Education

In partnership with the Neag School of Education, Dodd Impact Programs is working to make Connecticut a national model for human rights education in primary and secondary schools. Taking international standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training, as its inspiration and basis, our programs aim to integrate human rights content into classroom curricula and promote a culture of human rights in our schools and communities.

Student teacher Tracey-Ann Lafayette reads with second graders

Human Rights Close to Home

Human Rights Close to Home (HRCH) engages educators and youth in the development and implementation of human rights education for civic action.

Learn More

HRCH Youth Summit

A gathering of human rights youth advocates and activists to explore critical human rights issues in their communities and around the world, engage with a diverse range of peers from across the state, and develop the values and skills necessary to take action in support of human rights for all.

Learn More

Human Rights + Early College Experience

We proudly partner with UConn Early College Experience to offer UConn human rights courses to motivated high school students to earn both high school and college credit.

Learn More

Teaching Human Rights Database for College Instructors

A database for college-level instructors with resources on teaching human rights topics in classrooms from a range of disciplines and perspectives to enhance interdisciplinarity and a broader understanding of human rights.

Access the database

Educator Workshops

Professional development opportunities for pre- and in-service educators interested in human rights curricula, pedagogies, and methods.

Malka Penn Award

The Malka Penn Award is given annually to the author of an outstanding children’s book addressing human rights issues or themes, such as discrimination, equity, poverty, justice, war, peace, slavery or freedom.
Learn more.

News

Children’s literature selections honored for outstanding work addressing human rights issues and themes

‘The heart of genocide is one social identity hoping to wipe out another social identity’

‘I think we fundamentally underestimate how much our kids can learn even about the biggest and most important issues of today. We just need to teach them in ways that are relatable’

Our People

Nana Amos

Director of Community Outreach & Engagement, Co-Director, Democracy & Dialogue Initiative , Dodd Human Rights Impact Programs

nana.amos@uconn.edu

John Dunn

John Dunn

Visiting Assistant Professor, Education and Human Rights

jkdunn@uconn.edu

Kristina Eberbach

Strategy and Curriculum Specialist, Human Rights Close to Home

kristina.eberbach@uconn.edu

Sara Harvel

Sara Harvel

Graduate Assistant

sara.harvel@uconn.edu

Rachel Jackson

Rachel Jackson

Director of Operations, Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute

rachel.jackson@uconn.edu

Sandra Sirota

Sandra Sirota

Director, Human Rights Close to Home
Assistant Professor in Residence, Experiential Global Learning & Human Rights

sandra.sirota@uconn.edu

James Waller

Christopher J. Dodd Chair in Human Rights Practice
Director, Dodd Human Rights Impact Programs
Professor, Literatures, Cultures, & Languages

james.waller@uconn.edu