February at Mass Humanities. Receive monthly event emails for your area.

Mass Humanities is a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the use of history, literature, philosophy, and the other humanities disciplines to deepen our understanding of the issues of the day, strengthen our sense of common purpose, and enrich individual and community life.

The National Endowment for the Humanities and the Massachusetts Cultural Council fund Mass Humanities grants. Encourage your state and federal legislators to support these agencies.

Whether you are interested in a Project Grant or a Research Inventory Grant, it’s time to put your plans to paper. Our May round will quickly be upon us, and Letters of Inquiry forms for our Project Grants must be received by 3/20. You have a bit longer for RIGs, until 4/1. Find out how you can apply for a grant.

“The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused; the propriety of the nation must be startled,” Frederick Douglass proclaimed in his stirring abolitionist Fourth of July address. How do his words resonate now, with racial equality again in the headlines? What lessons does Douglass have for us more than 150 years on? Host a reading of his speech in your community this summer and find out. We have funds available to support your event.

Massachusetts writers, documentary filmmakers, and humanities teachers are among the many respected contributors to our group blog, the Public Humanist. This treasure trove of insightful content gives us varied perspectives on current events through the lenses of the humanities, from the history of female Civil War soldiers to the spirituality of line drawings. We’ve given the Public Humanist a new home on the web, come see what is waiting there for you.

While pundits and politicians fight over our current social challenges, the Cambridge Forum takes a step back to discuss responses to our ailing social contract with scholars, community leaders, and the public. Each event in the Health of Democracy series, which begins this month, will be recorded for online distribution and broadcasted nationwide on NPR stations. Add your voice to the conversation!

Mass Humanities requests your assistance in identifying qualified candidates for election to our board of directors. We anticipate vacancies for two elected members. Our analysis of the current membership identifies the following priorities for 2015:
(1) Accomplished humanities scholar(s); (2) Non-euro American(s); and (3) Able to help us achieve our fundraising goals.
Please think about people you know who meet one or more of these criteria and would make good board members. Ask them if they have any interest in serving or in learning more about Mass Humanities, and if their response is encouraging, complete the Nominations Form. Self nominations are welcome.