A Holocaust artifact exhibit, curated by local students, recently concluded its two-week run at the Kalama Public Library, deepening the region’s connection to Holocaust history and remembrance.
The exhibit, titled “Echoes of Survival,” was a collaboration between the Kalama High School-based Southwest Washington Student Leadership Board (SLB), the Holocaust Center for Humanity in Seattle, and the Kalama Public Library. It featured a range of artifacts (both authentic and replicas) that told the stories of Jewish individuals and families before, during, and after the Holocaust. Many of the items had long been preserved in the Center’s archives and were publicly displayed in Southwest Washington for the first time.
“A big part of what we do on the Student Leadership Board and with the Holocaust Center for Humanity is to get students actively working with the lessons of the Holocaust, and this exhibit did that and more,” said Kalama High School teacher and SLB Program Coordinator Michael Ready.
An opening ceremony on April 14 welcomed approximately 70 attendees, including representatives from the Holocaust Center, Kalama School District, and the City of Kalama. The event featured remarks from a Holocaust survivor and set the tone for the powerful two-week exhibit, which ran through April 25.
“The exhibit went immensely well; It was well-received by the community,” said Ready. “It’s been a great example of how students can work hands-on with museum work and memory preservation.”
SLB President and Kalama High School Senior Nevaeh Olinger reflected on the project’s significance.
“This exhibit was more than a collection of artifacts; it was a powerful reminder of resilience, courage, and the urgent need to stand against hate and indifference,” said Olinger. “Projects like this have been transformative for our board. They prove that simply remembering is not enough; we must reflect, educate, and challenge hate whenever we see it.”
Ready said the exhibit will now return to the Holocaust Center in Seattle, though he hopes it will travel to other small communities across the state.
“The hard work of Kalama SLB students can be a model for others,” said Ready.
Students participate in cemetery cleanup on Holocaust remembrance day
In addition to the exhibit, as a form of service and reflection, the student leadership board honored Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) by participating in a cleanup event at Portland’s Cemetery Beth Israel
Ready described the service project as “a great activity to really help the students understand the value of their service.”
Click here to learn more about the Southwest Washington Student Leadership Board.