ADRIAN — An Adrian educator has been selected for an international program focused on Holocaust education.
Bob Behnke, executive director of the Adrian Diversity Event Fund and creator of the Lenawee Pop-Up Holocaust Museum, has been chosen as one of 25 educators worldwide to attend the International Summer Academy at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
The program is an intensive week of study, discussion, and archival work for educators, scholars, and museum professionals, hosted by the International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust.
Behnke, a retired superintendent of Adrian Public Schools, founded the Lenawee Pop-Up Holocaust Museum to bring Holocaust artifacts, survivor stories, and educational exhibits to the local community.
Bob Behnke said of the honor, quote, “I am deeply honored and humbled to be selected for the Summer Institute. The opportunity to learn alongside educators from around the world, and to engage directly with museum staff, curators, and preservationists at Auschwitz, is incredibly meaningful. I look forward to bringing these insights back to Lenawee County and continuing to expand Holocaust education in our community,” unquote.
The Lenawee Pop-Up Holocaust Museum, at 136 East Maumee Street in Adrian, features exhibits on Holocaust history, local ties, and traveling displays from the Zekelman Holocaust Center. It is open Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.