A statewide nonprofit organization founded in 1974, Vermont Humanities seeks to engage all Vermonters in the world of ideas, foster a culture of thoughtfulness, and inspire a lifelong love of reading and learning.
A state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Vermont Humanities believes that engagement with the world of ideas, in interaction with others, contributes uniquely to richer lives, stronger communities, a more humane society, and a better world.
In this year-end video playlist, Vermont Humanities staffers share their most memorable moments from the last year including a visit from New York Times best-selling author Jason Reynolds, the return to in-person Words in the Woods events, the release of the new Freedom and Unity comic during the remixed Fall Festival, and the quiet moments in between that make our work so rewarding.
Vermont Humanities has developed a broad range of programs that serves Vermonters of all ages and backgrounds. In 2019 we sponsored 882 talks, book discussions, literacy programs, and other humanities events in 149 Vermont towns, including communities in every county.
Programs include book discussions, speaker events, conferences, a statewide one-book community reading program, and a grants program that supports humanities projects of other nonprofit organizations.
These programs and events strengthen Vermont’s communities not only by their character and design, but also by happening in the facilities of key town organizations such as libraries, museums, community centers, and schools. And humanities-based literacy programs reach childcare providers, middle school students, teen and underserved parents, incarcerated adults, and adult basic education students.
Banner image: The late Congressman John Lewis (center) with Woodstock Union High School students in Burlington in October, 2019. His March Trilogy co-author, Andrew Aydin, is at right in the back row. Vermont Humanities won one of four 2020 Schwartz Prizes for outstanding public humanities programming in the U.S. for Vermont Reads 2019
Poet Sarah Audsley joined us at the Taconic Mountains Ramble State Park for Words in the Woods.
Humanities Camps are filled with reading and writing projects, field trips, and outdoor activities.
We won a 2020 Schwartz Prize for best public humanities programming in the U.S. for Vermont Reads 2019: “March: Book One.”
We supported Historic New England’s “More than a Market” project that explored the experiences of new Americans through food markets.
Our free public events help bring the power of the humanities to communities across Vermont.
