Americans Who Tell the Truth organization was founded in 2004 to create educational programs from Robert Shetterly's portrait series of the same name. Currently there are more than 260 portraits.

Americans Who Tell the Truth creates spaces where people can learn ways to participate democratically in building just and equitable communities. Through making art, facilitating journeys of individual and community discovery, and demonstrating how history shapes lives, AWTT will inspire a future of activism.

AWTT consists of community engagement and education programs that lead to engaged citizenship. Community engagement includes both exhibitions across the country and civic engagement in the form of public events that provoke dialogue. Education programs for students and educators encourage students to grapple with the values of truth, justice, equality, and freedom, how they have manifested historically and are relevant to our own time. The Samantha Smith Challenge empowers students to awaken their own engaged citizenship.