On June 15, 2026, the fifth graders at Old Town Elementary School (Old Town, Maine) performed their original peace song, “The Red in the Rose.” The gymnasium was filled with students and community members. Music teacher Amanda Marquis was obviously proud of her students: “It was inspiring and hopeful to hear the students talk about […]
Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine is 73 years old. She has held her seat for 29 years. Graham Platner, her Democratic challenger this year is 41. She’s old enough to be his mother. Not likely, though, given their ideological, political, and moral differences. And, as far as anyone knows, she has no children. Nevertheless, […]
During the Spring 2026 term, schools working with Americans Who Tell the Truth have enjoyed energizing conversations with living AWTT portrait subjects. As these students become changemakers, they appreciate the stories and guidance offered by those paving the way for their work. AWTT is extremely grateful to the portrait subjects who have generously offered to […]
Fourth graders at Phineas Bates Elementary School in Roslindale, Massachusetts, are learning about the brave suffragists and changemakers who worked to make voting rights for women a reality. Phineas Bates Elementary is an art-loving school community that is committed to social justice initiatives and believes in the power of art to affect change. Americans Who […]
AWTT artist Robert Shetterly unveils portrait of whistleblower Erez Rauveni.
I painted Jonathan Kozol, educator, writer and champion of inner-city schools, in 2004. At that time I had resolved to paint 50 people with whom I could surround myself, people whose struggles toinsist that we live up to our proclaimed ideals of justice and equality had made a difference, people who modeled the courageous citizenship […]
Students at Hampden Academy in Hampden, Maine recently engaged in a collaborative, station-based exploration of “Courageous Citizens” through student artwork and four Americans Who Tell the Truth portraits. Through structured discussion, close looking, and reflective writing, social studies and art students analyzed how AWTT portrait subjects used their voices to create change and then considered […]
The Brooklin School – a small elementary school in rural Maine – hosted eight AWTT portraits in March 2026. The “truth teller” portraits ranged from artists to civil rights leaders to scientists. AWTT artist Shetterly visited the students early in the month, introducing them to the portraits and engaging them in conversation about how committed […]
On March 25, 2026, Robert Shetterly unveiled his portrait of Lucy Meyer, an international advocate and spokesperson for young people with disabilities. The unveiling was a featured event of the Addison County Youth Citizen Summit, an all-day gathering in Middlebury, Vermont. Sponsored by the Addison Central School District and Middlebury College, the Summit brought together […]
Just a few weeks ago we removed the portrait of Noam Chomsky from the AWTT gallery because of his association with the sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein. As far as we know Chomsky himself was not involved in sexual abuse of girls, but he assisted Epstein in protecting his reputation from negative exposure. Even though Chomsky […]