Honoring Humanities Work Throughout Michigan
Greetings!

Last night, I sat outside with a good book and watched the sky, hearing mourning doves make their familiar call. It harkened me back to my childhood, hearing those doves, when my late father and I would talk. Of all the many wonderful things I learned from him, the one common refrain was, “Do your best.” I’ve often thought about what that truly means, and I incorporate it every day into my morning meditations.

At Michigan Humanities, we strive to do our best by promoting understanding and funding programs that will help us all be better humans. We will soon celebrate a few shining examples of humanities leaders doing their best through the virtual Michigan Humanities Awards. Please plan to join us. As always, none of our work could be done without you as leaders and supporters. Thank you for making our mission possible. Humanities work helps bring out the best that individuals and communities can offer: how to bring beauty, knowledge, and understanding to a troubled world.

Shelly Hendrick Kasprzycki
President & CEO
Who We Are
MH Board and Staff
What makes community life worthwhile? Is it the relationships you build over time with family, friends, and co-workers? What about the good times and memories from attending annual festivals and events? Or is it the experience of working through difficult times that bonds us together? Read more...
Join us for the virtual
Michigan Humanities Awards
in mid-September
Three awards will be presented to honor and celebrate outstanding contributions to the civic and cultural vitality of humanities throughout Michigan. Learn more here...

MItown Humanities
Humanities Hometown Explorers
Do you have a favorite historic site in your hometown? A museum you love to visit? A library that goes above and beyond for your community? 

We are all spending more time being tourists in our great state and exploring treasures in our own downtowns and neighborhoods. We would like you to share your favorite places and enter them for a chance to win a $250 mini-grant! Snap a selfie in front of your favorite hometown destination and tag the organization along with Michigan Humanities. Don’t forget to add the hashtag #MItownhumanities. 

Share it with Michigan Humanities on social media starting August 10. Voting will take place August 31 and there will be four winners. If the organization you nominate wins, you will receive a box of Michigan Humanities swag and Michigan-made products. Let’s explore MI towns together!  
Programs and Grants
Bridging Michigan
Bridging Michigan is a new event series and grant opportunity that will spark in-depth conversation and action around systemic inequities. Grant applications will open August 17.

Join us for the first two online events:
  • August 13, 7-8 p.m.: Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha and Stephen Henderson in conversation about the impacts of systemic inequities on health and education | Register
  • September 3, 7-8 p.m.: Eric Hemenway and Matthew L.M. Fletcher in conversation about the history and current state of native mascots | Register
Action Grants
Use an Action Grant to share your innovative perspective of the humanities with your community, and cultivate new ideas to inspire action and strengthen our communities and our democracy.
Humanities Grants
Humanities Grants emphasize collaboration to serve Michigan’s people with public humanities programming. Submit a draft by August 13 and apply by August 27!
Poetry Out Loud
We've been celebrating our 2020 Poetry Out Loud school champions on the MH blog with essay contest and video recitation winners. Poetry Out Loud registration for 2020-21 will open on August 10.
Great Michigan Read
The 2019-20 Great Michigan Read is extending programming into late 2020 and early 2021 to accommodate these upcoming rescheduled events with Dr. Mona, author of this year's selection, What the Eyes Don't See.

Books, materials, and GMR Action Grants are still available and new partners are invited to register today. Have future GMR title suggestions? Submit them here.
Arts & Humanities Touring Grants
Arts and Humanities Touring Grants are now open for performances that will take place between June 1 and August 15. Funds may be used to pay artists that provide virtual programming. Apply by August 10!
Museum on Main Street
The latest Museum on Main Street traveling exhibit, Voices and Votes: Democracy in America, is coming to Michigan in 2021 and poses questions and historic content around America’s democratic system, voter representation, social justice, and more. Apply to host the exhibit by August 13!
Our Mission
2008 Michigan Author Homecoming
To inspire us to come together in creative and freely expressed ways to deepen our understanding of ourselves and enrich our communities.
Our Vision
For all people of Michigan to experience and understand the importance of humanities to enrich lives.
Values
  • Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity
  • Discovery and Understanding
  • Authentic Conversation
  • Respectful Collaboration
  • Meaningful Experiences
Pillars
  • Build awareness and excitement for humanities in everyday life.
  • Achieve best practices and sustainability for all humanities programs and services in Michigan.
Labor Days:
A History of Work
Raven Hill Discovery Center’s mission is to provide a place that enhances hands-on and lifelong learning for all ages by connecting science, history, and the arts.
2364 Woodlake Drive, Suite 100
Okemos, MI 48864
517-372-7770