hmTv at HMTC Podcasts Ep 62: The Choices We Make Define Us with Sandi Cooper and Lori Cooper P1 on hmTv
Episode 62: The Choices We Make Define Us
Featuring Sandi Cooper and Lori Cooper on hmTv
In this powerful and heartfelt episode of hmTv, co-hosts Sandi Cooper and Lori Cooper—no relation, just a shared passion—introduce their transformative Holocaust education program, The Choices We Make Define Us: Learning and Looking at Hate Through the Lens of the Holocaust. Together, they explore how teaching young students—from kindergarten through eighth grade—about identity, empathy, and the power of choice can shape more inclusive and compassionate communities.
Sandi and Lori discuss the intentional design of their scaffolded curriculum, which integrates Holocaust education with social-emotional learning, relevant literature, and age-appropriate discussions on hate, tolerance, and responsibility. They reflect on the power of words like resist, cooperate, and collaborate, and how these ideas empower students to become upstanders in their everyday lives.
With moving classroom stories, practical insights, and a deep belief in children’s intuitive goodness, this episode highlights how Holocaust education can plant seeds of hope, unity, and courage—not only in schools but across entire communities.
Tune in to hear how small choices can make a world of difference.