I spent much of last week in Washington, D.C. The first part of the week, the MHC board chair and I met with our congressional delegation, showing the impact of our work on their districts and making the case for the relatively small amount of money we receive each year from the National Endowment for the Humanities. This year, our annual "Humanities on the Hill" trip had special significance, as both the NEH and the National Endowment for the Arts (as well as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting) have been rumored to be "zeroed out" in President Trump's proposed budget. So in addition to talking about the work of the MHC, we had to explain the importance of the endowments, stressing how they benefit small, rural states like Mississippi. Make no mistake, eliminating the NEH is an existential threat to the Mississippi Humanities Council since, in an average year, we receive about 80 percent of our funding from the NEH.

Make no mistake, eliminating the NEH is an existential threat to the Mississippi Humanities Council since, in an average year, we receive about 80 percent of our funding from the NEH.

Despite this threat, after our meetings on Capitol Hill and debriefing with our colleagues from other states, I came away encouraged. Ultimately, Congress decides what government agencies get funded. The NEH and state councils enjoy strong support on both sides of the aisle in Congress. During our meetings, I talked about our programs, highlighting the bicentennial grant program, which is having an impact in every corner of our state, and our Ideas on Tap discussion series, which is creating a unique space for the civil exchange of ideas on some of the most important (and controversial) issues we face in Mississippi. Overall, we were well received in the offices of our senators and congressmen. The bottom line is that they like what we do. Hopefully, they will support its continued funding. Stay tuned for more details on what you can do to show your support for federal humanities funding.

The second part of the week involved an executive director retreat. One of the best parts of the state council world is my colleagues in other states, who are always open to sharing ideas. State councils were established in the 1970s as essentially "pass-through" organizations that distributed federal humanities funding to projects and organizations throughout their states. Over the last few decades, each council has evolved, developing programs of its own that serve the unique needs of their state. In Texas and Alaska, this involves teacher training. In Louisiana, it involves early childhood education. There are 56 different state and territorial councils, each with its own unique focus. So, with the threat of NEH cuts and even elimination, we had a rich discussion about what binds this network of councils together. Is it just that we all receive funding from the NEH or do we all share some common purpose? And what should our role be at a time when the American people seem hopelessly divided?

Humanities councils help bolster our civic life by supporting explorations of our common history and culture and creating forums for the civil exchange of ideas among diverse audiences.

After breaking into small groups, each table came back with essentially the same answer: humanities councils help bolster our civic life by supporting explorations of our common history and culture and creating forums for the civil exchange of ideas among diverse audiences. As a blue ribbon commission put it a few years ago, the humanities are "the keepers of the republic" which relies on an informed and civically engaged citizenry. At a time when many of the bedrock institutions of our society seem to be fraying, the humanities are now more important than ever. Instead of a luxury that we can do without, the humanities are at the heart of understanding who we are as a people and where we should go as a country. At a cost of about 46 cents a person per year, the National Endowment for the Humanities constitutes a vital investment in our country's future.