Dearest friend,

You may have seen the troubling headlines: the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) are under severe threat from the current administration. Unfortunately, the ripple effects have reached our own doorstep.

Last week, People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos received notice that our matching grant from the NEA and the Poetry Foundation—funding that has sustained the majority of our current programs—will be terminated on May 31, 2025. Though we were fortunate to receive the funds initially allotted, there is still uncertainty; the federal government may yet claw back those resources.

To compound this, the NEH and the New Jersey Council for the Humanities—our longtime partners—have had staff eliminated and canceled current funding applications. And they are not alone.

A staggering number of the grants we rely on, making up a large percentage of our operating and program budgets, are being slashed or eliminated altogether. This means that our projected annual funding—used to bring literature-based programs to underserved communities—is now in jeopardy.

Why This Matters

For more than 50 years, People & Stories / Gente y Cuentos has brought the transformative power of literature to those who need it most: individuals in transitional housing, people re-entering society after incarceration, older adults, newly arrived immigrants, youth, and others too often left behind. Are you, or someone close to you, one of the many whose life has been touched directly or indirectly by our work?

We’re asking you to help us continue this important mission.

Here’s How You Can Help

1. Make a Donation Today

Your gift—no matter the size—will help close the funding gap and ensure we can continue to serve our partner sites and the people who rely on us.

👉 Donate Now

2. Share Your Story

Have you been moved by a People & Stories / Gente y Cuentos session? Send us a note, photo, or quote to share the impact: email info@peopleandstories.org

3. Introduce Us to Corporate Sponsors

Know a business that values employee wellness or community engagement? Introduce us! We offer 8-week programs in both English and Spanish that companies can sponsor or offer to staff, while providing an 8-week program to those in an underserved community. Contact debra@peopleandstories.org

4. Attend or Host a "Try It" Session

Experience the power of a session for yourself. We’re hosting in-person and virtual "Try It" events this summer. Interested in attending—or even hosting one? Let us know: email info@peopleandstories.org

We know these are difficult times, but as I shared with our incredible network of coordinators recently:

We’ve done everything right—and we’re still on the right path. This is just a detour.

With your support, we’ll navigate this turn in the road and keep building the bridges literature makes possible.

Thank you, deeply, for being part of our story. Let’s write the next chapter—together.

With gratitude, hope, and warmest wishes to you and yours,

Debra

Debra Lampert-Rudman, M.Ed., Executive Director

People & Stories/Gente y Cuentos

debra@peopleandstories.org