When Kim Simon began working at the Shoah Foundation to help coordinate efforts to collect testimonies in 1994, she understood that the voices of those who lived through some of history’s darkest times needed to be heard by as many people as possible.

“Survivors and witnesses to the Holocaust and other genocides and crimes against humanity have an irreplaceable perspective to add to our understanding of the world and its conflicts, wherever they occur,” Simon explained.

Now managing director, Simon is proud to witness USC Shoah Foundation’s latest initiative to add those voices to global conversations about the complex issues of today.

Spearheaded by Executive Director Stephen D. Smith, Focal Points are a new feature on the USC Shoah Foundation website that focus around specific topics, including race and ethnicity and human rights – themes that come up again and again throughout the Visual History Archive.

“Focal Points will bring these voices together with other contributors to further our awareness and provide practical information and resources,” Simon said.

Each Focal Points page will include clips of relevant testimony from the Visual History Archive; a blog or essay about the theme or current event written by USC Shoah Foundation staff, colleagues or other scholars; relevant IWitness activities and other online instructional material; news articles about the current event; and a comprehensive list of the scholarly articles and books that use the Visual History Archive to explore the specific theme.

Simon expects Focal Points will become a resource for people seeking context and meaning regarding events of today.  “A person’s description of their experiences of the distant – or the not so distant past – when juxtaposed against the context of a current conflict, might give further perspective, allowing for deeper reflection to help frame our understanding of what we see, read, or hear. Focal Points will help foster those connections.”

The first Focal Points page, “anti-Semitism,” covers this weekend’s rally in Berlin, against anti-Semitism. Simon said the resources shared through Focal Points will remind us to stay focused on what we can learn and to find connections with others. “The site will provide perspectives from many communities and give people a chance to share their points of view, exchange ideas, and tap into useful and free electronic resources.”

Simon wants Focal Points to connect people today with the lessons of history.

“Bringing testimony and the voices of today to Focal Points, we hope people find insight, and from that insight, conviction; and from that conviction become participants and contributors,” Simon said.

Before her current post as managing director, Kim created and developed the Institute’s international programs operating in 17 countries, defined and directed the national and international education agenda, and led its global communications and public outreach, in addition to serving as Interim Executive Director in 2008-2009.

“Focal Points are about engaging with the life stories of the women and men who courageously shared their testimonies with the Institute.  The Visual History Archive provides an additional lens to allow us to recognize and grapple with the relevance of these topics in our own lives today,” Simon said.