When the Past is Present

Karen Jungblut, Director of Research and Documentation at the USC Shoah Foundation Institute.

Martin Niwenshuti, from the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center, at the podium.

Martin Niwenshuti, Kigali Genocide Memorial Center.

Yves Kamuronsi, Kigali Genocide Memorial Center.

Paul Rukesha, Kigali Genocide Memorial Center.

Paul Rukesha demonstrating KGMC's online archive.

Diogene Mwizerwa, Kigali Genocide Memorial Center.

Seated from left to right: Martin Niwenshuti, Yves Kamuronsi, Paul Rukesha, and Diogene Mwizerwa, from the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry.

Ari Zev, Director of Administration for the USC Shoah Foundation Institute.

From left to right: Yves Kamuronsi, Diogene Mwizerwa, Renée Firestone, Karen Jungblut, Jan Perry, Ari Zev, Paul Rukesha, and Martin Niwenshuti.

Councilwoman Jan Perry with Ari Zev, Director of Administration at the USC Shoah Foundation Institute, holding the commendation from the City of Los Angeles.

On Wednesday, November 30, 2011, four inspiring young men from Rwanda's Kigali Genocide Memorial Center spoke about their mission to document the past, and the purpose of taking testimony. Diogene Mwizerwa, Paul Rukesha, Martin Niwenshuti, and Yves Kamuronsi addressed how they will use the infrastructure of the Shoah Foundation Institute to tell the human story of another genocide as well as other topics such as taking testimony, the complexity of memorialization, and memory in a fractured society. In addition, the evening included the presentation of a commendation from the City of Los Angeles, given to the Institute by Councilwoman Jan Perry, of the Ninth District.

Album posted on: December 6, 2011