Holiday Breads 2018

A fund-raising event to support the (CHGS) Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies-Muskegon

Our mission: diffuse hate and encourage diversity through commemoration and education and reflection using the Holocaust and other genocides as a lens through which to reflect, learn and think critically and apply lessons learned from the Holocaust and genocide and personal strength.

Holiday Breads has been the primary means to raise funds for the programs of the CHGS. The Center’s roots go back to 1995 when a Holocaust Commemoration was first held in Muskegon at Samuel Lutheran Church. Since then we have brought scholars, survivors, teachers, workshop leaders to Muskegon to help educate and raise awareness of race and bigotry.

How do I order bread?

1. There three ways
2. You may go to our website and down load the order form and send it to the email
   address provided.
3. You may send your order by email using an order form secured through your
   faith community or requested by phone or email, or in an email – list the breads
   and amounts you want.
4. You may order by phone leaving your name and phone number and order.

You will receive a confirmation of your order. You will need to select a date for pick up on the order form. If you live closer to First Baptist Church on Quarterline Road you may call the church or indicate on the order form that you will pick it up at First Baptist rather than the regular pick up place at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church at Norton Avenue and Roosevelt Road.

Where are the breads baked?

All breads are baked at the fully licensed kitchen at First Baptist Church who has graciously offered their facility for this event. If you do not order you can buy the extra breads we always bake and have on hand on pick up days.

PDF: What are 2018’s Holiday Bread offerings

PDF: Order Form 2018

PDF: Info for mailing – Addresses and Pickup Dates/Times

Presenter: Christine Derdarian

Date:  November 14, 2018

Time: 6:30-8:30 pm

Place: Sturrus Technology Center

388 W Clay Ave, Muskegon, MI

What is the Armenian Genocide? The deportations, mass killing, and forced conformity and acceptance of Islamic culture by Armenians in the late Ottoman Empire constitute a genocide under the cover of World War One. The German and Ottoman Empires and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were allied against the British and Russian Empire, France, Italy and eventually the United States. The tragic killings of 1915-1916 were ordered and carried out by the Young Turks and their Kurdish allies out of fear that the Russians would turn the large minority population of Armenian Christians – and Greek Christians – against the Ottoman Empire.

Our speaker for November 14th at the Sturrus Center @ 6:30pm Christine Derdarian is a highly effective executive and attorney with extensive experience in governance and compliance issues, government relations and operations and regulatory concerns; health professional licensing; labor law;administrative law; federal and state litigation, as well as serving as legal counsel and special advisor to the past Governor of Michigan and several other state officials. Sheis a frequent public speaker on leadership and governance issues. Her mother, Mae, was a survivor of the Armenian genocide and wrote her testimony and published a book, “Vergeen”.

On November 4 students from around the county put on the play “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” at Muskegon Community College Overbrook Theater. It was directed by Lynn Frisinger and Anna Alpert. The project raised funds to support “Gilana’s Fund”. More information can be found at www.gilanasfund.org.

Our program year 2017-2018 began with the day called Kristallnacht, November 9 and 10, 1938, and featured our guest, Rick Baumann who is an editor for the Huffington Post. He told the story of his grandparents and their struggle to leave Germany and failing to do that, survived under the Nazis.

Our second event marked “International Holocaust Commemoration Day” which January 27^th. Our guest was Carl Wilkens, who was in Rwanda in 1994 when the genocide led by Hutus slaughtered 800,000 or more people who were Tutsis. The film “I’m Not Leaving” was shown twice and after each presentation Carl was present to talk with the attendees.

Our final event was April 15-16-17 and was complicated by a spring winter storm. We were forced to cancel the Commemoration Service and the High School Outreach program. However, our Guest Edith Maniker addressed a college group on the MCC campus, and in Ludington she spoke to a crowd of 250 persons at West Shore Community College. Her message was simple. She told students, “If someone is teaching you to hate do not listen. Walk away. You have the power to do that. You have the responsibility to do that.”

Looking to the future . . .

The commemoration events for the year 2019 will be March 24-27.

The commemoration events for the year 2020 will be March 29-31. This year will make the 75^th Anniversary of the end of the war in Europe and the liberation of the death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau and the concentration camps and labor camps in Germany and Austria.

And a new look is coming. The logo for the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies was first used in 1995. The design incorporates two symbols of the Jewish and Christian communities: the fish and lamp. We used this logo of what was the National Conference of Christians and Jews and added to it the six stars of David and the triangles in the various colors identifying those the Nazis considered undesirables. As the Shoah Remembrance Committee of Muskegon grew into the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies and involved of wider audience in terms of leadership and support, it was felt the logo needed to grow with the times. We wanted the symbol to express Commemoration, Education and Reflection. The new logo will come the end of summer.

The CHGS Board meeting will be June 20^th. This is a planning meeting to look at goals and events.

The Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies will have a few events for the Commemoration of the Shoah .

Our guest will be Edith Maniker, a child survivor from Leipzig Germany. She was given into the hands of strangers by her parents when she boarded a train which would carry her to the English Channel where she would cross to England. A child refuge, Edith will share her story at a Commemoration Service on Sunday April 15 at 3:30 pm, Samuel Lutheran Church.

She will speak with 65-70 high school students representing several high schools in Muskegon County. This Outreach program will give students an opportunity for more intimate conversation with our guest as Mr. David Klemm from MAISD and Mrs. Sarah Woycehoski lead the groups through a day long workshop.

On Monday evening April 16th she will speak at a community forum held at the Sturrus Center on Clay street downtown campus of Muskegon Community College. This would be a good venue for parents who wish to come with their middle school age or high school age children, or a high school group.

On Tuesday April 17th @12:30pm Edith will travel north to Ludington to speak at West Shore Community College

For any further information contact the Center at the email address: chgs.muskegon@gmail.com