in Occupied France, small acts of kindness, and Americans in the Holocaust
Second-generation survivor, France
Headshot of Ann Mollengarden

Ann Mollengarden

Hitler’s rise to power, the interwar years, Kristallnacht, and refugees
Second generation Survivor, Germany
Headshot of Eli Pinhas

Eli Pinhas

Sephardic Jewish history, the Holocaust in Greece, the destruction of Thessaloniki, ghettos, and concentration camps
Second-generation Survivor, Greece
Headshot of James Sedlis

James Sedlis

Jewish resistance, survival in Lithuania, and Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe
Second-generation survivor, Lithuania

Frequently Asked Questions

We do not charge for our speaker presentations; however, donations are always greatly appreciated!
Presentation times vary and can be customized to meet your needs.
 
We recommend you always leave time for Q&A!

We always do our best to honor speaker requests and will thoughtfully consider your preferences when planning your program. While we can’t guarantee the availability of specific individuals, our team is committed to pairing you with a speaker whose story and perspective will meaningfully connect with your audience.

The recommended age for students is 5th grade and above. For younger students, we recommend programs on respect, citizenship, justice, and civic responsibility as precursors for future Holocaust education.
After submitting your Speaker Request Form, a member of our team will typically reach out within 1-5 business days. If you haven’t heard anything by then, feel free to let us know at info@ahecinfo.org. We ask that you submit your request at least 3 weeks from your preferred event date to ensure availability and proper planning time.
Yes, all speakers offer virtual presentations via Zoom upon request.
Some of our speakers are able to do multiple presentations. Please include this in your request and we will do everything we can to accommodate your request.

Hearing a Holocaust Survivor’s story from their descendant is most impactful when students are given proper context. This experience should supplement classroom instruction, not replace it. We recommend that students receive background knowledge on the Holocaust, especially as it relates to the speaker’s personal story.

Our Education team is available to help you prepare your students and select age-appropriate materials. Please contact us at info@ahecinfo.org for personalized guidance.

Additionally, many AHEC speakers incorporate multimedia presentations. Please indicate your access to a projector, screen, microphone, and internet connection—or any limitations—in your request form.

Once connected with your speaker, they will share any specific technical requirements.

Request a Speaker

Use the drop-down menu in the form below to select your preferred speaker, or tell us about your goals for this event, and we are happy to help you select the best speaker for your group!

Please submit your speaker request at least 3 weeks before your preferred presentation date. We will respond within the following few business days to finalize everything.

Reach out to info@ahecinfo.org with questions!