At their August meeting, the board of directors of CT Humanities (CTH) awarded $47,134 in humanities project grants from the CT Humanities fund.
The 11 organizations to receive Quick Grants this round are:
Goodwin College (East Hartford, $2,000), Humanities Festival; Ancient Burying Ground Association (Hartford, $3,890), Stories in Complexity and Connections in Hartford’s Ancient Burying Ground; Connecticut Forum (Hartford, $4,999), An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma; New Haven Free Public Library (New Haven, $4,814), Keeping the Faith!; Central Connecticut State University Foundation (New Britain, $4,999), Hispanic Heritage Month Humanities Programming at CCSU’s Latin American, Latino, and Caribbean Center; Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut (New London, $4,950), Community-Building and Advocacy Events; Ridgefield Library Association (Ridgefield, $1,907), What Does the First Amendment Mean Today?; La Grua Center (Stonington, $4,827), Military Matters Lecture Series; Green Planet Films (Stonington, $4,750), The International Ocean Film Festival; Westport Library Association (Westport, $4,999), Stepping Out on Faith: The Art and Journey of Charles Joyner; Eastern Connecticut State University Foundation (Willimantic, $4,999), Virtual Conversation with Vietnamese American Graphic Novelist Thi Bui.
The Ridgefield Library, the Ridgefield Historical Society, the League of Women Voters, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center will present What Does the First Amendment Mean Today?, a four-part program series examining the text, history, and current state of the First Amendment. These free educational programs will explore concepts embodied in the First Amendment from both historical and contemporary perspectives.
“The support from CT Humanities allows the Ridgefield Library and its program partners to continue to satisfy our community’s demonstrated desire to learn, examine and discuss important issues through respectful discourse, and to speak freely about their concerns and hopes for the community and the nation,” explains Andy Forsyth of the Ridgefield Library.
The Connecticut Forum in Hartford will present An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma on Tuesday, November 9. The program will explore the role culture can play in helping us to imagine and build a better future.
“Drawing on examples from his own life as a musician and citizen, Yo-Yo Ma’s presentation is rooted in the belief that at a moment when our world is challenged by the pace of change, the values that culture promotes — truth, trust, and service — are essential to our survival,” says Ruth Cullen, executive director at the Connecticut Forum. “Thank you, CT Humanities, for championing the work and mission of The Connecticut Forum and other arts and cultural organizations across our great state.”
First-time applicant, the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut (New London), is helping to facilitate a series of community-building and advocacy events by Public Art for Racial Justice Education (PARJE) to engage audiences about racial justice and what they can do to become better community equity advocates. Co-sponsored by PARJE and the NAACP Norwich, the events are hosted by the Florence Griswold Museum, the Lyman Allyn Museum, the Lyme Academy of Fine Art, and the Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library.
“Funding from CTH allows us to greatly expand our reach, bringing in diverse cultural leaders to educate our communities and foster vibrant discussions about race,” states Jac Lahav of PARJE. “We believe that through inclusive discussion we can create a beloved community in Connecticut and that is a powerful step towards fighting systemic injustice. In the words of bell hooks ‘Beloved community is formed not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world.’”
Stonington’s La Grua Center will present a free, 4-part community event series entitled, “Military Matters.” Focusing on the history and relevant aspects of military life, there will be an opportunity for audience interaction and the talks will be recorded and offered later for free public viewing on the La Grua YouTube Channel.
Lori Robishaw, executive director at La Grua Center, says “We recognize that the military is such a vital part of life here in Southeastern Connecticut, where the Navy, Coast Guard, and National Guard all have a significant presence. Support from CT Humanities allows us to bring compelling stories involving the military to our audience, and especially to those who are veterans and on active duty in our region. We are particularly thrilled that the grant will allow us to record these four talks for our YouTube channel, where many other members of the public can have access to them on their own schedules.”
There are several opportunities to apply for a Quick Grant from CT Humanities throughout the year. For more information on eligibility and deadlines, visit our website.
About CT Humanities
CT Humanities (CTH) is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH promotes civic engagement and connects people to the humanities through grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs. CTH projects, administration, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds, community foundations, and gifts from private sources.
