Colorado Mesa University will host the Twenty-Third Annual Holocaust Awareness Series from April 12–16, 2026.
The week will kick off with a Field of Flags display, constructed by CMU faculty, staff, students, and community volunteers, and will feature more than 2,000 flags representing groups targeted by the Nazi regime, with each flag symbolizing 5,000 lives. The display was developed in collaboration with CMU’s Social and Behavioral Sciences Department, with support from Grand Junction Pipe and Supply and informational signage created by members of the Genders and Sexuality Alliance.
The interdisciplinary series will also include lectures, film screenings, and performances examining the Holocaust and other government-sponsored atrocities. All events are free and open to the public.
The series is dedicated to the seven values that define CMU’s human-scale university, emphasizing connection, respect, and meaningful engagement both on campus and within the broader Grand Junction community.
For additional information about the Holocaust Awareness Series, please contact:
Vincent V. Patarino
Director, Holocaust Awareness Series
Email: [email protected]
Schedule of Events
- Sunday, April 12 | 1:00 p.m.
College Center Field
Field of Flags Display Installation
Constructed by CMU faculty, staff, students, and community volunteers. Media are welcome. - Monday, April 13 | 10:50 a.m.
College Center Field
Moment of Silence Dedication
A campus-wide observance honoring victims represented in the Field of Flags. - Monday, April 13 | 6:30–8:00 p.m.
Houston Hall 205
Film Screening: The Armenian Genocide
Presented by Vincent V. Patarino, followed by discussion on the implications of genocide denial. - Tuesday, April 14 | 4:30–6:00 p.m.
Houston Hall 205
“Black Milk of Daybreak: Experiencing Paul Celan’s Poetry in English”
Presented by Dan Rosenberg. - Tuesday, April 14 | 6:30–8:00 p.m.
Houston Hall 205
“Representing Absence: Holocaust Memory in Memorials, Monuments, and Museums”
Presented by Barry Laga. - Wednesday, April 15 | 4:30–6:00 p.m.
Houston Hall 205
“Japanese Imperial Legacy: The Colonial Period of Korea and Its Cultural Impacts”
Presented by James Coburn. - Wednesday, April 15 | 6:30–8:00 p.m.
Houston Hall 205
Film Screening: Paragraph 175
Hosted by CMU History Club and Phi Alpha Theta, followed by discussion.
- Thursday, April 16 | Evening (Time and Venue Announced via Ticketing)
Keynote Performance: Project Heroes — Heroes Independence Concert
A multimedia experience highlighting resilience and heroism in Jewish history. Please note: Although free and open to the public, tickets are required for the Project Heroes event. All attendees will undergo a security screening process. Ticket holders will receive the event time and location upon registration. Valid ID is required, and no bags will be permitted inside the venue.
For more information about the 2026 Holocaust Awareness Series, visit https://www.coloradomesa.edu/civic-forum/engagement/holocaust-awareness-series.html