Mississippi Humanities Council Newsletter - March 2020
Executive Director's Message
Humanities at Home

Stuart Rockoff
Executive Director
Usually the hardest part of writing these messages is coming up with the idea, but this month was going to be easy. I planned to write about our upcoming awards gala, highlighting the inspiring work of the winners, and showing the impact of the Mississippi Humanities Council.

Then, the spread of the COVID-19 virus was elevated to a public health crisis, forcing us to postpone the gala. The rest of this newsletter was going to highlight upcoming Council-supported programs --spring is one of our busiest seasons- -but now most of those have been postponed or cancelled as our partners follow government recommendations about social distancing.

While our own staff is now working from home, we have begun to think deeply about the role of the humanities and the MHC in a crisis like the one we are now experiencing. As a mostly-federally funded organization, the MHC will be okay. The same cannot be said for so many of our partners, the arts and cultural organizations that do so much to enrich life across our state. We are starting to think about how we can help them weather this crisis. I encourage you to do the same.

As a Council, we are passionate about the value of bringing people together. With the current public health crisis, we have begun to think about how we can support virtual programming to keep Mississippians connected using the power of technology, to achieve our mission of creating opportunities for Mississippians to learn about themselves and the larger world and enriching communities through civil conversations about our history and culture. We invite you to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to see how we are using digital humanities resources to nurture our human connections and encourage thoughtful discourse. We hope they educate and entertain you as you shelter in place.

To be a virtuous citizen is to think and act in a manner that is best for society. Right now, that means staying at home.

By staying at home, we are helping protect the health of our neighbors. Ironically, it is by remaining physically distant from each other that we remember how we are connected to our communities and the world. While the word "virtual" has come to mean "not in person," it is rooted in the same Latin word as "virtue." The concept of virtue, as understood by our Founding Fathers, was that leaders should govern in the larger public interest. To be a virtuous citizen is to think and act in a manner that is best for society. Right now, that means staying at home.

Because of the crisis, this is going to be a very different newsletter. You will see how some of our work is continuing virtually, while other programs are on hold. We will even share some staff recommendations for books and streaming programs to help keep you occupied during this time of physical isolation.

While our offices may be closed, the staff of the MHC continues to work using digital resources, supporting our grantees and program partners as we remain committed to serving the people of Mississippi during this time of crisis.


Public Humanities Awards Postponed

All MHC public programs have been suspended due to the public health crisis. Our March 27 Awards Gala will be rescheduled. While the MHC remains open, our building is closed to the public. The MHC staff is working remotely so please contact us via email. Follow us on social media to receive the latest updates.

Learn More
MHC Offers Flexibility for Grant-Funded Programs Affected by COVID-19

In light of recommendations from the Mississippi State Department of Health to limit social interaction due to COVID-19, the Mississippi Humanities Council is offering grantees several options for upcoming grant-funded events. Grantees may opt to reschedule their events; they may consider digital/web-based alternatives; or they may choose to cancel their events.

For public events that need to be rescheduled due to public health concerns, grantees should contact the MHC as soon as possible. MHC staff are happy to assist in making alternate arrangements, including extending your grant period, if necessary.

If grantees need to cancel an upcoming event supported by an MHC grant, the Council will honor expenditures in MHC-approved categories already made in preparing for events. Grantees should submit an expenditure report, along with all other reports and documents required to close the grant.

The MHC asks all organizations to provide updates regarding postponements and cancellations as quickly as possible.

If you have questions or updates related to MHC grant-funded programs, please contact Carol Andersen.
COVID-19 Brings New Opportunities for Social Media Presence

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the MHC has canceled all of its upcoming public programs and events. Despite our physical absence, we remain committed to serving our community virtually. Over the coming weeks, you'll see us posting on all of our social media platforms with helpful news, updates, and program content

Last week, we began to feature Cabin Fever questions, created by our friends at Humanities Washington that are designed to spark meaningful humanities-based discussion even when we can't be together. We'll be sharing some of these Cabin Fever questions in the hopes of getting Mississippians thinking and communicating, and we'll continue to roll out new virtual programs as they develop. Be sure to follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram as we use the humanities to stay connected and engaged.
Participants take part in a group discussion during the "Crossroads" virtual training meeting, held March 23-24
MHC Goes Virtual For Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit Workshop

On March 23 and 24, the MHC hosted a virtual training workshop for the Smithsonian Institution's traveling exhibit Crossroads: Change in Rural America, which will be on tour in Mississippi beginning later this year. Representatives from the six Mississippi host sites joined MHC staff, partner presenters, and representatives from the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street division for a crash course in all things Crossroads.

Originally scheduled to take place in Jackson as an in-person training, the two-day workshop was rescheduled as a virtual meeting in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Mississippi's six host sites were flexible throughout the changes and quickly mastered the virtual meeting setup, learning from MHC and Smithsonian representatives, Mississippi Development Authority's Asset Development team, Crossroads state scholar Dr. John Green, and Carlton and Brandi Turner from the Mississippi Center for Cultural Production.

Crossroads, which explores the legacy and future of rural life in the U.S., will tour Mississippi from September 2020 through June 2021. During its Mississippi stay, it will visit six host sites: Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, the Jane Blain Brewer Memorial Library in Mount Olive, the Waveland Ground Zero Hurricane Museum in Waveland, East Mississippi Community College in Scooba, the Marion County Historical Society Museum and Archives in Columbia, and the Museum of the Mississippi Delta in Greenwood. For dates and more information on the exhibit, visit our website.

#HumanitiesAtHome
 
In lieu of our typical "Upcoming Events" section, the MHC staff is providing recommendations for books, series, movies, podcasts and other modes of entertainment that can help you explore the humanities from your h ome.

STUART
I'm really enjoying Matthew Goodman's The City Game: Triumph, Scandal, and a Legendary Basketball Team, about the City College of New York point shaving scandal of 1950. It does an amazing job of giving the context of CCNY and New York City, the racial and ethnic politics of college basketball at the time, and the world of gambling and government corruption that led to the scandal.

I've also been taking this opportunity to show my two teenage daughters great classic Hollywood films. So far, we've watched "Singin' in the Rain," "All About Eve," and "Double Indemnity." On tap for next week is "Bonnie & Clyde," "Raisin in the Sun," and "North by Northwest."

Photo via instagram: @kayleeisreading
MOLLY
A "bookstagram" friend, Kaylee Craft Mitchell, turned my attention to The Patron Saints of Nothing  by Randy Ribay, a  coming-of-age story about grief, guilt, and the risks a Filipino-American teenager takes to uncover the truth about his cousin's murder. Reader review: "I learned so much about the history and current culture of the Philippines. It was fascinating--both heartbreaking and inspiring--and it made me want to know more... Jay, the protagonist, slowly transforms as the novel progresses, maturing from an angry kid to a motivated adult and accepting all the contradictory parts of himself. The book emphasizes several important topics such as legacy, family, faith and religion, poverty and activism. The central message, however, is that we are all human, and we are all worthy of life and love. "

Another book that kept me busy, Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, has recently been adapted into a Hulu series starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. The story follows several intertwining families as they navigate relationships, the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, and the ferocious pull of motherhood.

CAROLINE
So it's not the newest, hottest, or bestselling, but hear me out: the New York Times crossword is a classic. I've been a longtime NYT crossword puzzler and even pay the $49 yearly subscription fee to get expanded access to all of their features. I start every morning with the daily puzzle, which helps get my brain moving and ready for the day. I've also realized the importance of sticking to a routine since we've been working from home, and a morning crossword puzzle is a perfect addition to any quarantine routine.

Pachinko, a novel by Min Jin Lee, is one of my favorite reads of 2020. The story follows several generations of a Korean family as their home country undergoes Japanese annexation. The writing is beautiful and despite the story's immense sadness, it also manages to weave in messages of hope and resiliency--something we could all use a little of right now.


CAROL
Podcast:  On Being with Krista Tippett
Krista leads thought provoking interviews with poets, scientists, preachers and activists about what it means to be human. I've dipped into her podcasts many times, usually when I'm searching for some deep thinking on a challenging subject I'm wrestling with...What does "civility" really mean? Does "mind over matter" really work? Why is "belonging" so important to our human existence? Krista's interviews are t
houghtful, insightful, challenging, compassionate, wise...exactly the elements necessary for the best cultural conversations.


Podcast:  Poetry Unbound
Poetry, for me, is the most challenging literary genre to crack, but this podcast helps me see the point of those complicated lines and verses. It sort of "breaks the code" of poetry so I can finally enjoy it. Plus, I really just love listening to host Pádraig Ó Tuama's Irish accent.

I haven't read Notes from an Apocalypse yet, but it's on its way from Amazon. Maybe I'm macabre to want to read something right now about preparing for an apocalypse, but the reviews suggest the author, Mark O'Connell, is remarkably compassionate (and funny) as he tries to understand how different groups and people prepare for the possible end.
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