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Contact: Emily Alvarenga
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Mobile Holocaust Education Experience Rolls Out in San Diego
Spark Interactive debuts immersive classroom on wheels, expanding access to Holocaust education and civic understanding across the region
SAN DIEGO, CA (May 3, 2026) — A new era of Holocaust education is underway in San Diego following the official launch of Spark Interactive, a first-of-its-kind mobile learning experience designed to bring Holocaust education directly to students across the region.
Despite a state mandate, only one in four local school districts currently provides Holocaust education, according to a statewide study. At the same time, rising misinformation and hate have underscored the need for students to better understand the consequences of bias, indifference and the erosion of democratic norms.
Backed by a multi-million-dollar lead gift from Lee Goldberg and the Goldberg family, as well as other generous donations, Spark Interactive’s state-of-the-art mobile experience is designed to meet that moment and address a critical education gap — helping students connect history to the present while building critical thinking skills and strengthening civic awareness.
That urgency brought together more than 400 community leaders, educators, students and supporters for the official launch at The Hangars by Crownair Aviation on Sunday, May 3.
A flagship initiative of Legacy of Light Goldberg Institute for Holocaust Education, powered by Jewish Federation of San Diego, Spark Interactive expands access to Holocaust education across the region. The experience combines interactive digital exhibits, guided discussions and classroom curriculum, transforming a single visit into a deeper, ongoing learning experience for students and educators alike.
“Spark Interactive is designed to spark curiosity, critical thinking, compassion and understanding,” said Darren Schwartz, founding director of Legacy of Light Goldberg Institute for Holocaust Education. “We’re not telling students what to think. We’re helping them learn how to think. By engaging with this history, students are encouraged to ask questions, evaluate information, and make connections between the past and the world they’re living in today. It’s about helping them recognize the consequences of indifference and inaction — and understand the role they can play in shaping a more just and informed society.”
For supporters of the project, that mission was clear.
“It’s never been done in San Diego — this is a first,” said philanthropist Lee Goldberg, whose generous donation sparked the initiative. “As the firsthand voices of the Holocaust begin to fade, this work becomes more important than ever. We have a responsibility to ensure young people understand this history — not only so they remember it, but so they can recognize injustice and have the courage to stand up for what is right. My hope is that others will join us in this effort, and together, we can begin to change the course of what we are seeing in the world today.”
This year, Spark Interactive will begin traveling to schools and communities across San Diego County, with initial partnerships already established with the San Diego Unified School District, San Dieguito Union High School District, Poway Unified School District, Carlsbad Unified School District and Sweetwater Union High School District — collectively providing access to more than half of the region’s middle and high school students at launch. As the program expands, it has the potential to reach tens of thousands of students each year.
“When I talk to students — especially high school students — they consistently tell me they want learning to feel relevant,” said Dr. Fabi Bagula, superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District. “They understand the importance of history, but they also want to connect it to the world they’re living in now. Experiences like this take learning beyond the classroom. Instead of sitting with a textbook, students are able to move, engage and interact. That’s what makes it meaningful and memorable.”
The May 3 launch event featured guided tours of Spark Interactive, live demonstrations of the immersive technology, and a ribbon-cutting with community leaders and donors, allowing attendees to experience firsthand how the initiative brings history to life in a way that is accessible, relevant and deeply human.
Schools and community partners interested in hosting Spark Interactive can learn more at legacyoflightsd.org.
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About Legacy of Light Goldberg Institute for Holocaust Education
Legacy of Light Goldberg Institute for Holocaust Education is a signature initiative of Jewish Federation of San Diego, created to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust remain central to how our community understands history, confronts hatred, and shapes the future. At a time of rising antisemitism, social fragmentation, and widespread misinformation, Federation has made Holocaust education a strategic priority that strengthens collective resilience and reinforces shared responsibility. Learn more at legacyoflightsd.org.