Book a Speaker (For School Groups)
Illinois Holocaust Museum’s Speakers Bureau of Holocaust Survivors and their descendants offers an opportunity for educators, organizations, civic groups, and others to request event speakers. Hearing directly from a Holocaust Survivor or child/grandchild of a Survivor can leave a lasting impact and has been shown to build empathy and inspire action.
While the museum has a large and active Speakers’ Bureau, and we will do our best to fulfill all requests, speakers are limited and cannot be guaranteed.
During the 2025-2026 school year, scheduling priority will be given to schools requesting a speaker in conjunction with a Virtual Field Trip. If you have requested a Virtual Field Trip, do not also submit a speaker request through this form.
Schools/hosting organizations may receive one speaker visit per year (virtual or in-person). Please coordinate with your colleagues regarding a speaker visit for your school.
If you are a community/adult group looking to book a speaker, please submit the appropriate form linked below.
Costs
We suggest a donation of $4 per student to help continue our educational programming.
Organizations are required to provide transportation for the speaker to and from the presentation, unless a speaker indicates otherwise. For presentations requiring overnight travel, the hosting organization must reimburse all travel expenses not paid directly by the organization.
Payments and reimbursements should be mailed directly to the Museum at 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, IL 60077, Attn: Speakers’ Bureau. Please note on the check the date of your outreach visit and the name of your speaker.
Transportation
Schools are required to provide transportation for the speaker to and from the school for in-person visits, unless a speaker indicates otherwise.
Length and Format of Presentation
Speakers presentations generally last one class period (40-45 minutes), including Q&A.
Speakers are available to present in-person and virtually. For virtual presentations, the hosting organization must provide a link to the video call (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, etc.) at least one week in advance of the presentation.
Age Level
The Museum will arrange for a member of our Speakers’ Bureau to speak to students in 6th grade and above.
Scheduling Request Information
Please submit the request form below at least one month before your requested date. A completed request form must be received by our Education Department in order to process and confirm your request. If your form is submitted correctly, you will receive an auto-reply to the email address you provided. Note that the Museum’s Speakers’ Bureau is busiest from March through June. For requests during this season, we encourage you to submit your request two to three months in advance.
While the Museum has a large and active Speakers’ Bureau, and we will do our best to fulfill all requests, speakers are limited and cannot be guaranteed.
How to Book a Speaker
To book a speaker, please complete our Book a Speaker form below. If you have a specific speaker in mind, please let us know. Though we cannot guarantee speaker availability, we will work to ensure your group will have an alternative speaker at your event even if the requested speaker is unavailable.
Please review our school group policies before you book a speaker.
Photo credits: Chris Strong