Using the power of art to illuminate the ongoing struggle to realize America's democratic ideals and model the commitment to act for the common good.
Using the power of art to illuminate the ongoing struggle to realize America's democratic ideals and model the commitment to act for the common good.
Americans Who Tell the Truth
We are dedicated to the belief that a profound understanding of citizenship is the only safeguard of democracy and the best defense of social, racial, economic, and environmental justice. Working with our portraits and narratives of courageous citizens, Americans Who Tell the Truth (AWTT) crafts collaborative educational and community experiences that illuminate the ongoing struggle to realize America’s democratic ideals and model the commitment to act for the common good.
By The Numbers
Painted
in the Samantha Smith Challenge
Hosted Portrait Exhibits
Countless New Activists Inspired
Programs
AWTT has a wide range of educational and community offerings. From elementary schools to graduate programs, AWTT’s mission is to use the portraits of these courageous activists as learning opportunities that encourage everyone to become engaged citizens as they address issues of social, environmental, and economic justice. AWTT offers workshops, speaking engagements, and lesson plans and encourages schools, universities, and communities to host portrait exhibits. AWTT offers lessons and themed exhibits around environmental justice, civil rights, the media, indigenous issues, women’s rights, and much more.
Education
AWTT harnesses the power of teaching social justice through the arts and helps students learn to become courageous and engaged citizens.
Exhibits & Community Engagement
AWTT portraits inspire a future of active citizenship in your community and are available for an exhibit at your institution or in your community.
“AWTT is able to ‘story’ American social justice advocates that celebrate and bring them to life for generations to come.”
Bill Bigelow
Zinn Education Project Director
Shop
Shop AWTT products – prints, t-shirts, mugs, and more – to support education and community programming for Americans Who Tell the Truth. Know that you are helping inspire citizenship, activism, and work for the common good.Upcoming Events
Bates Mill Hosts Second Comprehensive AWTT Portrait Exhibit
Upcoming events at the month-long Bates Mill exhibit: free screenings of documentary film Truth Tellers at noon on Saturdays; live interview with Robert Shetterly on Dec. 4th.
What's New
Opening reception at Bates Mill portrait exhibit
The AWTT exhibit of all 275 portraits opened on November 15, 2024 at the Bates Mill Complex in Lewiston, Maine. Artist Robert Shetterly was moved
AWTT on the road to meet with educators
AWTT is looking forward to meeting with large gatherings of educators over the next two month. First, on November 7-8, 2024, AWTT artist Robert Shetterly,
Doug Rawlings Unveiling: Portrait #275
On September 21, 2024, International Day of Peace, Robert Shetterly unveiled his most recent portrait: Doug Rawlings. The event took place in the Peace and Social