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Anderson County High Auditorium in Garnett
Life in a Jar will present at Anderson County Auditorium in Garnett, Kansas on Thursday night, March...
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Prague-Czech Republic
The students of Krystyna Klusonova will present Life in a Jar on Saturday, March 17th in the Czech...
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TBA
These dates are blocked out for national travel and events.
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Prague-Czech Republic-Homeschooling Academy, CB Soukenická 15, Prague 1, 110 00
The students of Krystyna Klusonova will present Life in a Jar on Saturday, March 24th in the Czech...
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Jewish Community Center of Mercer Island, WA
Life in a Jar will perform in the Seattle, WA area on Sunday night at 7PM. The program will be to...
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Mercer Island, WA
Life in a Jar will perform to the students of Northwest Yeshiva High School, the Seattle Hebrew Academy...
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5015 Harding Road in Nashville-The Temple
Life in a Jar will perform on Sunday, April 15th, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee. The performance will...
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2820 W 76 Country Blvd in Branson
Norm Conard will present at the Newbees Book Club (associated with the Kimberling Area Library) the...
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Irena Sendler, born in 1910, in Warsaw, Poland, was raised by her parents to respect and love people regardless of their ethnicity or social status. Her father, a physician, died from typhus that he contracted during an epidemic in 1917. He was the only doctor in his town of Otwock, near Warsaw who would treat the poor, mostly Jewish community of this tragic disease. As he was dying, he told 7-year-old Irena, “If you see someone drowning you must try to rescue them, even if you cannot swim.” When World War II started in 1939, Irena immediately started protecting her Jewish friends in Warsaw. She worked at a social services director in Warsaw. She would make false documents for Jews in the city and had already started gathering her famous rescue network. When the Warsaw Ghetto was erected in 1940, Irena saw the danger ahead.
When liquidation started in 1942, Irena and her network accelerated the rescue process. The number 2,500, in connection with children rescued, is estimated by Irena and historians to be of this division. About 800 were taken from the Warsaw Ghetto, many of which were orphans. Approximately the same number were in orphanages and convents, Irena and her network assisted in the hiding of these children. Also, while working with the underground organization, Zegota, Irena and her network would assist in the hiding of about 900 children and many adults in homes around the city.
Irena was caught by the Gestapo and almost killed in 1943. She escaped Pawiak prison and stayed in hiding for most of the rest of the war. Irena received world-wide recognition after the Life in a Jar project first visited Poland. She passed on in 2008.
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Norm Conard taught social studies at Uniontown High School in Uniontown for 20 plus years, he has left the classroom to develop an international education center. The Lowell Milken Center celebrates unsung heroes in history. A third generation educator, Mr. Conard made sure that his teaching style exceeded traditional classroom boundaries by encouraging his students to develop projects of tolerance and diversity. His dream and the dream of his students was to develop a foundation which can assist schools and students across the country to develop such projects....like Life in a Jar. One of his great sources of pride is having seen over 180 of his students win state history championships and 70 of his students achieve national recognition in the National History Day Competition. He has received many local, state and national awards. Norm has received numerous state and national teaching awards. Mr. Conard says, "Irena Sendler has changed my life and the lives of my students. She continues to make a huge difference in our world." Norman and his wife Karen still work with the original student founders of the projects, all of which are in their mid to late 20's.
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I am from Bronson, KS. During my freshman year in high school, I asked to be in a National History Day project. We found the story of an amazing woman; our research began there. We thought the project would end after the national competition but, to our surprise, the project had taken a life of its own. The first time I met Irena I was amazed by her wisdom and grace. Her courage and love can tear down any barrier. She has challenged us to continue her story and inspire others. This is a tremendous task we will all try to achieve for the rest of our lives. Notes: In high school Megan was named a National Coca-Cola Scholar for her community service. She was also selected to the 2nd team USAToday All-American Academic Team for 2003. Megan is a graduate of Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. She was recently nominated for the BRICK award, as one of the ten outstanding young adults in 'changing the world' from the United States. **Megan continues to work in the project and perform in 'Life in a Jar.' She travels to each presentation, works on our Life in a Jar film, does individual presentations and stays heavily involved in the project. She has participated in over 290 Life in a Jar presentations. Megan married Kenny Felt on June 3, 2006. Wedding photos are in the 'photo gallery.' Megan was very close to Irena Sendler, through visits and mail. Megan has played the role of Irena for many years. Irena passed away on May 12th, Megan's birthday.
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Elizabeth (Cambers) Hutton, age 26, has graduated with a history degree from the College of the Ozarks in Branson, MO. She is one of the original founders of the Irena Sendler project. Living 3.5 hours away from her hometown has not stopped her from continuing her involvement with the project. She is very adamant about telling Irena Sendler's story of hope and courage. She hopes to change children's lives by one day working with inner city high school students and teaching them that one person can change the world! Elizabeth took her third trip to Poland in May of 2005. Elizabeth is dedicated to changing the world and making a difference in her community. She has spent a great deal of time working on the project. In high school she received a number of awards, including the Presidential Service award. Liz was married in 2007. Wedding photographs can be seen in the 'photo gallery.' She is currently teaching history in Lebanon, MO.
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Jaime portrays three characters, including the blackmailer, Mrs. Rosner, and Sister Matylda Getter. She says the following, "Until a few years ago, I spent the entirety of my life in Ottawa, Kansas. I attended Sacred Heart Catholic School in my younger years and went on to graduate valedictorian from Ottawa High School. As college approached, I became frighteningly aware that I didn’t want to leave the sanctuary of my parents’ home. Though, with their support I was able to choose Pittsburg State University and attended my first semester in the Fall of 2004 as a Business Finance Major. It was an absolute blessing to have met Megan (Stewart) Felt in class one day, and I will never forget when she asked me to become a part of this project. Although I didn’t feel worthy to take on such a cause, my faith has always led me to achieve more than I think possible. My heart won me over quickly, and I joined in November of 2005. My words cannot begin to justify the emotions exuded with each performance as they are genuine and from the heart. Irena Sendler is a woman whose morale and courage I aspire to. As she has become my hero, I hope that she too will also become yours." Jaime graduated in May 2007, earning the distinction of cum laude, with a degree in business finance from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. She received her M.A. in 2009 and works at the Federal Reserve in Kansas City. She visited Irena in Poland in April/May of 2008, saying, "Her (Irena's) presence alone and grace especially astound me. My tears are not salty, but sweet. I cry tears of happiness, for in this life’s moment, I have lived a momentous life. It’s our message, our legacies that continue when we do not. Irena has the greatest and strongest of all. I still may not feel worthy to represent her life as I do, but I promised her I would honor her with a life of tolerance and kindness." Jaime is at the Fed in Kansas City, as a Financial Analyst.
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I am from a military family and moved almost every 2-3 years of my life, until I was a junior in high school. Right before my junior year of high school my family moved to Southeast Kansas. I attended a small high school in Uniontown, KS. Growing up I was always extremely shy and quiet because I was always the new kid, it seemed to all change after I became part of this project. I remember Mr. Conard asking me after class one day if I would be interested in working on a project for National History Day. At the time we had no idea what we were going to do for a project or how it would take on a life of its own. I have had the opportunity to visit Irena in Poland twice. As of now I play the role of Marie along with Elizabeth and Jessica.
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I am from Fort Scott, KS and attended Uniontown High School. I was born on September 11th, 1984. I feel honored to have worked on many diversity projects that have changed lives across the country, especially the Irena Sendler Project. I now have a large responsibility as road manager of the Irena Sendler Project and play the role of Irena's best friend in the play. Irena Sendler has become a major part of my life and the way that I live it. From meeting her several summers ago, I have gained the knowledge I need to cherish and share with others about how one person can change the world. When I began helping with the performance and presentations of "Life in a Jar," I realized Irena is a heroine for the entire world to believe in. She has changed me and the way I view others, given me hope in a world of sorrow, and given me inspiration to make a difference. Seeing Irena a few years ago and all the love she has for others is a life altering experience. *****(Jessica received 5th place in America at the National History Day Championships with her civil rights exhibit on an African American pioneer. She is a graduate of Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas with a degree in Psychology.
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Both Renata and Elzbieta were 'Hidden Children.' Renata survived in the streets of Warsaw until rescued and Bieta was taken out of the Warsaw Ghetto in a carpenter’s box at five months of age by Irena and her network. Bieta had a silver spoon put in the carpenter’s box by her parents, with her first name and birthdate. Bieta was active in care for Irena and both have visited Kansas and participated in ‘Life in a Jar’ presentations. Renata lives in Montreal and Bieta in Warsaw. Both women are very active in Child Survivor organizations and active in telling about the Holocaust. Elzbieta is the director of the Irena Sendler Award, given each year to a Polish teacher.
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Howard and Ro Jacobson are bright lights in the 'Life in a Jar' story. They have been major friends and supporters of the project since the beginning. They are loved by the students and adults at Uniontown. Howard and Ro have both established foundations which give scholarships to worthy students. They have contributed greatly to members of the 'Life in a Jar' project.
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Stefanie cares about people and cares about the world learning the story of child survivors. Her constant effort and devotion to a passionate cause has touched the lives of many. She has been with the Life in a Jar students on a number of occasions, spent time with Irena, is a close friend of Bieta and Renata, and has great energy for telling the story of Irena Sendler and others. Her work with the World Federation and their dynamic publication is an inspiration.
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