Celebrating Thanksgiving often means going home, but for many of our Native neighbors, the concept of home is a painful reminder of what was taken from them during campaigns of forced assimilation and removal from their homelands. Nothing we do today can reverse this painful history and its aftermath, but the humanities provide a long overdue opportunity to connect with, understand, … Read More
Ohio Humanities, Daydreamers Press release children’s book
Nonfiction picture book tells the story of a civil rights demonstration through the eyes of a real-life child activist Ohio Humanities and Daydreamers Press announce the release of Step by Step: How the Lincoln School Marchers Blazed a Trail to Justice, a new nonfiction picture book for young readers. Written by New York Times bestselling author Debbie Rigaud and Carlotta … Read More
Ohio Humanities and Wexner Center for the Arts announce a call for entries for the 2024 Ohio Humanities Film Fellowship
Ohio Humanities and the Wexner Center for the Arts continue their three-year partnership to support nonfiction storytelling around and about Ohio with a call for entries for the 2024 Ohio Humanities Film Fellowship. The fellowship program assists independent filmmakers working on documentaries informed by the humanities. It provides funding of up to $5000 as well as support and mentorship from … Read More
America 250-Ohio Partners with Ohio Humanities to Launch Grants Program
$1 million fund will help Ohio nonprofits commemorate America’s 250th anniversary The America 250-Ohio Commission, Ohio’s official state commission charged with creating the celebration of the country’s semiquincentennial, announced it will offer grants up to $50,000 to nonprofit, education, and local government organizations. America 250-Ohio will work in unison with Ohio Humanities, a statewide nonprofit, to distribute $1 million in … Read More
The Story of Cory
Cleveland’s Cory United Methodist was born a Jewish synagogue and community center. Then, it evolved into a Christian church and became one of the nation’s most noteworthy centers of civil rights activism. Now, led by a passionate young pastor, the landmark that hosted crusaders from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Malcolm X is fighting not for equality but for its life.
If I Am Catholic: David Merkowitz
The number of places of worship nationwide is decreasing, but faith remains. What role does faith play in the modern world? We asked five Ohioans to share what it means in their daily lives. David J. Merkowitz is the Director of Grants and Programs at Ohio Humanities. He has a PhD in History with a focus on the history of … Read More
Humanities at Play: Dr. Carlotta Penn
Carlotta Penn is a creator—an author, a songwriter and a poet. She’s a learner—a thirsty student with a bachelor’s degree in communication, a master’s degree in comparative studies and a doctorate in education. She’s an educator—a longtime teacher who is now a senior director at the Ohio State University, overseeing partnerships and engagement activities in the Office of Equity, Diversity … Read More
Humanities at Play: Dr. Jeremy Taylor
When Northwest Ohio’s Defiance College established an Institute for Career Readiness and Lifelong Learning, it tapped Dr. Jeremy Taylor to lead the institute as dean. Taylor is a tenured history professor who holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in history—and who has compiled an armful of awards in his career across Texas, Arkansas and Ohio. Now, Taylor has helped create … Read More
Humanities at Play: Dr. Clay Johnson
American sharpshooter Annie Oakley was born in Darke County, Ohio—a rural spot nestled against the Indiana border along the state’s western edge. Preserving her legacy is, among other things, Clay Johnson’s job. He is the first professionally trained CEO of the Garst Museum, home of the National Annie Oakley Center. The task before him was daunting, including creating and managing … Read More
The Film Fellows
By Taylor Starek Backed by a rich history of uplifting documentary filmmaking—and energized by what’s possible—Ohio Humanities has launched a partnership with Ohio State University’s Wexner Center for the Arts to support independent filmmakers. The three-year film fellowship will help fund as many as five filmmakers-in-residence at the Wex each year who are working on humanities-informed documentary films with a … Read More