Dear Friends,

Welcome to the 13th edition of #HumanitiesInContext with news of the Council’s grants, initiatives, and events as well as curated humanities content that is a springboard for reflection, learning, and action. Read on for stories of impact, humanities in action, and humanities happenings in Rhode Island. 

We will also be sharing some of our favorite stories and resources on the Council’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @rihumanities.
All my best,
Elizabeth Francis
Executive Director
and the Humanities Council Team
Your support helps ensure that all Rhode Islanders have access to and engage with the humanities, now, and in the future. Visit rihumanities.org/get-involved/donate or if you’d like to learn more contact Rachael Jeffers at rachael@rihumanities.org.
Stories of Impact:

Today, nonprofits around the world are joining in the global #GivingTuesday movement. We are so grateful for the generous support Rhode Islanders and those across the country have shown to the Humanities Council. If you’re able to join us with a #GivingTuesday donation, please know that your end-of-year gift directly supports the humanities in action. Also, during this season of giving, you will receive a limited edition Council face mask for any donation $50 or above through the month of December. 

The Humanities Council is excited to announce a funding opportunity for projects and programs that enhance awareness of the history, culture and contemporary relevance of the democratic process. Launching this month, this initiative will build on the existing statewide civic engagement platform XIX: Shall Not Be Denied, which has successfully partnered with over 30 organizations in the past year to catalyze community awareness of the centennial of the 19th Amendment. In partnership with the RI Department of State, the Why It Matters Initiative will support seven grants to organizations through a Request for Proposals that will be posted in the coming days as well as a series of programs that address key issues for Rhode Island voters and engage Rhode Island’s significant Suffrage Archive. Click here to read more.

This project is part of the nationwide “Why it Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation” initiative, administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and funded by Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. 
Humanities in Action: a curated list of humanities resources for reflection, learning, and action.
To Read:

This resource guide from Facing History and Ourselves was first published in 2016 and updated in 2020 to support teachers and students in remote learning communities. While geared towards young people, the resource is useful for all audiences and centers on the core elements of conducting difficult dialogues: Starting with yourself, Building community and trust, Facilitating reflective conversations, and what to do following a conversation. Click here to read more.
To Watch:

This series from the Tomaquag Museum celebrates the diversity, creativity, and ingenuity of Indigenous artists. Nayana LaFond is an Anishinaabe woman of the Wikwemikong Unceded Territory. She is a full-time visual artist living and working in Western Massachusetts. She works predominantly in acrylic on canvas and also hand painted boxes. Nayana’s work has been displayed around the world. Watch Nayana LaFond in conversation with Tomaquag Museum’s Executive Director Lorén Spears.

The Quarantine Creatives series is supported by a grant from the Humanities Council through the Culture is Key Initiative. Learn more about Culture is Key here.
To Listen:

Listen to Episode 4 of “American Tapestry: We Tell Ourselves Stories” from WQLN hosted by Andrew Roth, PhD, who is a scholar-in-residence at the Jefferson Educational Society. In this episode, Roth explores the questions “What is the 'story of America'? Is there such a thing? Is there only one story, or are there many stories? If there are many stories, how are they woven together to tell the story of America?" Listen here.
#HumanitiesHappenings: Upcoming Events & Opportunities
Please check out the Council’s calendar for more details. The events we’ve highlighted below are just a few of the many offerings by Council grantees and partners.

Write Rhode Island is a short fiction competition for RI students in grades 7-12. Co-created by Goat Hill and School One, Write Rhode Island acknowledges the talent and ambition of young writers and at the same time challenges them to become better writers.
RI students can submit one original work of fiction, 2500 words or less, incorporating Rhode Island as a theme in some way. Winners will be selected in February 2021 and will receive publication, prizes and awards. Visit School One's website for guidelines and a link to submit. 

Additional information and full competition guidelines can be found here. Submissions must be made online by December 13th. Write Rhode Island is funded by the R.I. Council for the Humanities, the R.I. State Arts Council, BankRI, Pawtucket Credit Union and support from individuals.

Join Teatro ECAS on Facebook Live at 7:00pm December 3 for a conversation with writer and playwright Haffe Serulle. Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Serulle is the author of more than 20 plays. This dialogue is part of Ecas en Casa, a series which is supported by a Humanities Council grant. 

Francis Parra, Artistic and Executive Director & 2018 recipient of the Tom Roberts Prize for Creative Achievement in the Humanities, says of the series: 

“The intention is to try to raise pride in our Latin theater here in the United States. This dialogue serves to transform the Latino population in the hopes that they find in the theater a useful tool, of great power to transform each human being at a professional level and above all sharing compassion, since we are part of a constantly changing society.”
XIX: Shall Not Be Denied is a partnership initiative of the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities and the Rhode Island Department of State. Due to the pandemic, Shall Not Be Denied will continue amplifying Rhode Island centennial events through March 2021 via the website shallnotbedenied.org and on Instagram @xixshallnotbedenied.
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.