Robert Shetterly's Americans Who Tell The Truth

portraits and narratives highlight citizens who courageously address issues of social, environmental, and economic fairness.

By combining art and other media, AWTT offers resources to inspire a new generation of engaged Americans who will act for the common good, our communities, and the Earth.

View the Galleries
Mary Ellen Tracy
I teach at one of the schools which Samantha Smith attended. Because of this, when I heard about thisSamantha Smith Challenge (click to sign up your students)I was excited to learn more.
David Hilton
I know my time with my students will have been worthwhile if, at the end of our class, each child has grown as a citizen. I want my students to learn to be aware, empathetic, and active. The Samantha Smith Challengefits right into this approach.
Adele Drake
Robert Shetterly's portraits cut to the chase in a compelling way. Students could access the profound sentiments that these portraits represent.
Dr. Elisa Díaz-Martínez
Robert’s Americans Who Tell the Truth has become a distinctive and profound way of teaching American History and American Thought...His work will help us advance towards common understanding and tolerance.
Karyn Field
During the 2013/2014 school year, teachers Karyn Field and Sharyn Hastings used the AWTT portraits and resources to help students analyze "themes related to scapegoating, intolerance and social strife." Students wrote poems, orchestrated press conference
Laurie Solchenberger
I am a special and regular educator in Madison, WI. My students used your images to discuss how some people choose to do amazing things with their lives: some in big ways, some in small ways, but always by finding something they believe in.
Kristen Zoeller
Finally, I was shown people of all backgrounds who had made a difference; finally, I found people who were so normal, who I could relate to, and yet were so profound. Suddenly, there was no more excuse.
 

Support a doc on Rob Shetterly

Award-winning filmmaker, Richard Kane, is making a documentary about Robert Shetterly and Americans Who Tell the Truth. To learn more got to www.kanelewis.com. 

The Samantha Smith Challenge

The 2018/19 Samantha Smith Challenge, an initiative of AWTT and Maine Association for Middle Level Education (MAMLE), wrapped up in June. Educators and students interested in participating next year should contact us by September. 

Additional education projects: Check out our resources for educators to see AWTT's new, in-development project, engagEd.

Most Recent Portraits

Our full gallery now includes over 235 portraits of American truth-tellers. You can browse the full gallery. Or just begin your exploration by linking to a few of the most recent additions to the series here. 

EVENTS

  • Legacies of War 15th Anniversary Gala

    Washington, D.C.
    Hosted by Legacies of War

    Robert Shetterly will unveil his new portrait of peace advocate Channapha Khamvongsa at this Sept.

  • COA Reception with Robert Shetterly

    Bar Harbor, MA
    Hosted by College of the Atlantic

    Join painter Robert Shetterly on Thursday, Aug. 22 for a closing reception for College of the Atlanticsummer exhibit, Americans Who Tell the Truth. This incredible show of Shetterly's portraits and narratives highlights citizens who courageously address issues of social, environmental, and economic fairness. The reception gets underway at 5 p.m.

  • Climate Convergence Conference

    Blue Hill, Maine
    Hosted by Reversing Falls Sanctuary

    Robert Shetterly will serve as host at the Climate Convergence Conference to be held at George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill, Maine on July 20, 2019 - an all day event starting at 8:30 am. Go here to register. Find all other details about the day's events on Reversing Falls Sanctuary website. We planto laugh and sing (amidst the angst), learn from the experts and each other

  • “Americans Who Tell the Truth” Exhibit of 29 portraits opens in Ipswich, MA

    Ipswich Museum, Zumis, True North Taproom
    -
    Hosted by AWTT/Ipswich

    Americans Who Tell the Truth, a collection of portraits painted by nationally acclaimed cultural and educational artist Robert Shetterly, will be on public display throughout the town of Ipswich, MA during the month of July 2019.

  • Reggie Harris Concert

    Blue Hill Town Hall, Blue Hill, ME
    Hosted by Americans Who Tell the Truth

    June 29, 2019, 7:00 p.m. Blue Hill, Maine Town Hall We're happy to welcomeReggie Harris, singer/songwriter/social activist, to Blue Hill, toperform his rousing, heart-breaking, community-building music and storytelling.

NEWS

  • Remembering Frances Crowe

    Bulletin of Atomic Science

    As we mourn the loss of peaceactivist Frances Crowe, we need also to remember her wit and wisdom. On the occasion of her death, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has re-published its 2014 interview with her - worth reading and re-reading.

  • Labor Day Champions

    AWTT

    Labor Day. End of summer. Family gatherings. Picnics. County fairs.

  • AWTT 18-Month Calendar Now Available for Purchase

    Brooksville, ME
    Americans Who Tell the Truth

    We are excited to announce AWTT's first calendar - featuring Robert Shetterly portraits of 18 inspiring change makers. The calendar includes the last 6 months of 2019 and calendar year 2020.

  • From "Ghetto Life 101" to Senator? An Interview With LeAlan Jones

    Chicago
    Edward McClelland

    NBC 5 Chicago interviews LeAlan Jones about his run for the Senate as theGreen Party nominee. "LeAlan Jones has always been precocious. At 11, he was discussing the war in Iraq with a TV journalist, sitting on a South Side stoop and fiddling with a baseball mitt while opining, “Bush wants too much oil.” At 13, he made “Ghetto Life 101,” a documentary for WBEZ, following th

  • Santa Monica Exhibit, Films Challenge View of California Coast

    Santa Monica, CA
    Santa Monica Lookout

    "There is science, logic, reason; there is thought verified by experience," environmentalist writer Edward Abbey once said.