Thursday Briefing "The Holocaust Remembrance: Diversity and Lessons to Be Learned for Human Understanding" - 25 January 2018

Hawa Diallo
Public Information Officer, NGO Relations, Department of Public Information

Hawa Diallo is the Public Information Officer in the NGO Relations, Advocacy and Special Events Section of the Department of Public Information, where she coordinates UN and NGO partnership activities. She has extensive United Nations experience in public information outreach and fostering civil society partnerships, with particular emphasis on youth and women’s organizations. Ms. Diallo began her United Nations career in 1987 in the Department of Public Information and has served in two United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in Cambodia and Somalia, respectively. She has also worked for the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Nairobi, as an Associate Human Settlements Officer and as a Partners and Youth Officer.

Kimberly Mann
Chief, Education Outreach Section, Department of Public Information

Kimberly Mann is chief of Education Outreach in the United Nations Department of Public Information, where she develops the strategy for and oversees the implementation of global education initiatives, including remembrance of the transatlantic slave trade, Holocaust education, Model UN and other youth projects. From 2005 to 2015, Ms. Mann served as the manager of the Holocaust education programme and she continues to represent the United Nations at the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Ms. Mann joined the Organization in 1993, where she has held several positions, including Chief of Special Projects, Manager of the Messengers of Peace Programme and Desk Officer for the United Nations Information Centres in Africa. Prior to this she worked in public relations and advertising and as a teacher.

Sarah Kaidanow
NGO Youth Representative, The Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center of Westchester

Sarah Kaidanow is the NGO youth representative for the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) of Westchester. She is also the proud granddaughter of two Holocaust survivors: Jerry and Ellen Kaidanow. As an actor and writer, Ms. Kaidanow is able to help share her family’s Holocaust stories through her work. Most recently, Ms. Kaidanow produced a short film, featuring her grandparents, for HHREC. She has been involved with them for the past year and is encouraged by their work to bring Holocaust education into schools and communities which might otherwise have little resources for teaching the lessons of the Holocaust. 

Evelyn Sommer
Chair, The World Jewish Congress North America

Evelyn Sommer is the Chair of the World Jewish Congress North America. In 1990, the American Section of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) elected Ms. Sommer as Chairman, a post she held until January 2007. During this period, she chaired the Plenary Assembly of the WJC in Jerusalem and represented the WJC at important international meetings such as the OSCE conferences on anti-Semitism in Berlin/Germany and Cordoba/Spain. Ms. Sommer is also the founding President of the Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO) USA and represented WIZO at the United Nations' Economic and Social Council  (ECOSOC) and its Commissions on Human Rights and on the Status of Women.

David Michaels
Director, UN and Intercommunal Affairs, B’nai B’rith International

David J. Michaels is the Director of United Nations and Intercommunal Affairs at B’nai B’rith International, the world’s oldest Jewish humanitarian, advocacy and social action organization. Mr. Michaels has traveled extensively and met numerous senior government and faith leaders, among them Pope Francis, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. ‎ His work and perspectives have been featured widely in international media and he has received several awards for his professional accomplishments. Mr. Michaels trained at the Office of William Jefferson Clinton, the Foreign Ministry of Germany, the Embassy of Israel in Washington, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, Ha’aretz, and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

Jason Sirois
National Director, No Place for Hate Initiative, Anti-Defamation League

Jason Sirois is the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Director of No Place for Hate®, where he oversees the implementation of the initiative in ADL’s 27 regional offices. Currently more than 1,600 schools participate in the No Place for Hate programme across the United States. Mr. Sirois’ objective is to expand this number to five percent of schools in the country by 2022. The programme aims to create positive, sustainable change in a school environment in which students take the lead in developing a culture where respect is the norm. Mr. Jason has been a motivational speaker and trainer focused on addressing issues of bias, harassment, discrimination, and bullying in schools, communities and the workplace. His work has directly impacted millions of students and educators throughout the United States.