Two Museums Program · Washington, D.C.
Two museums.
One shared
future.
Bringing college-age students from diverse backgrounds together in Washington, D.C., to build a better world.
Fully funded · College students and Washington, D.C. interns
History is only the beginning
Two museums. A wider perspective.
Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) & the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) ● Listen to lectures from leading scholars
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Explore the history of Black communities and the ongoing work of building a more inclusive future.
Explore NMAAHC ↗United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Reflect on Holocaust history and the responsibility to confront antisemitism, prejudice, and intolerance.
Explore USHMM ↗Conversations that matter.
The program includes educational lectures and discussions by leading scholars that encourage meaningful dialogue, historical understanding, and civic responsibility.
Explore the educational program ↗Led on the ground by Dr. David Machlis and Professor Joseph Celentano, both from Adelphi University, students participate in guided visits to two landmark Washington DC museums – the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM).
Across histories. Across communities.
Understanding our past.
Finding common ground.
Initially, TMP was an immersive educational experience aimed at college students exploring the shared and distinct histories of Black and Jewish communities. The program aimed at inspiring students from these two communities to unite to face the current challenges posed by antisemitism, anti-black racism, and intolerance.
Since its founding, TMP has expanded its scope to include members of many diverse communities with a focus on college age students interested in reaching across boundaries to build a better world for all humanity.
Message from Co-Founder, Lee Maschler:
Call to Action ↗ · Watch on YouTube
Two Museums Program Inspires Ethical Leadership
The most recent edition of the TMP program took place in June 2026. Students from 14 colleges and universities across the country came together in Washington, D.C., for the 2026 Two Museums Program initiative. While many participants held internships in Democratic and Republican congressional offices, law, business, and nonprofit organizations, they shared a common commitment to understanding history and combating antisemitism, racism and all forms of hatred.
Led by founder Dr. David Machlis and Program Director Professor Joseph Celentano, the program brought students to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park. Through museum experiences, expert-led discussions, and survivor testimony, participants explored the Holocaust, antisemitism, the Civil Rights Movement, and other historical examples of prejudice and discrimination.
A highlight of the program was hearing from 97-year-old Holocaust survivor Peter Feigl, whose personal story reinforced the importance of preserving memory and confronting hatred in all its forms. Students also examined the historical connections between Black and Jewish communities and reflected on the role of leadership in building understanding across differences.
“This is not a one-and-done event,” Dr. Machlis told participants. “You will be the boots on the ground at your university, in your community, and wherever you might go to combat hatred, intolerance, racism, and antisemitism.”
Upon completion, participants received a Certificate in Ethical Leadership from the Willumstad School of Business. According to Professor Celentano, the program’s impact is evident in the way students engage with difficult histories and develop the skills needed to lead with empathy, integrity, and purpose. “The Two Museums Program Empowers Students to Lead Against Hatred and Intolerance.
By expanding nationally in 2026, the Two Museums Program has become a model for experiential learning, combining academic rigor, civic engagement, and leadership development. As students return to their campuses and communities, they carry forward the program’s mission: to transform historical understanding into meaningful action and become leaders who build bridges across divides.
In our participants’ words
“There is beauty within perspective. With perspective comes empathy and understanding.”
The people. The moments. The connections.
Step inside
the experience.
Visit our Media Gallery for pictures taken by participants of TMP and produced content also filmed and edited by past participants of the program. Click here for the Media Gallery.
A partnership with purpose
Working toward a better world.
The Two Museums Program (TMP) is a partnership between Adelphi University and the International March of the Living, which was launched in 2023 by Dr. David Machlis and Social Entrepreneur Lee Maschler.
Click each logo below for more information on both Adelphi University and March of the Living.
There is more to discover.
Meet the program, hear the voices, and explore the experience.
The Two Museums Program
© Two Museums Program 2026 | Design: Colin White