Four ADL Southwest GLI alumni traveled to Poland to take part in the Ride For The Living — a unique and meaningful journey that blends remembrance, community, and resilience. Among the 30 Houstonians participating are GLI 2024 alum and current board member Andrew Burnett, along with recent alumni Adrian Heid, Josh Barvin, and Hilary Cohen.

    Ride For The Living is a four-day experience that allows participants to connect deeply with Krakow’s Jewish past and present, and to support the future of Jewish life there. The highlight of the trip is a 60-mile bike ride from Auschwitz-Birkenau to the Krakow JCC, followed by workshops, a tour of Krakow, and events during the vibrant Jewish Culture Festival. It’s designed to inspire reflection, honor memory, and celebrate Jewish strength and continuity.

    Andrew and his partner Adrian were introduced to the Ride by Josh and Hilary, who shared their enthusiasm for being part of this journey. For Adrian, whose paternal grandparents and maternal grandfather survived the Holocaust and emigrated from Germany, the connection is deeply personal.

    For our GLI alumni, this ride isn’t just about history. It’s about honoring memory while actively helping shape a future rooted in truth, dignity, and community.

Andrew shared, “Riding from Auschwitz to the Krakow JCC is symbolic — it’s a physical journey that reflects a larger story: from unimaginable loss to survival, rebuilding, and hope. It reminds us that we’re still here, still showing up, and still committed to creating a better world.”

Adrian also is a proud member of 3GHTX, a program of Holocaust Museum Houston for third-generation descendants of Holocaust survivors. The group is dedicated to preserving their families’ legacies through education, storytelling, and action.

    We are incredibly proud of Andrew, Adrian, Josh, and Hilary for representing our GLI community on such a powerful and purposeful journey. Their participation in Ride For The Living is a beautiful example of the leadership we aim to nurture — rooted in identity, guided by values, and committed to showing up and standing up.