Dear Friends,

I hope this note finds you and yours well.

This fourth weekly roundup of #HumanitiesInTheAgeOfSocialDistancing offers ways to connect our civic and cultural lives during this unprecedented public health crisis. We will continue to share resources on social media—Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @rihumanities and here, each Friday, where we’ll highlight our top picks from the week. 
We’re all in this together,
Elizabeth Francis
Executive Director
and the Humanities Council Team
In case you missed it – here are just a few of the ways Rhode Islanders are using the humanities to connect virtually.
Stories for the Soul (round 3):
Two-time Grammy winner Bill Harley is bringing his signature humor and wit to mini concerts from his office every Tuesday and Thursday at 1pm EST/EDT. Tune in on Facebook live or you can access recordings later by visiting Bill’s website . Bill is the 2010 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement in the Humanities award, a past board member, and chair of the Grants Policy committee. 
This podcast from host Dennise Kowalczyk, who also serves as a volunteer at the Humanities Council, spotlights and elevates Rhode Island’s unique cultural scene. Even though we’re stuck inside, this spirit of creativity and collaboration has not diminished. As Dennise notes, “Arts, culture, and the humanities are as important as sunshine and fresh air to breathe.” We couldn’t agree more!
Readings – a sampling of pieces to keep you inspired and connected:

April is National Poetry Month and celebrations have been moving online to keep people connected through language and prose. Rhode Island’s Poet Laureate Tina Cane has organized Poetry is Bread, 2020 National Poetry Month Reading Series available on Facebook. Cane’s efforts, along with many others across the country were highlighted in a recent piece in the New York Times . We hope these offer solace and inspiration in trying times.

As this Time Magazine piece notes, it all started with a Tweet from Brown University professor emerita of biology Anne Fausto-Sterling who noted that “professors should 'teach the moment,' no matter their fields.” Now, professors from across the county from diverse disciplines are adding to an ever growing Google Document ‘syllabus’ . This free resource encourages everyone to consider how moments of crisis provide a chance to approach things differently as a society. 
Upcoming Virtual Opportunities & Educational Materials

As the Humanities Council embarks on our new Culture is Key initiative to demonstrate the links between cultural participation and civic engagement, one of the resources associate director of grants and partnerships Logan Hinderliter has found incredibly useful is iCivics . Designed for students but free and accessible to all, this platform literally puts you “in the room where it happens” — to quote Hamilton . With election season upon us, are you finding yourself having conversations with family or friends about how our government works? Do you ever wish there was an engaging, relevant tool to help you make sense of it all? Check out: www.icivics.org . Founded by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor after her retirement from the Supreme Court in 2006, this interactive website offers civic education through games and other resources.
April 14, 2020 | 6:30 PM

Featuring: Jim Ludes, Executive Director of the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy

In this webinar, Dr. Jim Ludes builds on his research on information warfare to examine how it is being used during the Covid-19 crisis. Register for this free event here .
This list will be added to as the Humanities Council is made aware of resources available to the sector as we weather this storm together. Check back often.

General Civic Engagement: Fill Out Your Census Form!

Nominate your Humanities Heroes for the annual Celebration of the Humanities Awards.