Gold LEAF Institute with Sandra Garson's Pathway of Resistance

Gold LEAF Institute and Sandra Garson offered  6 sessions on the Pathways of Resistance on February 17, 24, March 3, 20, 17, and 24, 2026.  Zoom class.

Sandra Garson’s informative presentation used the Nazi era as a lens to understand how authoritarianism can emerge and how it can be resisted. She showed that resistance took many forms. Religious communities often served as moral anchors, with clergy and congregations opposing Nazi ideology and, at times, helping protect those targeted. Even isolated individuals made meaningful contributions through quiet defiance, preserving truth, and supporting others in small but significant ways.

Garson emphasized that preventing the spread of fascist ideology requires vigilance—questioning propaganda, refusing to normalize hate, and staying informed through diverse, independent sources.

She also highlighted how non-fascist culture was preserved through art, literature, traditions, and shared values that upheld human dignity. In Scandinavia, collective unity, subtle noncompliance, and coordinated rescue efforts demonstrated the power of social cohesion.

Finally, she noted that Americans of that era left a mixed but important legacy: a commitment to democratic ideals and resistance to fascism, along with lessons learned from moments when action came too late.

Top right, Sandra Garson with her PowerPoint presentation