Humanities for Sale

Bid on These Unforgettable Humanities Experiences Today

On October 1st, the Humanities Council will launch their first-ever online Humanities Auction! The Humanities Auction will feature exclusive, one-of-a-kind, humanities-based experiences. The funds raised through this auction will go to support the Humanities Council and our mission to enrich the quality of life in Washington, DC. Our organization serves over 430,000 DC residents through our public programs, educational initiatives, grant programs, and the online DC Digital Museum. Your support for our auction will help us serve even more residents, increase our programs and grants, and engage our city’s youth in discovering DC’s rich history and culture.

Visit the auction website at http://www.32auctions.com/organizations/9874/auctions/10815 to browse our exciting line up of humanities-based services and experiences!

The 2012 Distinguished Service to the Humanities Awards

There's still time to register for this exciting event!

Joe Howell Memoir Inspires Faith that Nation's Rifts Will One Day Be Mended

Author to Speak at Upcoming Humanities Council Event

Joy Ford Austin, the Executive Director of the Humanities Council had this to say about Howell's book:

This excellent book is an important contribution to the canon of civil rights literature.  The diary that is at the heart of Joseph Howell’s "Civil Rights Journey: The Story of a White Southerner Coming of Age during the Civil Rights Revolution" is a rare chance to hear the authentic, complex voice of a young man working to change the system that prejudice had ensconced and that protest had begun to uproot. It is a powerful reminder that many young whites did take a stand for civil rights. Joseph Howell’s remarkable account, beautifully written and accessible, shows that he was on the right side of history. However, he is always honest, intentionally questioning his personal motivations, whether these are the lessons of suffering from polio or the benefits of privilege. He never settles for easy answers from himself or those he meets on this journey. Inspiring and intelligent, it ultimately encourages all of us to inquire of ourselves and to take a stand on contemporary issues of injustice and cruelty. 

 

I also appreciated the role of Embry, Joe’s strong and perceptive wife. They must look back on this summer and its shared memories as truly transformational and a crucible of their life together. 

Howell will discuss the book at the Home of Bob and Lucy Bremner on Thursday, November 10. After the conversation, Howell will sign copies of the memoir which will be available for sale. Tickets for the event are $50 and can be purchased by visiting http://civilrightsjourney.eventbrite.com, emailing elucero@wdchumanities.org, or calling 202-387-8391. 

Ticket sales support the Humanities Council of Washington, DC, a private non-profit organization dedicated to providing transformative humanities programs, events, and activities to the Washington, DC community.

New DCCHP Cycle Set to Begin Soon

DC Community Heritage Project Grant Proposals are Due Tomorrow

The deadline to apply for the Humanities Council's DC Community Heritage Project grant for 2011 is tomorrow at 5pm, so we will soon have an outstanding new group of grantees dedicated to preserving those aspects of DC history and culture most important to them. Last year we received some wonderful final projects about neighborhoods and landmarks across the city. A group from Congress Heights produced a historic survey of their neighborhood and published it for a popular audience, another organization produced a virtual exhibit on the historic Franklin School, and Tendani Mpulubusi expanded his outstanding documentary on Barry Farm and Hillsdale.

The 2011 awards will be decided in June, and projects will take place throughout the Summer and Fall. The Humanities Council will be in frequent contact with grantee organizations, and updates will be posted regularly here on Human Ties. The DCCHP grant cycle culminates with a grantee showcase in December where organizations have the opportunity to display their projects for the public. 

The DCCHP isn't just about grants, however; the Humanities Council and its partners offer regular symposia designed to strengthen community historians and preservationists' skills and put them in contact with scholars and other experts who can help them realize their visions and tell their stories. Last Summer, the DCCHP Symposium offered participants instruction on researching commercial and residential lots in DC, creating cell phone tours, and conducting church histories. In previous years, the DCCHP symposia have focused on topics such as fundraising and creating neighborhood walking tours. Footage from those events can be viewed below and on the Humanities Council's Youtube channel, HCTV.

The Future of Fundraising

Creating a Walking Tour

The Humanities Council is planning another symposium this Summer. Leave a comment, and give us topic suggestions. We do our best to find experts knowledgeable on the topics garnering the most interest.