We envision this film as a starting point for meaningful dialogue and positive change, and so our goal is to reach as wide an audience as possible, including the sizable segment of the population who may be aware that a problem exists, but do not think it is their place to respond – or simply do not know how.
Pairing personal storytelling with educational tools, I Cannot Be a Bystander will anchor a nationwide outreach campaign that includes community screenings, intergenerational conversations, and curriculum materials for classrooms. Its purpose is clear: to transform audiences into upstanders who recognize that social justice depends on everyday courage—and that safeguarding democracy begins when none of us stand by.

Holocaust survivor Stan sharing his story and answering the many questions of 100 sixth graders in Santa Barbara, California. Many of the students are first-generation Americans who shared their own experiences with Stan.