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
WEB Dubois Portrait by Robert Shetterly
Betty Burkes 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

Registration is open for the 2019/20 Samantha Smith Challenge, an initiative of AWTT and Maine Association for Middle Level Education (MAMLE).  Get 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. 

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.
    -
    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

  • Walt Whitman born on this day

    Brooskville, ME
    AWTT

    It's the 201st birthday of Walt Whitman, born on this day in 1819 at West Hills, Long Island, New York. Whitman wrote in his preface to Leaves of Grass: This is what you shall do: love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone who asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning

  • Celebrating 95th birthday of Malcolm X

    The Shabazz Center
    NY, NY

    Tuesday (May 19) marks the 95th anniversary ofMalcolm X’s birth. In honor of the iconic civil rights leader’s legacy,The Shabazz Centeris holding a daylong digital celebration with music, a town hall andperformances. Get more details at COLORLINES.com. “If you stick a knife nine inches into my back and pull it out three inches, that is not progress.

  • Speaking Truth to Youth

    Brooksville, ME
    Americans Who Tell the Truth

    View new short videos: Speaking Truth to Youth

  • Dr. Mona: I’m Sick of Asking Children to Be Resilient

    Flint, MI
    New York Times

    Don't miss Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha's 5/12/20 New York Times op ed:  I’m Sick of Asking Children to Be Resilient

  • Naomi Klein: Only a crisis produces real change

    The Intercept

    Checking in on Naomi Klein as she turns 50 this week. She's been busy. Besides carrying on her remote teaching duties at Rutgers, she producedthis video. Her message: Milton Friedman was right when he said:"Only a crisis - actual or perceived - produces real change.