Humanity in Action

Humanity in Action is an international nonprofit organization focused on educating and connecting young people who seek to advance human dignity, minority rights, and democratic pluralism. Founded in 1997 by historian Judith S. Goldstein, the organization began as a pilot initiative bringing Danish and American students together to examine how Danish citizens and institutions helped protect Danish Jews during the Second World War. That historical case served as the starting point for a broader inquiry into why some societies respond to minority populations with solidarity and protection while others turn toward exclusion, intolerance, and violence. The organization formally established its flagship Humanity in Action Fellowship in 1999. Initially based in Amsterdam and Copenhagen, the fellowship expanded into an international educational network linking students and recent graduates from Europe and the United States. Participants undertake intensive programs that combine seminars, debates, historical and civic site visits, lectures, film screenings, and meetings with activists, scholars, journalists, policymakers, and community leaders. The curriculum addresses subjects including national identity, immigration, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, racism, political extremism, human rights, minority rights, and discrimination against Roma communities. The flagship fellowship has operated across several European and American cities, including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Berlin, Copenhagen, Sarajevo, and Warsaw. Programs generally run for approximately one month and culminate in an international conference bringing together participants, alumni, and institutional partners. The organization describes its alumni as Senior Fellows and treats the alumni network as a central part of its model. Beyond education, Humanity in Action encourages fellows to develop community-based action projects and to remain engaged in public, civic, cultural, and policy work after completing their programs. Humanity in Action also manages professional and graduate-level programs. The Lantos-Humanity in Action Congressional Fellowship, launched in 2001, places participants in offices of members of the United States Congress or congressional committees for practical policy experience in Washington, D.C. The Pat Cox-Humanity in Action Fellowship, established in 2004, provides comparable experience in the European Parliament or in Brussels-based nonprofit organizations. The Diplomacy and Diversity Fellowship, created in 2014, extends the organization’s educational approach to graduate students interested in foreign policy, international affairs, diplomacy, and diversity. The John Lewis Fellowship, introduced in 2015 in partnership with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, focuses on race, civil rights, and American democratic history. The organization also convenes international conferences and produces educational publications and audiovisual material. Its conferences have addressed Holocaust memory, resistance and rescue, pluralism, diplomacy, diversity, and cross-border public policy. Publications and related projects have included essay collections, historical source compilations, conference volumes, and the documentary film Just People. Humanity in Action has reported that more than 1,700 people have participated in its fellowship programs since 1999. As of the reference period, its international network included offices or organizational operations in seven countries, and its executive director was Azadeh “Azi” Khalili.

Humanity in Action was established in 1997 by Judith S. Goldstein, a historian with a doctorate from Columbia University. Its initial concept grew from an effort to understand the social and political conditions that lead communities either to defend minorities or to tolerate persecution. The organization used the rescue of Danish Jews during the Second World War as an early historical case study. Danish students and students from the United States were brought together to investigate the actions of Danish citizens and the monarchy, and to consider what that history could teach contemporary societies facing prejudice, exclusion, and violence. The initiative developed into a formal fellowship program in 1999. The first Humanity in Action Fellowships were held in Amsterdam and Copenhagen and included participants from Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States. Holocaust history remained an important foundation, but the program broadened its scope to examine present-day human and minority rights. Its educational method combined intensive discussion with visits to historical locations, conversations with practitioners, and collaborative analysis of political and social issues. Over time, the flagship fellowship became an international program serving university students and recent graduates. Programs were organized in multiple cities, including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Berlin, Copenhagen, Sarajevo, and Warsaw, with participants drawn from countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United States. Participants generally spend about a month studying questions involving identity, migration, racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, political extremism, xenophobia, Roma discrimination, and democratic responsibility. The separate city programs are connected through an international conference that allows fellows, alumni, and institutional partners to compare experiences and develop collaborations. Humanity in Action extended its work into professional placements. In 2001 it launched the Lantos-Humanity in Action Congressional Fellowship, a four-month program placing young participants in congressional offices or committees in Washington, D.C. The fellowship combines practical policy work with educational sessions and is named for Tom Lantos, the Holocaust survivor who served in the United States Congress. In 2004, the organization created the Pat Cox-Humanity in Action Fellowship, modeled on the congressional program and providing experience in the European Parliament or Brussels-based civil-society organizations. The program honors Pat Cox, who served as president of the European Parliament from 2002 to 2004. The organization’s graduate programming began with the Diplomacy and Diversity Fellowship in 2014. Its subject matter centers on international affairs, foreign policy, diplomacy, and diversity. The inaugural program connected Washington, D.C., and Paris, and later planning included Berlin. In 2015, Humanity in Action announced the John Lewis Fellowship in partnership with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta. Named for civil-rights leader and Congressman John Lewis, the program brought together participants from Europe and the United States to study race and civil rights through seminars, discussions, and educational visits. Alongside fellowships, Humanity in Action developed an international conference program and a body of educational publications. Its first international conference was held in Amsterdam in 2010 and brought together approximately 200 Senior Fellows, alumni, and institutional partners. Later conferences took place in cities including Berlin, Sarajevo, Warsaw, The Hague, Athens, Sønderborg, and Strasbourg. Topics have included Holocaust rescue and resistance, pluralism, diplomacy, diversity, and public policy across borders. The organization emphasizes its alumni network, calling former participants Senior Fellows. Its model aims not only to provide short-term instruction but also to sustain relationships and encourage participants to design action projects addressing community concerns. Humanity in Action has reported more than 1,700 fellowship participants since 1999. It is headquartered in New York City and maintains an international presence in the United States, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2025, the board appointed Azadeh “Azi” Khalili as executive director.

• 2025

  Azi Khalili appointed executive director

  [1]Humanity in Actionen.wikipedia.org

  The board appointed Azadeh “Azi” Khalili as executive director in partnership with Koya Partners.

• 2015

  John Lewis Fellowship announced

  [1]Humanity in Actionen.wikipedia.org

  A new fellowship on race and civil rights was launched with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta.

• 2014

  Diplomacy and Diversity Fellowship created

  [1]Humanity in Actionen.wikipedia.org

  The organization introduced its first fellowship designed specifically for graduate students and focused on international affairs and foreign policy.

• 2010

  First international conference

  [1]Humanity in Actionen.wikipedia.org

  The first international conference took place in Amsterdam and brought together Senior Fellows, alumni, and institutional partners.

• 2004

  European Parliament fellowship established

  [1]Humanity in Actionen.wikipedia.org

  Humanity in Action created the Pat Cox-Humanity in Action Fellowship for placements in the European Parliament and Brussels-based civil-society organizations.

• 2001

  Congressional fellowship launched

  [1]Humanity in Actionen.wikipedia.org

  The Lantos-Humanity in Action Congressional Fellowship began placing participants in the United States Congress.

• 1999

  Flagship fellowship established

  [1]Humanity in Actionen.wikipedia.org

  The Humanity in Action Fellowship formally began in Amsterdam and Copenhagen with participants from Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States.

• 1997

  Organization founded

  [1]Humanity in Actionen.wikipedia.org

  Judith S. Goldstein founded Humanity in Action as a pilot initiative examining historical and contemporary responses to minority populations.

An international civic-education and leadership-development nonprofit using history, intensive cross-border learning, and alumni engagement to prepare emerging leaders to address human and minority rights challenges.

• Educational fellowship · 1999

  Humanity in Action Fellowship

  The organization’s principal educational program brings university students and recent graduates together for an intensive, approximately month-long study of human and minority rights. Programs use seminars, debates, site visits, films, lectures, and meetings with practitioners. Subject areas include identity, migration, racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, political extremism, and Roma discrimination. Programs have operated in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Berlin, Copenhagen, Sarajevo, and Warsaw, followed by an international conference linking participants across locations.

• Professional policy fellowship · 2001

  Lantos-Humanity in Action Congressional Fellowship

  A four-month professional fellowship in Washington, D.C., placing participants in the offices of members of the United States House of Representatives or in congressional committees. The program combines practical policy experience with educational activities and is intended for young people considering careers in public policy and politics. It is coordinated with the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice.

• European policy fellowship · 2004

  Pat Cox-Humanity in Action Fellowship

  This professional fellowship provides work experience in the European Parliament or in nonprofit organizations based in Brussels. Like the congressional program, it combines a practical placement with structured educational programming. It is named for Pat Cox, former president of the European Parliament.

• Graduate educational fellowship · 2014

  Diplomacy and Diversity Fellowship

  Humanity in Action’s graduate-level fellowship examines international affairs, foreign policy, diplomacy, and diversity. Participants take part in group discussions, meet policymakers and other experts, and prepare research articles on issues explored during the program. The inaugural program was organized in Washington, D.C., and Paris, with later expansion planning involving Berlin.

• Civil-rights educational fellowship · 2015

  John Lewis Fellowship

  Created with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, the John Lewis Fellowship brings participants from Europe and the United States together to study race and civil rights in America. Its activities include group discussions, educational visits, and engagement with historical and contemporary civil-rights issues. The program honors Congressman and civil-rights leader John Lewis.

• 2015

  Creation of the John Lewis FellowshipProduct launch

  Background

  Humanity in Action sought to broaden its educational work on human and minority rights with a program specifically addressing race and civil rights in the United States.

  Action taken

  The organization partnered with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta to establish the John Lewis Fellowship, with the inaugural program held in summer 2015.

  Aftermath

  The fellowship became part of the organization’s portfolio of educational programs connecting European and American participants.

  Source

• 2014

  Introduction of the Diplomacy and Diversity FellowshipProduct launch

  Background

  The organization identified a need for programming aimed at graduate students interested in international affairs and foreign policy.

  Action taken

  Humanity in Action created a month-long graduate fellowship initially based in Washington, D.C., and Paris, with subsequent plans to include Berlin.

  Aftermath

  The program expanded Humanity in Action’s educational model beyond undergraduate students and recent graduates.

  Source

1. 1Humanity in Actionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Humanity in Action official websitehumanityinaction.org