Arizona Humanities is proud to announce the recipients of the 2020 Humanities Awards. Every year we honor and celebrate outstanding contributions to the humanities in our state. Since the inaugural awards in 1990, Arizona Humanities has recognized individuals who have advanced the humanities in Arizona through their scholarship, leadership, support and advocacy.

The Humanities Award categories are: Humanities Public Scholar, Friend of the Humanities, Humanities Rising Star, Outstanding Supporter, and Founder's Community Partner.  This year's recipients are:

A lifelong Arizonan, Paul Hirt is an historian and practitioner of the public and environmental humanities specializing in the American West, environmental history, environmental policy, and sustainability studies. Hirt is  Professor of History in Arizona State University's School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies and Senior Sustainability Scholar in ASU's Global Institute of Sustainability. He is a public historian of the American West, and an exemplary candidate for this honor.

Rosaura "Chawa" Magaña is a bookseller, cultural worker, literary organizer, safe-space creator, healing presence, compassionate listener, principled voice, and the owner/operator of Palabras Bilingual Bookstore. Magaña has created a unique space that has shifted the cultural landscape of Phoenix to be more inclusive, equitable, and artistically enriched. Her tireless advocacy and community-centered approach has impacted many people. She has given a voice to people of color, and also fostered community connections and growth.

Judith Hardes is a longtime financial supporter of Arizona Humanities. She is a local philanthropist and recipient of the 2018 Governor's Arts Award for philanthropy for her lifelong commitment to arts and culture, and for her encouragement of others to give to arts and culture. Hardes has donated annually to Arizona Humanities for 20 years. She is the most consistent donor that we can identify. This means a lot to us and the organizations that receive grants and attend our cultural programs across the state.  "Those who support arts and culture through their generous philanthropy are deeply vital to the long-term success and vitality of so many nonprofit organizations...Judith is among the most ardent, consistent and important donors in Arizona through her unwavering commitment to and enthusiasm for the performing arts." Rusty Foley, AZ Citizens for the Arts.

Karen O'Keefe is an outstanding educator with a focus on K-12 literacy, and a unique passion for connecting students to the community through her extensive outreach efforts. O'Keefe seeks out people in the community to support the literacy programs including retired and working individuals, illustrators, artists, authors, and even family members of the students. She also enlists the support of countless community-based, nonprofit and corporate organizations.  O'keefe's community-based events both inside and outside the school, have recast the importance of literacy for the entire school. She is the recipient of many awards of excellence from the Washington School District for her innovative/interactive learning programs including PencilPALS, Multi-Cultural Day, Young Authors Day,  Family Reading Nights, and Read Across America Day.

The Arizona Humanities Awards event will take place on April 5 at the Heard Museum. Please check back for event details at  www.azhumanities.org .

Wednesday, December 18 - 6:30 pm

Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church

1401 E. Jefferson St. Phoenix, AZ 85034 

FREE ADMISSION

People of all faiths are invited to join the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church and Congregation Beth Israel for an exciting interfaith concert. This event will feature Christmas and Hanukkah music from Jewish and African-American spiritual traditions to promote a dialogue between the two communities as well as people of all races and religions. 

"This concert is the second in a series of events to promote better relations between our local African-American and Jewish communities.   While Jewish and African Americans have often been allies in the struggle for Civil Rights in our country, we have not always fully understood the deeper historical, cultural, and religious experiences that undergird each of our communities. This concert provides people of all faiths a unique opportunity to experience Jewish and African-American culture through music and fellowship, and to celebrate our differences as well as our common humanity." Lawrence  Bell, Ph.D Executive Director, Arizona Jewish Historical Society. 

Black Canyon City is located twenty miles north of Phoenix, just inside Yavapai County. The Agua Fria River, which starts in Prescott Valley, runs through Black Canyon City and the Black Canyon Heritage Park. Most of its waters end up in Lake Pleasant, but the Agua Fria does not end there. Although now mostly dry below the lake, with enough rainfall the river can come alive for a while, and flow far enough to meet the Gila River west of Phoenix.  

The area around Black Canyon City was part of traditional Yavapai territory. The migratory Yavapai people followed an annual route that maximized their ability to hunt animals and gather ripening plants.  Settlers founded the town in the 1870s. It was a stopover on the stage route that ran from Prescott to Phoenix, and a supply center for miners working in the nearby Bradshaw Mountains. The town adopted several names as it struggled to stay on the map, including Goddard, after the first postmaster, and Cañon, later expanded into Black Canyon. Today, Black Canyon City is an unincorporated, census-designated place. 

Waterways departed Tubac December 1, but not before making a big splash in the in the small community. 

Thanks to the efforts of Tubac Presido State Historic Park staff and volunteers, and the Lowe House Project, visitors to exhibit experience the past, present and future of water in Southern Arizona through art, performance, and a dash of storytelling.

 

To hear about all of the wonderful programming put on by Tubac, check out the  Humanities Now Blog.

The Sonoran Institute is pleased to present the latest Living River report for the Santa Cruz from Nogales Wash to Amado, focused on the 2018 water year. This reach of the river has seen tremendous improvements since we released the first report in 2008. Water conditions are no longer toxic and the endangered Gila topminnow is thriving again.

 

However, issues of contamination and water security remain. Binational solutions benefiting both sides of the border are needed to provide lasting protection for this unique and spectacular river. We can assure clean, ample water by working together.

 

Read this report online or get a copy by visiting the Sonoran Institute booth at La Fiesta de Tumacacori on Saturday, December 7.

January 10, 2020 - 6-8pm

Heritage Square, 7th St. and Monroe, Phoenix, AZ.

The Bungalow across from Arizona Science Center

The Great Migration was the relocation of more than six million African Americans from the rural South to the cities of the North, Midwest and West from about 1915 to 1970. Despite the significant growth of the state's African American population during this period, the impact of this migration has had little acknowledgment, marginalizing and rendering indiscernible black folks and their stories. This exhibit explores shared threads of experience surrounding the migration. It provides a glimpse into the lives of ordinary black Arizonans. It celebrates the survival of the ancestors and the establishment of enduring and thriving communities in the Valley.  Music and refreshments  Speakers:  Clottee Hammons, Emancipation Arts, LLC, and more.

Current State , an Exhibition featuring Thomas "Breeze" Marcus

Open Through September 26, 2020 

Arizona Historical Society Arizona Heritage Center

1300 N College Ave Tempe, AZ 85281

This new exhibition explores the stories of one of the oldest tribal cultures of central and Southern Arizona, and how one artist uses that history to reflect on the past, present, and future of our state. Thomas "Breeze" Marcus, an enrolled member of the Tohono O'odham Nation, was raised in the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community and Phoenix, Arizona. His style combines influences from graffiti subculture and traditional Tohono O'odham symbolism to talk about issues such as water and the border.  Current State  will be on  view through September 26, 2020. 

Thursday, January 16, 2020   6PM Admission $10.00

Film Presentation: Estrella Mountain Community College-Performing Arts Center-3000 N Dysart, Avondale, AZ

YWCA Metro Phoenix in collaboration with Vision and Sound, EMCC and WVAC presents the award-winning documentary:  " You Racist, Sexist, Bigot." Panel discussion follows with local community leaders  and the Filmmakers. Preview the Movie Trailer and buy Tickets  at www.ywcaaz.org/yrsb

The National Humanities Conference was both a rich cultural and educational experience. This was the first time the national conference took place in Hawaii, and was made possible by a unique partnership with the Hawaii,  Guåhan, American Samoa, and  Northern Mariana Islands Humanities councils.

The setting was beautiful and provided a unique opportunity to explore the rich history, culture, and landscape of the islands.  "A highlight for me was the opening ceremony. I enjoyed learning about the music, language, and history. There were dark moments from colonialism, and ongoing damage from natural disasters, but there were also moments of beauty and light, such as the traditional wedding ceremony. The people were generous hosts that made us feel welcome throughout our brief stay." Brenda Thomson, Executive Director.

The Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections (SCHC) program helps cultural institutions meet the complex challenge of preserving large and diverse holdings of humanities materials for future generations by supporting sustainable conservation measures that mitigate deterioration, prolong the useful life of collections, and support institutional resilience: the ability to anticipate and respond to disasters resulting from natural or human activity.

CLICK HERE for more information