Continuing the Work

In response to questions about how threatened cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and how a possible federal government shutdown might impact MHC, let me share some information about our grant making process and grant administration work. 

MHC grantees can rest assured that their grant funding will continue uninterrupted. 

MHC is a non-profit organization and not a unit of federal or state government. Also, the funding that supports MHC grantees comes primarily from the State of Minnesota.  

MHC does receive funding from NEH as an affiliate of NEH which helps strengthen our infrastructure and ability to provide programming throughout Minnesota. I will be travelling to Washington, D.C. early this month to meet with members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation to discuss continued funding for NEH. 

If you see the positive impact of MHC or enjoy our programming, events, and offerings please share your thoughts with your elected officials. Your letters, emails and phone calls can make a difference. 

This past month, I had the opportunity to see the very first (and second) Sketches of Minnesota scripted show! I sincerely appreciate our good friends at the Paramount Center for the Arts in St. Cloud for hosting our world premiere and Dudley Riggs Theatre in Minneapolis for allowing us to do an encore performance.  

The scripted show had singing, dancing, and comedic insights and observations from our 2024 Sketches Tour that included Austin, Duluth, Emily, Glencoe, International Falls, Little Falls, Morris, Waite Park, West St. Paul, and Winona. Who knew we had such strong feelings about roundabouts, beef commercials, and connecting with one another?  

We are beginning to make plans for the 2025 Sketches of Minnesota Tour. If you would be interested in coordinating a community meal with your neighbors, that MHC and the comedians of Danger Boat Productions could turn into a night of improvisational comedy and community building, please send me an email – kevin@mnhum.org. 

We presented at the Minnesota Social Studies Conference at St. Cloud State University last month. One of the projects we shared with educators was a significant nationwide humanities initiative directed by the Library of America, “Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home” (Latino Anthology). MHC was one of a handful of NEH affiliates to be selected for the initial rollout of Latino Anthology.  

Lupe Castillo, Founder of HeartSpeaks and Co-Founder of Palabristas, gave a wonderful presentation of the initial learnings from events where she partnered with local poets, authors, and educators in centering the work of Latino Anthology.  

Ahead of the Minnesota Social Studies Conference, we had an opportunity at the Minnesota Civics Summit to hear from former Republican House of Representative member Dean Urdahl and current DFL Senator member Steve Cwodzinski talk about the importance of social studies and having students take Civics classes. 

The Minnesota Civics Summit is a new collaborative to support teachers in their engagement of students in civics and voting. Initial organizing partners include the Federal Bar Association, the League of Women Voters of Minnesota, YMCA Center for Youth Voice, Minnesota Council on Social Studies, TeachingCivics.org, Minnesota Department of Education, and MHC. 

Several new organizations came to the Summit to support classroom teachers and to encourage students to become more involved in public life through activities such as voting. If you or your organization is interested in supporting classroom teachers in teaching civics and/or encouraging students to vote, please contact MHC’s Director of Education, Sung Ja Shin – sungja@mnhum.org. 

Finally, we are seeking to hire a Program Manager for We Are Water Minnesota (WAW MN). WAW MN, launched in 2016, brings historical, spiritual, scientific, and personal stories about water to help us be better stewards of this vital natural resource.  

This position will be the public face and main organizing force behind WAW MN, the nationally acclaimed water exhibit and community engagement program. The successful candidate will report to the Director of Civic Renewal, Trygve Throntveit, and myself. 

Interested candidates may go to our website to find out more about the Program Manager position.