Senator Stephanie Kunze honored as 2021 Ohio Humanities Hero

Award highlights Kunze’s work on Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission, COVID relief

Ohio Humanities honored State Senator Stephanie Kunze today with the inaugural Humanities Hero award, presented for outstanding effort to promote the public humanities in Ohio. The award recognizes Senator Kunze for her leadership on the Ohio Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission and in securing relief funding for cultural institutions across the state that faced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Ohio Humanities is grateful to Senator Stephanie Kunze for the work she has done to elevate the public humanities in Ohio. Her leadership ensured the viability of the Ohio Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission, and she was instrumental in securing relief funding for cultural institutions across Ohio that faced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ohio Humanities Executive Director Rebecca Brown Asmo. “Senator Kunze’s tireless leadership has strengthened the cultural sector in our state, giving Ohioans access to the stories and experiences that will help them better understand each other.”

Senator Kunze was a tireless advocate in securing a partnership between Ohio Humanities and the state of Ohio to help the cultural sector recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to her championing the cause, Ohio Humanities was able to provide much-needed assistance to museums, historical societies, archives, and other cultural organizations that play critical roles in connecting local communities to Ohio’s history, present, and future.

“I am honored to receive the inaugural Humanities Hero award,” said State Senator Stephanie Kunze. “Throughout my time in the legislature, I have made it a priority to ensure the cultural sector remains strong and that Ohioans have access to the treasures that unite us in our human experience.”

Senator Kunze’s leadership was also instrumental in celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. In 2019, she co-sponsored Ohio Senate Bill 30 to create the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission. As co-Chair, she oversaw the Commission’s critical work in reminding us of the many extraordinary Ohioans who fought to advance the rights of women and girls across the state.

Ohio Humanities was a principal financial supporter of the Commission’s work, including the effort to create a Women’s Suffrage Memorial on the grounds of the Ohio Statehouse. Nationally, less than eight percent of all public figurative monuments feature women, and the exterior grounds of the Ohio Statehouse do not feature any monument or memorial acknowledging the many advances made by Ohio women in the state’s history.

Ohio artists interested in submitting their work for consideration to design a permanent monument commemorating those who worked for the passage of the 19th Amendment can apply by November 22, 2021, at ohiowsccartworkcommission.artcall.org.

Ohio Humanities is a statewide nonprofit that shares stories to spark conversations and inspire ideas. For more information, please visit our website at ohiohumanities.org.


Contact: Kiley Kinnard, Communications Coordinator