For Immediate Release
March 17, 2022
Contact: Aimee Cotton Bogush | abogush@cthumanities.org | 860-937-6648
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CT Humanities Awards $15,528 in Quick Grants to 4 Cultural Nonprofits for Humanities Programs
MIDDLETOWN – At their February meeting, the board of directors of CT Humanities (CTH) awarded $15,528 in humanities project grants from the CT Humanities fund.
This round of Quick Grants funds programs lifting the voices of Latina theologian, Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz, and Connecticut’s Black poets, affirming the power of connections and writing as a tool to make sense of and transform our world, and exploring the culture, music, and politics of the 1960s.
The 4 organizations awarded Quick Grants in February are:
Charter Oak Cultural Center (Hartford, $1,000), The Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz Justice Institute, Lyman Allyn Art Museum (New London, $4,530), A Celebration of Black Poets of Connecticut, Edmond Town Hall (Newtown, $4,999), Woodstock Now & Then Screening and Discussion, Eastern Connecticut State University Foundation (Willimantic, $4,999), ECSU presents An Evening with Wally Lamb.
Funding will assist Hartford’s Charter Oak Cultural Center in establishing the Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz Justice Institute. Through lectures, workshops, and performances, the institute’s mission is to keep alive the work done by Mujerista theologian Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz, who developed a system of theological ethics centered on interviews with Latinas.
“We are deeply grateful for CT Humanities’ support of the Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz Justice Institute. This Institute will enable us to teach the next generation of theologians and the public about the key role that the experiences and insights of Latinx women must play in forming theological understandings that speak to the challenges of the 21st century,” explains Donna Berman, executive director at Charter Oak Cultural Center.
“We are grateful to receive a Quick Grant from CT Humanities for the funding of our Woodstock Revival Weekend, documentary screening of Woodstock: Now & Then, and panel discussion with authors, historians, and musicians. We look forward to bringing our event to Newtown, and the community at large, and offering an opportunity to ask questions and come away with a better understanding of the culture, music, and political environment leading up to the iconic Woodstock 1969 festival,” says Lauren DiMartino, finance manager at Newtown’s Edmond Town Hall, a community space for cultural activities and more. The Woodstock Revival Weekend events take place April 22 to 23, 2022.
The Lyman Allyn Art Museum and Connecticut Poet Laureate, Margaret Gibson, will host an event, Saturday, April 9, that features a series of programs highlighting the work and knowledge of six award-winning contemporary black poets. Programs include a student workshop, open mic, and a keynote reading and conversation.
“We are so grateful to receive the CT Humanities Quick Grant award to support our program, The Power of Words: A Celebration of Black Poets of Connecticut. This program brings together notable black poets from across the state of Connecticut for a day of learning, discussion, and readings. We are excited to amplify the voices of black creatives while engaging diverse audiences with art and poetry. CTH’s support will help us to widen our promotional reach and document this important gathering,” says Eileen Donovan, Director of Learning and Engagement, Lyman Allyn Art Museum.
On Wednesday, March 9th, 2022, bestselling author and CT resident, Wally Lamb, visited Eastern Connecticut State University and spoke about celebrating his home state, Connecticut, through his writing and teaching. Lamb elaborated on the shared human experience and the transformative and healing power of writing.
Julia Wintner, Gallery Director, Art Gallery at ECSU, reports, “ECSU Faculty, students, and the community were captivated by the charismatic personality of Wally Lamb and his illustrious career. Mr. Lamb said that this was his first live appearance since the beginning of COVID. Despite the snowy night, we had 80 people attending and 254 people were watching via live stream. We are grateful for the continued support of CT Humanities.” The talk was open to the public in person and virtually, and is available on YouTube.
Opportunities to apply for a Quick Grant from CT Humanities exist throughout the year. For more information on eligibility and application due dates, visit cthumanities.org/grants/quick-grants.
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.
