The U.S. and the Holocaust

Join your neighbors for a special program featuring a 40 minute screener from "The U.S. and the HOLOCAUST", directed and produced by Ken Burns, Lynn Novick and Sarah Botstein. The program includes presentations from a child of a Holocaust survivor and a WWII liberator. There will be a Q&A segment and light refreshments served.

Moderated by Joan Lowery

TV-MA: "This program contains mature content which may not be suitable for all audiences. Viewer discretion is advised".

Joan Lowery, M.Ed.

Joan has more than 30 years of experience working as a professional communicator both domestically and internationally. Her work spans the fields of training; program design; broadcast and print journalism; acting and coaching. In addition to regularly delivering media trainings throughout the U.S. for high tech, healthcare, wine industry and non-profit clients, for the last twelve years she has been facilitating The Listening Clinic and Make Your Point communication skills training classes for Intel Corporation at their sites around the world. Locally, Joan is a member of Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Invest in Incredible consulting team.

Her journalism background includes more than twelve years as a talk show host/producer, a news reporter on radio and television, as well as freelance print journalism. She has worked for KTVU-TV (Oakland, CA,) Associated Press Radio Network, Cable News Network, KCSM-TV (public television, San Mateo, CA,) WQSA AM Radio, WZ 1280-AM Radio and Storer Cable Television (Sarasota, FL.) Her book, CultureShift, A Leader’s Guide to Managing Change in Health Care, was published by American Hospital Publishing, Inc.

As a volunteer she has been conducting Holocaust survivor testimonies for the Florida Holocaust Museum for many years. She serves on the Ambassador Circle for the Embracing our Differences art exhibit. She is also on the Executive Committee of Impact Theater where she trains teens to interview Holocaust survivors and elders in the African American community about their experiences. She is currently interviewing Holocaust survivors, their children, liberators and rescuers for inclusion in the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s new Holocaust Memorial.

David A. Milberg is the eldest son of the late Helga E. Milberg, She was one of 50 children whom a brave husband and wife from Philadelphia rescued from certain death at the hands of the Nazis in 1939. Helga was nationally-renowned speaker and authority on Holocaust history. In his more than 100 presentations at public schools, public libraries, synagogues, neighborhood associations, cultural, and fraternal organizations in Florida, Illinois, and numerous other states since his mother’s passing in 2012, David carries on her work and continues to tell her story. This includes an emphasis on what an impoverished immigrant child to the U.S. was able to achieve as an adult for the betterment of our country. His message stresses “the power of one” to stand up for justice.

David has combined careers in broadcasting and law for more than four decades. This includes simultaneous employment at some of the largest radio stations in the U.S. and two national law firms. He is a licensed attorney in Florida and Illinois, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. His experience also includes managing a PBS-TV station, leading the radio play-by-play broadcasts for the Chicago Bears and Chicago White Sox, serving as an academic vice president of the second largest U.S. community college system, and teaching as a law school adjunct professor. His “Rare & Scratchy Rock ‘N Roll” podcast is in its seventh year and is rated among the 10 best rock music podcasts in the world. He has earned more than 20 broadcasting awards and is also a published authority on the history of popular music.

Arthur Sheridan was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 16th, 1925. At the age of 17 years old he trained as an infantry sniper and scout for the 20th Armoured Division. He joined the U.S. Army in 1944, during World War II.

Sheridan served in the European Theatre during combat and returned to the United States after the war in Europe ended.While in Europe, he and his unit had the duty to breach a wall that opened the concentration camp Dachau in Germany that held thousands of prisoners of Nazi regime. Many Jewish people and other so called “undesirables” were imprisoned and murdered there. Members of this unit are often called “Liberators”.After returning Sheridan was trained and prepared to invade Japan, after Japanese surrender.

Arthur Sheridan was honorably discharged and returned to civilian life. He subsequently became an entrepreneur with various businesses.