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
John Lewis Portrait by Robert Shetterly
Gerald Talbot Portrait by Robert Shetterly
 

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 2019/20 Samantha Smith Challenge is completed. We'll start up again in the fall. Thinking about participating next year? Preview the guidelines and resources now. 

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 240 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. 

Also, check out our newest collection of videos: Speaking Truth to Youth.  Some of our inspiring living portrait subjects share their insights on activism.  

EVENTS

  • Americans Who Tell the Truth @ Charlottesville

    Multiple
    -
    Hosted by Americans Who Tell the Truth

    Portraits L-R: John Lewis, Kelsey Juliana, Michelle Alexander, Nicole & Jonas Maines, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, & Diane Wilson A major exhibit of Robert Shetterly’s Americans Who Tell the Truth portraits opened in Charlottesville, Virginia in mid-January 2020.

  • Robert Shetterly: The Role of Education in a Democracy

    Waterville, ME
    Hosted by AWTT

    Thomas College, Waterville, ME Tuesday, November 19, 2019, 3 - 4:30 pm Join artist Robert Shetterly for a community session open to the public. The community session will pose the following question: What is the role of education in a democracy? Robert will ask attendees to create personal quotes in response to their concerns and challenges related to this question.

  • SUNY Polytech Artist's Talk

    SUNY Poly

    Join Robert Shetterly to hear stories about what inspires the artist and how his series of paintings came to be. Be inspired bythe remarkable truth tellers he has studied and painted. Gannett Gallery, SUNY Poly campus, 2 p.m., November 7, 2019. Exhibit runs from October 21 to December 13.

  • Robert Shetterly at the Active Bystanding and Caring Communities Symposium

    Gorham, Maine
    -
    Hosted by University of Southern Maine

    We are looking forward to the Active Bystanding and Caring Communities Symposium at University of Southern Maine on Thursday and Friday., October 24 and 25. Here is the schedule of events AWTTwill be participating in.

  • AWTT Exhibit at SUNY Polytechnical Institute

    Utica, N. Y.
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    Hosted by SUNY Poly

    SUNY Poly is hosting an exhibit of Americans Who Tell the Truth portraits from October 21 through December 13, 2019 at Gannett Art Gallery. The Gallery will be open for extended hours during this exhibit: Monday-Friday: 9 am - 7 pm Saturday and Sunday; 10-5 pm

NEWS

  • What To The Slave Is The Fourth Of July?

    NPR

    The U.S. celebrates this Independence Day amid nationwide protests and calls for systemic reforms. In this short film, five young descendants of Frederick Douglass read and respond to excerpts of his famous speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" which asks all of us to consider America's long history of denying equal rights to Black Americans.

  • Climate Justice is Racial Justice, Racial Justice is Climate Justice

    Rev. Lennox Yearwood

    Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. of Hip Hop Caucus explores and explains why the destruction of our planet means greater harm to Black and marginalized communities. "In January of this year — before the pandemic — I was arrested for occupying a Chase bank on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C.

  • Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II: The Only Way We Make It Through Is Together

    People Magazine

    As a leading voice forthe Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival,Rev. Dr. William J.

  • Samantha Smith Challenge Update

    Brunswick, ME
    Argy Nestor

    The 5th graders at St. John Catholic School refused to be deterred by the coronovirus or by cancellation of the 2020 Samnatha Smith Challenge Day.

  • Michelle Alexander: America, This Is Your Chance

    NY, NY
    Michelle Alexander

    "We must get it right this time or risk losing our democracy forever." “Denial may be neither a matter of telling the truth nor intentionally telling a lie.