From 9/11 to the Classroom: Resilience and Healing with Charlene and Richie Schwarzkopf

In this deeply moving episode of Classroom Narratives: Healing and Education, host Joey Weisler is joined by Charlene and Richie Schwarzkopf, who recount their experiences surrounding the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Richie provides a firsthand account of being at One Liberty Plaza, across from the World Trade Center, while Charlene shares how her home video, The Days After 9/11 (find link in show notes), served as a tool for both personal healing and collective memory.This episode explores the complexities of trauma, memory, and healing, drawing on key theoretical frameworks from trauma scholars Shoshana Felman and Dori Laub, as well as Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel. Felman and Laub’s theories emphasize the importance of bearing witness to trauma—both as a survivor and as someone who listens to and records those stories. Wiesel’s work further highlights how narratives from traumatic events can transform readers and viewers into “witnesses to the witness,” offering a unique perspective on how individuals process and share pain.SHOW NOTES:The Days After 9/11 by Charlene Schwarzkopf Watch hereNight by Elie WieselTestimony: Crises of Witnessing in Literature, Psychoanalysis, and History by Shoshana Felman and Dori LaubNarrative Medicine in the classroomThe World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program, administered by the CDC, provides medical monitoring and treatment for health conditions related to the 9/11 attacks. This program is available to responders, survivors, and workers who were exposed to the harmful effects of the attacks, offering care for physical and mental health conditions, including respiratory diseases and PTSD. It supports affected individuals across the U.S. through a network of healthcare providers and focuses on ensuring comprehensive, lifelong care.For more information, visit WTC Health Program