In this dynamic multimedia presentation, Irene shares her family’s remarkable journey of survival. She transports us from their German home during the terror of Kristallnacht in 1938 to their escape into the Netherlands, and eventual hiding in a barn attic. Weaving together archival photos, interviews, and recordings, Irene brings to life the ordinary people—a baker, a coffee roaster, farmers, clergy, police, and a mayor, who showed extraordinary courage to help them. But this story is more than history. It is a story of hope. Drawing clear parallels to today’s rising antisemitism, Irene challenges us to be modern-day upstanders. One act of courage, one voice of truth, can make all the difference, just as it did for Irene’s family. Together, we can build a brighter future.

Irene Stern Frielich, daughter of a German Holocaust survivor, retraced her family’s escape from Nazi Germany and transformed her understanding of survival and hope. Owner of EnVision Performance Solutions, she is the award-winning author of Shattered Stars, Healing Hearts (2023) and speaks internationally to honor her family’s legacy and the courageous individuals who helped them survive.