The Committee to Promote Respect in Schools (CYPRESS) was founded in Evansville, Indiana in 1999, and since its inception, its mission has been to build respect and appreciation for diversity in our schools and our community. The committee is comprised of current and retired educators and community volunteers.
Shoah Archives at Central Library
CYPRESS worked with Academy Award winning Director Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Archive to bring part of the prestigious collection of Holocaust oral histories to our area. In all, there are 115 first-hand accounts of the Holocaust, permanent testimonials from survivors and witnesses from Indiana, Kentucky and Southern Illinois. It is one of the largest regional collections anywhere in the United States.
Students can experience unedited and powerful accounts of hope, survival, and resilience on DVD. The testimonials are located at the Evansville Vanderburgh Central Library where they are available to the public. The regional Shoah Archives at Central Library can be accessed here: shoah.evpl.org
H.E.A.R.T. – Helping Everyone with Anti-Bullying, Respect and Tolerance
Commissioned by CYPRESS, H.E.A.R.T.–Helping Everyone with Anti-Bullying, Respect and Tolerance– is an original collection of activities created by area educators. The curriculum contains over a hundred lessons and activities, appropriate for every grade and age.
CYPRESS encourages teachers to use these lessons in the classroom, but they are also appropriate for all those who work with children. This highly acclaimed program is available here on our website.
Teacher Workshops
Our workshops, led by nationally recognized experts, feature outstanding professional development for educators and youth leaders. Topics have included the Holocaust, Bullying, Civil Rights, and Heroes.
At each teacher workshop, participants receive complimentary teaching materials so teachers can continue to inspire when educating their students.
With generous contributions and grants from various foundations, corporations, and individuals, CYPRESS has donated thousands of dollars worth of educational materials to local universities and schools.
Outstanding Community Events
CYPRESS spearheaded a broad-based cultural and educational collaboration entitled “Evansville Remembers”, focusing on the Holocaust and World War II.
CYPRESS also initiated a pen pal program between students in Evansville and Amandola, Italy, a town that heroically saved lives during the Holocaust. Spearheaded by some dedicated teachers, the program has continued for over five years, and has touched the lives of hundreds of students in Evansville and Amandola.
CYPRESS collaborated with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra to present the children’s Holocaust opera “Brundibar” (2005 & 2011) and the classics concert of “Babi Yar”.
CYPRESS sponsored concerts by author and pianist Mona Golabeck. Her concerts and book, The Children of Willesden Lane, celebrate the life of her mother, who was a Holocaust survivor. CYPRESS donated over 1200 copies of her book to area schools.
Washington Times
