To honor the victims of one of humanity's worst moments, our community remembers the Holocaust with an annual ecumenical service. The 41st Annual Northwest Louisiana Holocaust Remembrance Service will be 3:00 p.m. Sunday, May 5 in Louisiana State University Shreveport’s University Center. The Chair of the event is Dr. Kenna Franklin, Assistant Provost of Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement and Associate Professor of Professional Practice.

The guest speaker will be Sonia Levitin, Holocaust survivor and award winning author. Sonia Levitin is an author, artist, playwright, and social activist, often using the novel as a form of inter-cultural understanding. As a Holocaust survivor, Sonia wants to be a bridge between peoples. Her books include mysteries, historical novels and current affairs. She has been honored with the Pen Award, National Jewish Book Award, Sydney Taylor Award, and the German Catholic Bishops Award. There will be signed copies of her young adult novel Journey to America available at the reception following the service. 

Since 1984, a coalition of community partners in Northwest Louisiana have held a remembrance service for victims of the Holocaust. Through our remembering and active cooperation, we strive to obliterate injustice. Eleven candles will be lit in memory of the eleven million lives lost during the Holocaust. We will share prayers together in memory and solidarity. This is intended as a non-denominational opportunity for the community to come together to remember and find strength to prevent injustice in the world. Please join us, whatever your faith background.

Northwest Louisiana middle and high school students are given the option to participate in the Holocaust Remembrance Literary and Arts Competition. Students learn about the Holocaust, and produced poems, stories, essays, visual art, or musical compositions. This year there were 135 student submissions. Winners of each category will be announced at the service. 

Registration is appreciated at this page. More information about the service can be found at holocaustremembranceservice.org