U-32 Librarian and Teacher Given 2024 Swenson Award
Vermont Humanities has awarded the 2024 Victor R. Swenson award to Meg Allison, a librarian and teacher at U-32 Middle and High School in Montpelier.
Federal Judge Calls NEH Termination of Humanities Councils’ Operating Grants “Unlawful”
A federal judge in Oregon issued a preliminary injunction on August 6 ruling that the termination of humanities councils’ operating grants in April by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) was unlawful. The lawsuit was initiated by the Oregon Humanities and Federation of State Humanities Councils (on behalf of its member councils).
New Podcast Features Voices of Shelter Guests
“The Lives of Lamoille County” podcast is about people with lived experience of homelessness or housing insecurity. Each episode features a person telling the story of the intersection of their life and homelessness. Vermont Humanities recently awarded a $4500 Project Grant to support this podcast, produced by the Lamoille Community House, a year-round shelter located in Hyde Park.
Grant Helps Fund Winooski Exhibit on Child Labor
Vermont Humanities has recently supported the Heritage Winooski Mill Museum with two grants to help fund a new exhibit at the museum focusing on child labor. The grants will cover the design, layout, printing, and installation of the exhibit, which will include a global map showing how child labor remains an issue in the overseas textile industry.
The Mellon Foundation announces $15 Million in Emergency Funding for State Humanities Councils
The Mellon Foundation announced a $15 million emergency funding commitment to the Federation of State Humanities Councils (the Federation) in response to federal funding cuts that have devastated state humanities councils. This emergency funding will help provide support to all 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils across the United States, including up to $250,000 for Vermont Humanities.
Stand with the NEH and Support Our Humanities Councils
DOGE (Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency) is targeting the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) with the aim of eliminating the agency. NEH is the only federal agency that funds our nation’s 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils. The loss of NEH funding to humanities councils will decimate our ability to serve communities in our states, eliminating programs that are essential to each state’s cultural infrastructure. Loss of federal support will be particularly hard-hitting in rural communities and other under-resourced areas throughout the country.
Lily Brooks-Dalton Interview: The Light Pirate
Lily Brooks-Dalton, author of “The Light Pirate” which has been selected as our Vermont Reads book for 2025, shares reflections on writing the book, the different sides to the question “should I stay or should I go?” in the wake of a climate crisis, and the importance of finding a balance between hope and gloom when writing about big problems.
2025 Vermont Civic Health Index
The Vermont Civic Health Index offers a look at the state’s civic life, revealing considerable strengths as well as areas for growth across six key domains. The Index also spotlights some of the organizations that offer unique support for civic health across the state and presents original data from the Vermont Youth Civic Health Survey.
2024 Highlights: Looking back on a milestone year
Vermont Humanities staff and partners reflect on a milestone 50th anniversary year and explore the impact that Words in the Woods, Veteran’s Book Groups, and more can have on our sense of community and understanding of the humanities in everyday life.
50 Years of Building Community and Connections Across Vermont
With hundreds of our own events and those of our community partners, it was exciting to engage new audiences with so many celebratory gatherings. Vermont Humanities endeavors to embrace this value in every aspect of our work. Join us in fostering and facilitating connections and experiences that have the power to impact all Vermonters. Please give now!
