“Our speaker series is designed to bring powerful, real-world voices into classrooms and communities–especially voices that help students connect history to the choices we face today,” Chautauqua Lake teacher and Program Director for the Holocaust and Social Justice Education Program of Chautauqua County, Leigh-Ann Hendrick, said. “As part of the Holocaust and Social Justice Education Program of Chautauqua County, the series expands access to meaningful learning experiences by allowing students and educators to hear directly from individuals who have lived through, studied, or actively responded to injustice.”

Hendrick added that through hosting these speakers, the program aims to move beyond textbooks and create moments of empathy, reflection and action to help young people better understand the consequences of indifference and the importance of standing up for others. The series is hosted at Chautauqua Lake Central School, due to the school having a strong tradition of civic engagement and education, according to Hendrick, who added that hosting the series allows the school to bring meaningful, real-world learning opportunities directly to students and the community in a way that feels immediate and relevant.

Carl Wilkens is the next speaker in the series, who will be speaking in the Chautauqua Lake Central School Auditorium on April 30 from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. The event is free and open to all students and educators in the county.

“This is a rare opportunity to hear from Carl Wilkens, the only American who chose to stay in Kigali, Rwanda during the 1994 genocide,” Hendrick said. “While others evacuated, he remained–risking his life to protect neighbors, deliver food and water to orphanages, and help save hundreds of lives by negotiating with militia and using his presence to deter violence. He faced extraordinary circumstances and made courageous choices.

Chautauqua Lake Teacher and Program Director of the Holocaust and Social Justice Education Program of Chautauqua County, Leigh-Ann Hendrick, during her time in Rwanda. Submitted photo

He is featured in the PBS documentary ‘Ghosts of Rwanda’, authored the book ‘I’m Not Leaving’ and is featured in another documentary by the same title. These are the kinds of stories that stay with students and challenge how they see the world. His story is one of courage, moral clarity, and the power of individual action–offering lessons that are deeply relevant for students and communities today.”

For Hendrick, the speaker series is important to her as a lifelong learner and educator, as she said she believes in the power of stories to break down barriers and promote acceptance and inclusion.

She has also traveled to Rwanda twice, once in 2016 with Wilkens and a group of “incredible educators” and again in 2024 with the Anne Frank Project of Buffalo State College, where she said students from Chautauqua Lake were able to do a Zoom call with students in Rwanda as well.

“I’ve witnessed firsthand the country’s remarkable transformation,” Hendrick said. “Rwanda is now a global leader in gender equality, with over 60% of parliamentary seats held by women, and its economy continues to grow, with projections around 7.1% driven by agriculture and services. The country is also focused on sustainable development, working toward a green, technology-driven future while addressing poverty. This series is an opportunity to bring those powerful stories of resilience, growth, and responsibility to our students in a way that inspires empathy, understanding, and action.”

The speaker program is not just about history, but also about understanding people’s current role in the present and recognizing that individual choices matter, Hendrick said. Teachers are able to sign up their classes at chqsocialjustice.org and it is open to all secondary school students in the county free of charge.

“We’re incredibly grateful to bring Carl Wilkens to our community,” Hendrick said. “In addition to this speaker series, we offer a range of programs designed to expand access to meaningful learning, including a week long teacher fellowship, a countywide capstone trip to Washington, D.C. for students and educators, and a lending library that includes resources like Wilkens’ book ‘I’m Not Leaving’. We also host a fall teacher workshop and a spring student symposium–this year held at the Robert H. Jackson Center on May 15. We’re especially proud of our Anne Frank Humanitarian Award, which honors local students who are making a meaningful difference in their communities. Together, these programs help us connect history to action and empower the next generation of upstanders.”