Congratulations to the newly elected officers for Arizona Humanities! 

Ryan Bruce is Chairman for 2017-2019. Ryan is a leader in the Bisbee community and serves as the Executive Director of The Bisbee Radio Project ( KBRP). He is active in the nonprofit sector and founded the KBRP Youth Media Project. He also serves on the boards of Borderlands Community Media Foundation, Bisbee Chamber Foundation, and Copper Chronicle Radio Program. 

Mary Lu Nunley is Vice Chairman for 2017-2018. Mary Lu served in the City of Phoenix Water Conservation Office, where she worked with Valley cities to increase awareness of Arizona water resources. Now retired, she supports a variety of community and cultural initiatives including Keep Phoenix Beautiful community garden project. 

Read more about the Board of Directors.

The new season of Mini Grants is now open! Mini Grants are small grants of up to $2,000 available year-round to support innovative public programs that increase understanding of the human experience. The goal of Mini Grants is to foster capacity-building for small organizations with limited funding, and encourage partnerships and collaboration between nonprofits. Apply now for programs happening through October 31, 2018.

Planning 2018 programs? Our ever-popular AZ Speaks program offers humanities scholars who travel to rural and urban locations across Arizona. 
Book presentations now through October 31, 2018.  

New presentations include: The River People's Landscape ,  Climate and Moral Responsibility in Arizona,  Vintage Arizona: The Growth, Death, and Rebirth of a Local Wine Industry, LGBTQ: A History in Arizona ,  John Wesley Powell: Into the Great Unknown, and many more .

Explore new topics in the AZ Speaks catalog.

We have hosted 52 programs in Arizona libraries since the launch of FRANK Talks in August 2016. Participants come together in a safe space to engage in civil conversations about important issues. Thank you to the Arizona State Library, Archives, and Public Records for partnering with Arizona Humanities on this important new program. Libraries can book these FREE programs through March 30, 2018. The next season of topics will be announced soon.

• Building Civic Engagement in a Politically Charged World 
• Energy in an Uncertain World
• "Fake News": The Impact of Fake News in the Real World
• Immigrants and the American Dream: We the People Today and Tomorrow
• Is This Racist? Racial Literacy and Social Media
• Local Democracy and Politics in Education: Does it help or hinder student achievement?
• Mothering & Conversations on Reproductive Health
• School Choice in Arizona
• Securing the Borders and Stopping Terrorism: A Constitutional Framework
• Weaponized Narrative: Information Warfare as the New Battlespace
• What is racial disproportionality in schools and why does it matter?

Learn more about FRANK Talks.

Over the past few decades we have learned much about the Sobaípuri O'odham who inhabited southern Arizona's Santa Cruz and San Pedro valleys at the dawn of written history. However, their actual history differs substantially in many ways from commonly held notions. The archaeological and ethnohistoric research of the presenters provides new perspectives on where and how they lived, how long they occupied the valleys of southern Arizona, their relationship to the ancient Hohokam, and other topics. The project examines the Sobaípuri of San Xavier del Bac (Wa:k), where descendant populations reside. Dr. Deni Seymour is joined by her associates, Elder Tony Burrell and Cultural Specialist David Tenario of Wa:k, in presenting the video entitled "Who Are the Sobaípuri O'odham?" followed by interactive lectures and discussions.

• Thursday, November 16th 6:00-8:30 p.m. at the U-Like Oriental Buffet Restaurant, 5101 N. Oracle Road (at River Road), Tucson, AZ with the Old Pueblo Archaeology Center Third Thursday Food for Thought program
• Saturday, December 9th 2:00-4:39 p.m. Tubac Presidio 1 Burruel St.
  Tubac, 85646
• Saturday, January 13, 2018 1:00-3:30 p.m. Arizona History Museum 949 E. 2nd Street Tucson, AZ 85719

Learn more about the Sobaipuri Legacy project.

On Thursday, November 30th, Stuart Graff, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation President and CEO presents part two of The House is a Heart: Why Historic Homes Matter. Explore how Taliesin West (Scottsdale) and historic structures inform us about the life of a community. Like first-person histories, historic homes give a human dimension to the great forces that shape communities. Graff will share Taliesin West's history and story, and attendees will break up into small groups to tour spaces at Frank Lloyd Wright's historic winter home and desert laboratory. Understanding these unique places-and preserving them-tells us not only our history, but also our future. After the program, attendees can enjoy a small reception.

• Thursday, November 30th from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Taliesin West (12621 N Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85259)

Even though October and Halloween are over, the 100 year celebration of the Ellis-Shackelford House continues through the end of 2017.

Experience a few stories about the 'prankster ghosts' that like to hang out at Arizona Humanities. Thank you to AZ Family Channel 3 and 5 for stopping by.  Watch the video about the Ellis-Shackelford House.

Marshall Shore, Hip Historian and member of our AZ Speaks roster also shared stories about haunted locations in historic Phoenix. Thank you to 12 News for stopping by!  Watch the video. Shore also came to the defense of the Arizona State Capitol recently after it was called 'ugly' - watch the fun video and stop by the Arizona Capitol Museum.  

Take a road trip and check out humanities programs across Arizona. The events calendar is updated weekly.

Metal Road Film Screening Grant Recipient Saturday, November 11 @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Museum of Northern Arizona 3101 North Fort Valley Road - Flagstaff, AZ 86001	African American Art, Fort Huachuca, and World War II with Betsy Fahlman Friday, November 17 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Patagonia Public Library 346 Duquesne, PO Box 415 - Patagonia, AZ 85624
FRANK Talks: The Impact of Fake News in the Real World Saturday, November 18 @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am Maricopa Public Library 41600 W. Smith-Enke Road Building #10 - Maricopa, AZ 85138	Rivers of Dreams: Stories and Music of Arizona's Waterways with Jay Cravath Wednesday, November 15 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Arizona Western College 1109 Geronimo Ave. - Parker, AZ 85344

Learn more

Explore the Events Calendar.

Dr. Barbara Baderman* Tina Clark* Dr. Alain-Philippe Durand* Donna and Jim Frederickson Dr. Dana Jamison* Karl Kendall* Dr. Sally and Thomas Kitch

Dr. Eve Krahe* Fran Montasir Albert M. Quihuis* Susan and Rodo Sofranac Dr. Christine Szuter* Juliana Yoder

*current Board Member

Important Dates

• November 10 - Veterans Day Observed Office Closed
• November 23-24 - Thanksgiving Holiday Office Closed 

Mission: Arizona Humanities builds a just and civil society by creating opportunities to explore our shared human experiences through discussion, learning and reflection.

Arizona Humanities is a statewide 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and the Arizona affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Arizona Humanities supports public programs that promote understanding of the human experience with cultural, educational, and nonprofit organizations across Arizona.