NOTE: This blog entry was contributed by AWTT’s Education Director, Connie Carter.

I have perhaps read too many “recaps” of 2025 – a year of assaults on democracy, decency, dignity, decorum and probably ten other words beginning with “d”. I started to feel overwhelmingly depressed – another “d” word, but before that set in, I realized that defeat would not be another “d” word that would take over my being.  I realized that 2026 needs, more than ever, to be the year that people learn about the more than 280 Americans Who Tell the Truth portrait subjects who have fueled my belief in America’s democratic ideals for almost two decades.  

Communities, libraries, museums, universities need to see these faces and learn the stories of courageous citizens who have worked and are continuing to work for the common good. But, I believe, the people who really need to have the opportunity to learn about these models of courageous citizens are children and young people – those future leaders in grades K-12, the ones who need to find their voices to stand up for all of the good “d” words.  

These students need the windows and mirrors that AWTT portrait subjects offer.  They need to know how Barbara Johns found her voice to fight for education equality as she realized that her school facilities were “separate” but not at all “equal”, how Jaysa Hunter-Mellers found the courage to shut down a coal-fired power plant affecting the health of children in her community. They need to understand the bold effort of Tim DeChristopher to protect fragile land in Southern Utah from corporate damage, and the enthusiasm of Becci Ingram to start a theatre group for young people with special needs providing a safe, non-judgmental way to explore their creativity.

What are the issues that concern students today – environment, LGBTQIA+ rights, racial equity, gun reform, immigrants and their rights, education, peace? College debt, the cost of housing, decent jobs, affordable health care, a political process that brings people together rather than setting them against each other?  Leaders who lead rather than bully? They need a space where they can talk freely about their concerns – ask questions, have discussions, understand the “other,” find courage. While some of us can look inside to find the power to act, most of us need some models, some people who have seen injustice and taken action.  These people are not perfect; they have made mistakes, taken actions they have not been proud of, but in the end they have found a way, a voice, to change the world for the better.  They have found a way to look around them and take that first step to address their fear, their worry, their anger.  

Perhaps most importantly these AWTT truth tellers have come to the understanding that it is something they love that is being threatened. Their actions have been fueled not by anger or hate or greed, but by love.  Dr. Mona Hanna’s love of her patients (children) led her to uncover the Flint water crisis. Jonathan Kozol’s love of his students fueled his writings about the racial inequities in public schools. Dave Zirin’s love of sports energized his attack on the corporate packaged and politically driven sports culture. 

These are but a few examples of models available to students –  people who have found a voice, taken action, made a change for the good.  In a time when we all need to find our voices to keep democracy alive students need to realize the power of their voices.  They need to know that their actions matter and that courage often comes in small steps.

Teachers can bring Americans Who Tell the Truth into their classrooms in so many ways – share the website, participate in AWTT’s education programs, like the Samantha Smith Challenge and Show Us Who You Are, watch Speak Truth to Youth videos,  or bring AWTT portraits to your school with the School Partnership Program.

But the important step as we enter 2026 is for all of us to find our voices to keep those critical “d” words alive. Find the courage to speak truth to power and take that first step to realize America’s democratic ideals and work for the common good.