From Darkness To Light Community Program

Post

Germany/Poland

Sebastian Sclofsky, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Criminal Justice

Country: Poland

Join us for a life-changing experience in October 2026. Dr. Sebastian Sclofsky, will facilitate a curated version of our From Darkness to Light Program specifically for friends of Stan State, community members, and regional leaders who wish to engage deeply with the program’s themes and lessons. This program is a modification of our signature student study abroad experience.

This transformational experience will take you to sites that bear witness to the history of the Holocaust, the dangers of intolerance and hate, and the resilience of the human spirit. Through guided visits, discussions, and reflection, you will explore enduring questions about humanity, moral responsibility, leadership, courage, and the choices individuals and societies make.

The program includes a pre-travel exploration of the issues along with the educational and cultural study trip to Poland.

Dates and Resources

Program dates: October 3 – 10, 2026.

Starting in Warsaw October 3 and ending on October 11 in Krakow.

Estimated cost: $3,200

This excludes flights and meals except breakfast. Hotels, ground transfers, and site admissions will be included in the final confirmed price.

Application Deadline: June 30, 2026

Special Notes: Space is limited apply today.

Apply Here

Post

Why This Program Matters Now

Historian Yehuda Bauer described the Holocaust as a central event of modern Western history and warned that it can either serve as a precedent—or as a warning. This program embraces the responsibility to ensure it is the latter.

Participants explore not only the Holocaust itself, but also:

  • The rise of antisemitism, racism, and extreme nationalism
  • The ordinary human choices that enabled mass violence
  • The lives, cultures, and communities that existed before destruction
  • The courage of those who resisted, rescued, or bore witness

In doing so, the program equips community members to recognize the warning signs of hatred and to respond with critical thinking, empathy, and ethical leadership.

View the itinerary

“We learn about individual stories, including the stories of the perpetrators, including the stories of the bystanders, of the witnesses, and of the victims.”
- Sebastián Sclofsky, PhD 

Hear what our students have to say!

Donate to the student program