The Upstander Ripple Effect

Thousands of students come through our doors every year here at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. One special class wrote books about being upstanders. 

“You have to know not to judge the book by his cover, you have to actually go in depth to their into their character, into their heart.” - McKenzie Williams, Winton Hills Academy student 

Julie Dellecave brought her class of 6th graders to visit us, and learn more about upstanders. Upstanders are people who stand up for themselves and others against injustice. After their visit, the class took the lesson a step further and formed small groups to write books based on their experiences. 

In the book My Kind a boy travels the world to find people like him. He realizes everyone can be "his kind" if he accepts them.  Watch the students narrate My Kind  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RIOVTwSecaMrMi3ihv-qRGz0YhiuMiNt/view  In the book Human the main character is a nameless human who reflects on how people often harm each other. The authors remind us to lift each other up.  Watch the students narrate Human https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UfH5CSjnmv2dkz-tyeIvDOFzy31h5Zh_/view   

This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode. https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity  

Our thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation and the VIA Institute on Character for their support of this series.   
https://www.mayersonfoundation.org/
https://www.viacharacter.org/  

We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected], or connect with us here: 
https://x.com/cincyhhc
https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/ 
https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/ https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity

Learn more about us https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/  

Find out more about what it means to be an upstander https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/upstander/

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Jackie and Kevin start this conversation by remembering the life of a Cincinnati Holocaust survivor, Dr. Renate Neeman, z”l. As a young girl, she was hidden by the Dutch resistance - upstanders whom she credited with her survival. She shared her story for many years with students and others as part of our Coppel Speakers Bureau.  

Jackie and Kevin discussed a recent Wall Street Journal article, “Holocaust Museums at a crossroads” and the challenges facing organizations like the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. 

We also introduce Cincinnati author, Ed Kruszynski. Ed's father, Sgt. Edmund Kruszynski, led dozens of medics on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day and for days afterwards, and later treated people at multiple concentration camps after liberation. Ed discovered documents that told his parents’ story, and began writing about them. The result is his book, The Medic’s Wife. Jackie and Kevin shared their reaction to Ed’s work bearing witness to all his parents went through during and after the war. 

The upstander featured in this episode is Patrice O’Neill. Her film, Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life tells the story of the community response to the deadly attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2018. 11 people were murdered by a gunman motivated by antisemitic hate, and the area was left reeling, but as Patrice’s moving film shows, vowed not to let hate have the last word. 

Share your thoughts on this episode with us:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com /CincyHHC/
X: https://x.com/cincyhhc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com /@holocaustandhumanity

Episode Resources:  

Learn more about the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/  

We remember the life of Dr. Renate Neeman, z”l https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/remembering-dr-renate-berg-neeman-zl/  

Book a speaker through our Coppel Speakers Bureau
https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/programs-and-events/book-a-speaker-coppel-speakers-bureau/  

HHC staff members' trip to Auschwitz
https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/press-releases/hhc-staff-members-to-attend-international-summer-academy-on-auschwitz-and-the-holocaust/  

Catch the full episode of Hear My Story with Ed Kruszynski https://youtu.be/e6SZrhgFwPU?si=czfId5NPIoE_UHn0 

Buy your copy of The Medic’s Wife https://www.amazon.com/Medics-Wife-Love-War-Secrets/dp/B0CHG8T2WG

Watch Hear My Story: Patrice O'Neill https://youtu.be/nEoDIynHYAo?si=NnDURpido5yFv1b3

This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity  

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If you’re in need of a healthy dose of hope, this episode is for you. Even if you don’t feel hopeful, we’re going to introduce you to an expert who can help you grow the character strength of hope that lies within all of us.  

“What emerged was a new science of hope. And that really got me excited, because instead of it being something that you either had, or didn't have, or it came to you, there were clearly ways that you could manifest it (if you use that language) or cultivate it.” – Dr. Dan Tomasulo  

Hope isn’t just a feeling. According to the VIA Institute on Character, hope is a character strength, and Dr. Dan Tomasulo says it’s a strength we can grow if we’re mindful. Dan has studied positive psychology for many years and was inspired to research hope when a colleague, Dr. Martin Seligman (one of the founders of the field of positive psychology) wrote a book called Learned Helplessness. It got Dan thinking – if people can learn to feel helpless, maybe they could also learn how to exercise hope. He’s written his own book, Learned Hopefulness, and joined host Jackie Congedo to help us understand more about the topic. He explained to Jackie that feeling like you’re in a negative spot can actually be the trigger that you can use to lean into hope, “Hope is the only positive emotion that requires negativity or uncertainty to be activated, that's what makes it so powerful and unique.” 

Download this episode and find out the small, simple ways you can start to activate more hope today. 

This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Center for Storytelling. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to make sure you don’t miss an episode. https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity

Our thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation and the VIA Institute on Character for their support of this series. 

We want to hear from you! Email your thoughts to [email protected] or connect with us on social media.
https://x.com/cincyhhc
https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/
https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/ 
https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity 

EPISODE RESOURCES: 

Learn more about the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/  

Find out more about character strengths from the VIA Institute on Character https://www.viacharacter.org/  

Our thanks to the Mayerson Foundation for their support of this series https://www.mayersonfoundation.org/  

Find out more about Dr. Dan Tomasulo https://www.dantomasulo.com/  

Read more from some of the authors Dan mentioned: 

Dr. Martin Seligman https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/people/martin-ep-seligman 
Dr. Barbara Frederickson https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/faculty-profile/barbara-l-fredrickson-phd 
Viktor Frankl https://viktorfranklamerica.com/viktor-frankl-bio/  

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What is the American ideal? In this episode of the Upstander Ripple Effect, we dive into some of the characteristics that are often thought of when we talk about being an American – belonging and welcoming and also uniqueness and differences of perspective.  

“The reality is that history doesn’t repeat itself. It echoes.”  - Jackie Congedo 

To best think through our current times, we rely on our understanding of history and our character strengths. We recall the lessons of the past while realizing that this moment is unique. In this episode, Jackie and Kevin bring their individual perspectives to the table to help everyone think a little more deeply about this moment in America. We share the inspiring story of Dr. Al Miller’s first encounter with an American – an immigration officer who welcomed him and extended him grace when Al realized he had temporarily misplaced his documents allowing him into the country. We also share part of our conversation with Eric K. Ward, noted expert on civil rights. Eric has done extensive work to illuminate the places where racism and antisemitism intersect, and we know you’ll find his expertise helpful to broaden your own understanding of the way hate is at work in our country now.  

Download this episode today, and don’t forget to leave us a review and a rating.  
Thanks for being part of the Upstander Ripple Effect community! 

Episode Resources: 

Learn more about the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/  

Catch the episode of Hear My Story on the life of Dr. Al Miller here https://youtu.be/mNoOIsFpGJY  

 Watch our whole conversation with Eric Ward here https://youtu.be/KqclFr1bOq0?si=39vDxmUoev5U-nG7  

 Learn more about the Reichstag Fire and its place in pre-WWII history https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-reichstag-fire  

 This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Subscribe here to make sure you don’t miss a thing https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity 

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Standing Up Strong with Dr. Roger Bretherton
A special series of the Upstander Ripple Effect podcast 

“Sometimes there's a critique of sort of positive psychology that says, this is very individualistic, it's just about making people feel better. And I would stand with you guys really in the sense of saying, ‘No, I actually think this is an issue that is for society. It's for a culture, it's much wider.’” 

-Dr. Roger Bretherton on how the intentional use of character strengths ripples out to make positive change 

Discover the transformative power of character strengths with insights from Dr. Roger Bretherton, renowned for his expertise in clinical psychology and the cultivation of virtues. In this compelling discussion, Dr. Bretherton reveals strategies to shift from focusing solely on deficits to embracing and enhancing personal strengths. Explore practical tips for developing and utilizing character strengths effectively in everyday life, including innovative techniques like strength priming and positive discussions of others' strengths. Join us to uncover how these approaches not only impact us as individuals but also foster positive change within our communities. 

The Upstander Ripple Effect is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Immerse yourself in stories that speak to the resilience of the human spirit here https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity  

Our thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation for supporting this series. 

How have you used your character strengths? Email us at [email protected]  

EPISODE RESOURCES:  

 Learn more about The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/  

 Take the character strengths survey for free https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/upstander/assess-your-character-strengths/  

 Find out about upstander trainings and professional development with character strengths https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/upstander/trainings-and-offerings/  

Visit the VIA Institute on Character https://viacharacter.org/  

Thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation for supporting this series https://www.mayersonfoundation.org/  

This episode made possible with generous support from the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family. Find all the content in the Guttman Family Center for Storytelling here https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/storytelling/  

Find out more about Dr. Bretherton
https://staff.lincoln.ac.uk/rbretherton  https://www.viacharacter.org/topics/articles/roger-bretherton-and-authentic-insight  

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It’s time to celebrate the remarkable impact of upstanders. From commemorating Juneteenth to addressing the aftermath of an antisemitism controversy at Pride this year, local upstanders are making a pivotal difference. Hosts Jackie Congedo and Kevin Aldridge take you into the archives at the Holocaust & Humanity Center, unveiling artifacts from a notable upstander in Cincinnati's Holocaust survivor community whose moment of upstanding started a movement. We're also thrilled to have Debra Messing as our special guest, who shared her powerful insights on combating antisemitism during her recent visit to Cincinnati to celebrate this year's Upstander Award winners.

EPISODE RESOURCES:
Learn more about The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/  

This episode made possible with generous support from the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family. Learn more about the Guttman Family Center for Storytelling here https://youtu.be/oP6VUOjuK5A?si=WvC_B0tZnK8Yq8_d  

Visit our YouTube channel to catch all our stories, including
Debra Messing https://youtu.be/GJnNuDf0XaE?si=XF-z-2vhMPOD-xOx
Werner Coppel https://youtu.be/bUKLrd3XsXs?si=sX-ThNO6fBIFSWii

Take the character strengths survey
https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/upstander/assess-your-character-strengths/  

HHC statement on Israel and antisemitism https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/never-again-is-now/  

Book a speaker for your school or group through the Coppel Speaker’s Bureau https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/programs-and-events/book-a-speaker-coppel-speakers-bureau/ 

Read Kevin Aldridge’s recent columns https://www.cincinnati.com/staff/2647297001/kevin-s-aldridge/  

 Find out more about this year’s upstander award winners
https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/press-releases/meet-the-2024-upstander-awards-winners/   
including Pantsuit Politics https://www.pantsuitpoliticsshow.com/
and Lamont Ragan https://www.weeroyals.org/ 

Read more about Debra Messing https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/4-things-to-know-about-cincinnati-upstander-awards-headliner-debra-messing/
https://iamavoter.com/
https://www.psi.org/ambassadors/debra-messing/ 

News stories mentioned
Pride Board resignations https://cdn.fedweb.org/fed-31/2/JFC%2520and%2520JCRC%2520Statement%2520on%2520Cincinnati%2520Socialists%2520and%2520DivestCinciPride.pdf
Madisonville shooting https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/crime/2024/06/17/police-madi

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Character strengths are a set of 24 traits that are present in everyone, no matter their age, race, culture, or beliefs.  Sharing the science of these strengths is what Standing Up Strong is all about. Jake is the Senior Manager of Professional Development Trainings & Upstander Education at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center. He works with groups from school age through adulthood, to help them understand the framework of character strengths in partnership with the VIA Institute on Character. A free, short survey is available to everyone to find out what their top character strengths are. They represent the best in us, and some strengths come to us more easily than others. This episode, hosted by Jackie Congedo, will inspire you to get to know your character strengths and explain why you might feel better about the world once you do. 

Episode Resources: 

Learn more about The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/ 

Take the character strengths survey for free https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/upstander/assess-your-character-strengths/ 

Find out about upstander trainings and professional development with character strengths https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/upstander/trainings-and-offerings/ 

Visit the VIA Institute on Character: https://viacharacter.org/ 

Thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation for supporting this series https://www.mayersonfoundation.org/   

This episode made possible with generous support from the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling  https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/storytelling/   

Some resources Jake relies on for strengths work and historical context: 

Jewish Immigration to Australia - https://sydneyjewishmuseum.com.au/news/international-migrants-day-waves-of-jewish-migration-to-australia/ 

A scholarly article of the above - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14443058309386871  

Anti-Jewish Violence in Poland after Liberation - https://www.yadvashem.org/articles/general/anti-jewish-violence-in-poland-after-liberation.html  

Strength Spotting & Elevation - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ryan-Niemiec-2/publication/342716477_Character_strengths_cinematherapy_Using_movies_to_inspire_change_meaning_and_cinematic_elevation/links/5f033e0345851550508dce79/Character-strengths-cinematherapy-Using-movies-to-inspire-change-meaning-and-cinematic-elevation.pdf  

Golden Mean - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ryan-Niemiec-2/publication/333222366_Finding_the_golden_mean_the_overuse_underuse_and_optimal_use_of_character_strengths/links/5d091fda92851cfcc6229856/Finding-the-golden-mean-the-overuse-underuse-and-optimal-use-of-character-strengths.pdf

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One act by one person in one moment can have lasting effects, and  when we use our character strengths, there’s no limit to the kind of positive ripples we can start! That's the Upstander Ripple Effect. Hosts Jackie Congedo and Kevin Aldridge bring you the first podcast from the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Included in this episode, hear the story of Sister Nancy Linenkugel, a Catholic nun who  forged a friendship with Otto Frank, the father of Anne Frank, and the scrapbook of their connection that now lives in our archives. Also, catch part of our conversation with Elisha Wiesel, an upstander who is carrying on the legacy of his father, Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel. Join us here - where upstanders are everything.

Connect with us: 

Email: [email protected] 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CincyHHC/ 

X: https://x.com/cincyhhc 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holocaustandhumanity/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@holocaustandhumanity 

Episode Resources: 

Learn more about us https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/ 

This episode generously supported by the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling. Visit our YouTube channel, where you can find all our videos and full episodes of Hear My Story, including Sister Nancy Linenkugel and Elisha Wiesel.  https://www.youtube.com/@holocaustandhumanity

Take the character strengths survey for free https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/upstander/assess-your-character-strengths/ 

HHC statement on Israel and antisemitism https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/never-again-is-now/ 

Elie Wiesel Foundation https://eliewieselfoundation.org/ 

Read Co-host Kevin Aldridge’s most recent columns https://www.cincinnati.com/staff/2647297001/kevin-s-aldridge/ 

Find out more about Brothers N Motion, the story shared by Kevin https://ceaicincy.org/brothers-n-motion/ 

News stories mentioned:
https://president.osu.edu/story/message-042924  https://www.adl.org/resources/blog/campus-antisemitism-surges-amid-encampments-and-related-protests-columbia-and-other
https://www.yahoo.com/news/nazi-flag-put-outside-home-214147620.html
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2024/05/01/daily-briefing-divisive-confederate-flags-harrison/73532024007/
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2024/03/19/antisemitic-banner-hung-over-cincinnati-freeway/73018939007/ 

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We pick up the second part of our conversation with Neal, one of the founding researchers in the field of positive psychology. Neal helped us lay the groundwork to understand the science of character strengths, and how they are key to unlock our potential to be upstanders. 

Our top character strengths represent what we value most in the world, what is most essential about us, Neal explains. When we are faced with difficulty, our strengths can shine through, if we look for them. Noticing that will give you something to look for the next time you rise to meet a challenge – what character strength did I just lean on? Bravery? Kindness? Hope? Reflecting on that can bring new appreciation of yourself and your ability to navigate life’s ups and downs. Neal shared how knowing ourselves through the lens of character strengths can shed light on everything from our career goals to what we do in our off time, but we hope you remember first and foremost how your character strengths can be the way you stand up against injustice. That is what makes an upstander!

Questions about character strengths? Email us your thoughts [email protected]

Episode Resources:

Learn more about The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center – holocaustandhumanity.org

Take the character strengths survey for free: Assess Your Character Strengths | Personality Assessment (holocaustandhumanity.org)

Visit the VIA Institute on Character: VIA Character Strengths Survey & Character Reports | VIA Institute

Thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation for supporting this episode: Home - Mayerson Foundation

This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling  https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/storytelling/

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Character strengths are the key to unlocking your potential to do good that you may never have heard of before. We sat down with one of the founding fathers of the field of positive psychology, Dr. Neal Mayerson to break down the science, and how it’s changing lives around the world.

Nearly 25 years ago, Neal and a select few colleagues practicing in the field of psychology were using all the available tools of the time to help their patients be free from the effects of mental health struggles, and it still wasn’t enough to satisfy them. They felt their patients needed not only less depression and anxiety, which they could sometimes achieve, but more fulfillment, purpose, and happiness. So they set out to discover a better way. The result is the field of positive psychology, and the development, through years of scientifically validated research, of 24 unique character strengths that exist in all people across space, time, and culture. Once you learn about the strengths that naturally come to the forefront in your own personality, you can harness them in ways that can change your life, and the lives of others. In the first part of our conversation, Neal goes in-depth on his personal experience developing this field of science, and how it is used every day in educating people about being an upstander here at the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center.

Questions about character strengths and being an upstander? Email us your thoughts [email protected]

Episode Resources:

Learn more about The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center – holocaustandhumanity.org

Take the character strengths survey for free: Assess Your Character Strengths | Personality Assessment (holocaustandhumanity.org)

Visit the VIA Institute on Character: VIA Character Strengths Survey & Character Reports | VIA Institute

Thanks to the Mayerson Family Foundation for supporting this episode: Home - Mayerson Foundation

This episode is part of the Cynthia & Harold Guttman Family Center for Storytelling  https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org/storytelling/

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