Bringing Transformative Education to Northern California and Beyond
Hi, I’m Katie Posey, CEO of Ourstory Connections, Inc.
Here I am in Strasbourg, France in October, 2023. My grandfather, a reconnaissance pilot, was shot down during WWII by the Nazis and spent time in a military hospital in this city right before the allies liberated it in November, 1944.
I’ve been drawn to stories of the Holocaust since I was a young reader in elementary school. After studying English and French as an undergraduate, Children’s Literature as a Master’s Student, and Curriculum & Instruction as a Ph.D. Student, I came to a point as a School Librarian in Boston when I was compelled to respond to my passion to share stories of the Holocaust with others and take a stand against antisemitism. Entire Jewish communities across Europe were destroyed during the Holocaust: I wanted to help others learn to honor the Jewish culture, recognize what was lost, and grow in the traits that enable us to prevent genocides in the future. After I left Boston to return to Northern California, I completed an M.A. in Holocaust & Genocide Studies online from Gratz College in Pennsylvania. Developing curriculum to teach the Holocaust and sharing presentations and workshops with my community are two areas where I can contribute and engage others with stories of those who experienced the Holocaust and other genocides. I continue to be open to opportunities to share, equip, and inspire, and believe that communities can become stronger and more innovative in responding to challenges through sharing stories, learning from and honoring others, and choosing to treat each individual with dignity. In our current climate, recognizing manifestations of antisemitism and opposing that hate is more vital than ever.
Want to contact us?
Email us at: Info@ourstoryconnections.com
Email Katie at: Katie@ourstoryconnections.com
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Ourstory Connections in the Community
International Holocaust Remembrance Day, 2024
In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day taking place on January 27th, 2024, CEO Dr. Katie Posey presented a program for the second year in row at the Chico Library in Butte County on Sunday, January 21st at 2pm entitled: “Don’t Forget Them: The Spiritual Courage of Jewish Youth During the Holocaust.”
A group of around 42 braved the rain to learn about the courageous stories of Petr Ginz, Helga Pollack, Ela Stein-Weissberger, and Moshe Flinker. We explored the cultural resistance of these children and young adults during the Holocaust through their diary writing and artwork, listened to Holocaust survivor testimony, and all benefited from an engaging and thought-provoking discussion at the end of the talk.
Thank you to all who attended!
International Holocaust Remembrance Day, 2023
In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27th, 2023, at the Chico Library in Butte County on Sunday, January 29th, CEO Dr. Katie Posey presented the story of The Paper Brigade, a group of Jewish men and women in Vilna, Lithuania who resisted the Nazis by saving valuable Jewish books and artifacts during the Holocaust while risking their lives to do so.
Veteran’s Day 2023
In honor of Veterans Day on November 11th, 2023 CEO Dr. Katie Posey presented a program at the Gridley Library in Butte County called “Living Histories: Jewish American WWII Veterans.” Focusing on two Jewish American World War II Veterans, Alan Moskin and Harry Zaslow, Katie shared portions of their powerful video testimonies of their experiences in wartime as well as post-war Europe. Their stories are impacting and attendees were engaged, made relevant connections with current events, and posed thought-provoking questions about current challenges our communities are facing with rising antisemitism.
Why the name Ourstory Connections?
History is a significant focus of this nonprofit, and history doesn’t just affect the people who experience it, but can have ramifications on generations to come. We chose “Our Story” because the stories of those who experienced the Holocaust and other genocides can also be important for OUR stories, in the present, as we strive to live with courage and innovation in working to prevent future genocides. Sometimes there are connections between my story and your story, and that’s a good thing. Connecting those stories can aid our growing in understanding and care for those around us.