Program areas at PHC
General program operationsexpenses incurred in the operations of pa Humanities that include program development, special events, partnership development, public outreach and advocacy.
Teen reading lounge / youth-led humanitiesoperating at 17 libraries and out-of-school sites across the state for the 2022-23 program year, teen reading lounge (trl) allows teens to take the lead by choosing readings on topics of interest, have honest discussions with their peers, and participate in youth-led community projects. Trl has been operating for over a decade and is the recipient of multiple awards including the after school champion award from the Pennsylvania after school youth development network. Trl also provides humanities-based training for librarians and youth development professionals at both current trl sites and for our network of previous trl site staff statewide. [continued on sch o]in 2023, pa Humanities launched youth led Humanities to support organizations committed to moving from youth-centered to youth-led programming. These sites utilize the Humanities (through a range of programs, including but not limited to trl) to engage youth in meaningful ways and build leadership skills, and to build welcoming, affirming, and inclusive spaces.
Pa heart & soul pa heart & soul is a community-led process that uses a humanities-based approach to spark positive changes within and empower new leaders. Pa Humanities has worked collaboratively with state-wide partners to recruit, select, train and support residents, local government officials as well as arts, Humanities, and culture leaders across the state to discover what matters most to them and plan for the future of their communities. In 2023, pa Humanities continued to expand its partnership with the pa route 6 alliance and the department of community and economic development to add 4 new communities: etna, venango area (oil city, city of franklin, cranberry township), port allegany and mansfield.
Chester madechester made uses the Humanities to promote and celebrate local arts and their contributions to economic development. In 2023, chester made and pa Humanities partnered with lehigh university to host the mandela Washington fellows in chester to learn about the city and how arts and culture drives economic and community development. This peer exchange experience featured talks with local residents, artists, activists, and business owners. They shared experiences, honored differences, and commonalities, and made art together for exhibition. Chester made also participated in local and regional events like barnes on the ave and the chester high school homecoming.
Recovery & growthpa sharppa sharp was pa Humanities' $1.4 million Humanities recovery and growth grant program that included a research mapping project, podcasts, and publications on our learnings. As part of the american rescue plan act of 2021, state and regional Humanities councils distributed funding from the national endowment for the Humanities' sharp (sustaining the Humanities through the american rescue plan) program for projects that ran through 2022. With this support, pa Humanities awarded up to $16,000 in flexible funding to 92 organizations to support the growth and recovery of the Humanities in Pennsylvania. Grantees participated in peer learning sessions through early 2023, which were assessed by an outside evaluator. The evaluation report of findings, impacts, and recommendations was presented to pa Humanities staff in early 2023 and used to further refine additional grant programs. We are here podcastas part of the broader pa sharp initiative, pa Humanities partnered with keystone edge, a statewide media organization, to develop an original podcast series spotlighting the work of Humanities organizations "making their mark". Through one-on-one recorded interviews with pa sharp grantees, it tells the story of how the cultural sector is a critical part of Pennsylvania's infrastructure and covers issues as diverse as food, culture, library services, and immigration. Accompanying the podcast are a series of articles that supplement and extend the conversations. We are here began in 2022 and continued through 2023.
Special projects wingspanwingspan is a grant initiative launched as part of pa Humanities' 50th anniversary to support bipoc-led and serving rural organizations doing community-based Humanities work. Its mission is to help them soar and expand their possibilities by providing new resources, amplifying their voices, and cultivating additional space for creativity and connection. The development of wingspan was informed by adrienne maree brown's emergent strategy - and our own emergent learning process. We will apply these practices with leaders across the state so they can extend their reach - spread their wings! - and work collectively to bring more equity to the Humanities. This grant is a new and exciting extension of pa Humanities' community-based Humanities work and its research confirming bipoc-led or serving organizations and rural organizations need better access to resources. Pa Humanities awarded grants to 24 grantees: 12 rural, 12 bipoc (black, indigenous, and people of color) ranging in size from $50,000 - $100,000 over two years. Support can be used for programming, general operating expenses, marketing and communications, staff development and capacity-building. Grantees join pa Humanities' wingspan learning community kicking off february 2024.rain poetrypa Humanities' rain poetry project combines literacy development, creative placemaking, and joy to grow community and foster learning. In 2023, children in five philly neighborhoods explored the art of haiku through interactive workshops facilitated by local poets and youth poets laureate. The students wrote poems inspired by the theme, "what helps you keep growing? Selected poems were installed in public spaces with a special water-activated solution that only appears when wet. With just a splash of water they sprout up all around as if by magic. Each of the five communities came together for a special unveiling event to celebrate their neighborhood's young poets. Rain poetry delights people of all ages and reminds us that learning is everywhere. Project readyproject ready, or reimagining equity and access for diverse youth is a set of curricular modules developed by the university of north carolina and hosted at their website for school and public youth services librarians, library administrators, and others interested in improving their knowledge about race and racism, racial equity, and culturally sustaining pedagogy. The primary focus of the project ready curriculum is on improving relationships with, services to, and resources for youth of color and native youth. The project was first initiated with the current cohort by the office of commonwealth libraries (ocl) in 2021 and pa Humanities became an advisor/co-facilitator of the project in 2023, helping to develop curriculum and facilitate learning sessions with participants. Re-vision: conversations about our constitution podcastre-vision is a podcast mini-series exploring the us constitution. It explores how its revolutionary ideas - like freedom of speech and the right to a speedy trial - apply to contemporary issues. Hosted by lee stabert, editor in chief of keystone edge, episodes paired leading scholars with working practitioners to discuss the meaning and intentions of this founding document and its real-life implications today. Re-vision consisted of four full episodes and a capstone reflection with the ceo of the national constitution center. It launched in the lead up to and following constitution day on september 17, 2023. The podcast emerged from the if you were in the room project.
50th anniversary marketing & planningfor the 50th anniversary of pa Humanities, we developed a promotional strategy focusing on highlighting the organization's legacy and future. This included a comprehensive rebranding with a professional marketing agency and the development of a dedicated website to showcase the organization's rich history and its suite of ambitious 50th anniversary projects. A two-year campaign was kicked off in 2023 to raise visibility, support fundraising efforts, and engage various stakeholders and the public in celebrating the transformative power of the Humanities in Pennsylvania. This strategic initiative underscores pa Humanities' ongoing commitment to promoting understanding, community engagement, and the importance of Humanities in shaping a more informed and connected society.
Researchpa Humanities discovery projectas part of the broader pa sharp initiative, pa Humanities partnered with drexel university on a mission to map, network, and celebrate the wonderfully rich Humanities landscape. Called the pa Humanities discovery project, this initiative kicked off in september of 2022 with a statewide survey garnering over 500 participants who are using the Humanities to build community, make space for new voices, share stories, uplift culture, educate, and solve problems creatively. Their work was especially critical during the pandemic, keeping people connected and inspired, while encouraging resilience and recovery. The pa Humanities discovery project aims to tell the first-ever story of the Humanities across Pennsylvania and to build a more inclusive and connected community for sharing and learning. 2023 activities included focus groups, events, conferences, and research releases.pa culturecheckpa culturecheck is an annual statewide survey created by pa Humanities and greater philadelphia cultural alliance to gather the voices and interests of cultural, arts, and Humanities organizations, along with other nonprofits, community groups, and businesses doing work in this space. Findings are shared with legislators, private funders, and civic leaders to highlight the sector's collective social, community, and economic impacts. The perspectives and insights educate grantmakers and practitioners about the latest trends, inspire future research, and help build a stronger and more responsive statewide cultural community. In 2023, we had 271 pa culturecheck participants and conducted 2 focus groups with results to be released march 2024.dissemination of researchthroughout 2023, pa Humanities expanded the distribution of its research as part of its commitment to elevating the important role of the Humanities in society. This included launching the publication of a nationwide study with penn praxis and articles in a modern language association volume and the foundation review. The research was disseminated at regional, state, and national conferences and through promotional campaigns, including custom landing pages. Results from the 2022 and 2023 pa culturecheck surveys were also shared broadly with philanthropy, government, cultural sector leaders, and other stakeholders. The cumulative purpose of all these efforts was to make strides in fostering a better understanding of the value of the cultural sector, building statewide community, and driving change, in line with pa Humanities mission to put the Humanities into action for the public good.