Never heard of Generations After? We are a community of descendants of Holocaust survivors committed to preserving memory, honoring legacy, and ensuring that the voices of the past continue to shape the future. 

Through education, dialogue, and connection, we carry forward the stories entrusted to us: transforming remembrance into meaningful action. 

• Raise awareness and deepen understanding of the Holocaust and its enduring lessons
• Maintain a dynamic Speakers Bureau to educate diverse audiences
• Participate in community programs, events, and educational initiatives
• Foster connection among descendants and partner organizations in Sarasota and Manatee Counties

Join us in keeping memory alive.
Contact us to learn more or get involved.

Generations After – Sarasota & Manatee is part of a broader movement of second- and third-generation descendants of Holocaust survivors. Bound by shared history and responsibility, we serve as living bridges between those who endured and the generations who must now remember.

Many of us grew up with stories, spoken and unspoken, shaping our identities and values. Today, we step forward to ensure those histories are neither lost nor forgotten.

As we move further in time from the Holocaust, firsthand survivor testimony is becoming increasingly rare. Our role is to carry those voices forward with integrity, accuracy, and heart. 

We believe memory must be active, not only preserved, but shared, questioned, and connected to the world we live in today. 

Generations After Sarasota & Manatee was founded in 2005 by Dr. Helen N. Fagin and Margarit Schechtman as a Holocaust remembrance group for descendants of Holocaust survivors. What began as a small gathering rooted in shared history has grown into a vibrant community dedicated to preserving memory and ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust endure. 

Under the auspices of and with support from the Jewish Federation Sarasota-Manatee, the group meets regularly, creating space for reflection, dialogue, and connection among members. 

In addition to remembrance, Generations After is deeply committed to education. Members are trained to participate in a Speakers’ Bureau which is an outreach initiative that brings Holocaust education into local schools and community settings. Through personal narratives and historical context, our speakers help foster understanding, empathy, and responsibility in the next generation.

Our goal is to create a Generations After Archive which will house our parents’ stories in written, video-recorded and presentation formats so that those stories will be preserved forever.

We are the inheritors of stories that were never meant to survive, and yet, they did. Carried in fragments, in memories, in silence and in voice, these histories now live within us. As the generations that follow, we understand that remembrance is not passive; it is a responsibility. 

We do not simply look back—we step forward. We speak when others no longer can. We carry names, experiences, and truths into spaces where they must be heard. In a world where distortion and denial still exist, we stand as witnesses to the witnesses, ensuring that memory remains not only intact, but alive, relevant, and urgent. 

For more information, to join, or to learn about upcoming programs, please contact us below.

Our Speakers Bureau offers engaging, thoughtful presentations for schools, community groups, faith organizations, and civic institutions.

Programs may include:

• Personal family stories and reflections as descendants
• The impact of intergenerational trauma and resilience
• Historical overviews of the Holocaust and its relevance today
• Conversations on antisemitism, identity, and moral responsibility

Each presentation is tailored to the audience, fostering dialogue, empathy, and deeper understanding.

Generations After actively participates in and supports programs throughout Sarasota and Manatee Counties. From commemorations to educational workshops, we believe in showing up—together.

Our involvement may include:

• Holocaust remembrance events such as International Holocaust Remembrance Day and Yom HaShoah
• Community dialogues and interfaith programs
• Educational partnerships with schools and cultural organizations
• Social gatherings that strengthen connections among members

Be Part of the Next Chapter 

Whether you are a descendant of Holocaust survivors, an educator, or someone committed to preserving memory, there is a place for you here. 

You can: 

• Join our network of descendants
• Participate in events and discussions
• Become part of our Speakers Bureau
• Support educational initiatives in the community  

Together, we ensure that remembrance is not passive—but a living, evolving force for good.