Dr. Shereen Lerner, Mesa Community College Honors co-coordinator and anthropology faculty member, chairs the college’s cultural science department.

Dr. Lerner said her father Maximilian did not discuss his experiences in escaping Austria during World War II until 10 to 15 years ago.

“I think that as they get older they recognize the stories need to be told, because if not, they’ll be lost,” Dr. Lerner said.

Both Shereen and Maximilian will talk to the public on different personal connections to this topic.

At 10 a.m. April 10 in the Turquoise Room, Shereen will share the story of Sonja, her mother’s first cousin, who documented the emotion of her concentration camp experiences.

Sonja was killed in Auschwitz at age 13, but her heritage lives on in the form of her recently discovered artwork, which will be showcased at the “Sonja’s Legacy” exhibit on campus during the week.
 

Genocide Awareness Week to unearth human tragedies.pdf