2018 ANNUAL REPORT
STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY. ENRICH OUR CULTURE. 45 YEARS OF SEEDING, STRENGTHENING, AND SUPPORTING THE HUMANITIES. Thanks to your support in 2018, the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities continued to grow as an innovative and collaborative organization – investing in partnerships and grants that catalyze community engagement through public history, cultural expression, meaningful conversation, and civic participation. In addition to highlighting the outstanding projects of our grantees, this year’s report focuses on programs produced through partnership and collaboration, which we believe is fundamental to expand the impact of the humanities and to take on challenges that are bigger than any one of us can solve alone. With gratitude,
Elizabeth Francis Executive Director
Diverse sources of revenue help the Council to support more humanities projects and programs and to develop partnerships that reach more people, provide resources for educators, and strengthen the cultural ecosystem.
FY18 Revenue – $976,101
Over 30 percent of our income came from individual gifts and local foundations, organizations, and companies. NEH
68%
Fundraising & Program Income (Gifts, Sponsorships & Earned Revenue)
19%
Foundation Grants
13%
FY18 Expenses – $970,417
Nearly 70% of our annual spending directly supported grants and programs. Programs
41%
Grantmaking 28%
CELEBRATION OF THE HUMANITIES
JOIN US IN 2019 !
The Celebration of the Humanities recognized lifetime and creative achievement, innovation, and scholarship by extraordinary leaders in our state. The Celebration brought together over 300 people to champion diverse communities, and to strengthen the foundations of our democracy through the humanities. Learn more about 2018’s honorees through our In Their Own Words series: rihumanities.org/get-involved/celebrate RABBI WAYNE M. FRANKLIN
Honorary Chairs’ Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Humanities FRANCIS PARRA
Tom Roberts Prize for Creative Achievement in the Humanities
STAGES OF FREEDOM
Innovation in the Humanities Award TAYLOR M. POLITES
Public Humanities Scholar Award
Fundraising
13%
Management
18%
GRANT PROFILES $169,755 was awarded to 32 grant projects in support of public history, cultural heritage, civic education, and community engagement across the state. COUNCIL PARTNERSHIPS COUNCIL GRANTS COUNCIL EVENTS
“The humanities not only help us to understand the world we live in, but they also help us to see connections among seemingly disparate ideas and to imagine a better future for everyone. Supporting the Council is investing in that future.”
- Maureen T. Reddy, PhD, and Douglas Best
Our grants touched the lives of tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders — sparking thoughtful community exchange, building audiences, innovating new methods, creating knowledge, and opening opportunities for young people. Together these projects put the humanities into action for an engaged democratic public and culture. MAJOR GRANT AWARDS
NEWPORTFILM — $12,000 to newportFILM OUTDOORS 2018 RISD MUSEUM — $5,000 to Program Planning for “Designing Innovation: The Gorham Manufacturing Company 1850-1970” SOUTH COUNTY HISTORY CENTER — $9,480 to Resilient Rhode Island: Disasters & Determination in the Ocean State RHODE ISLAND LATINO ARTS — $10,000 to Este es Mi Barrio – Community Walking Tours
CIVIC EDUCATION GRANTS
LITTLE COMPTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY — $12,000 to Remember Me – Little Compton’s 45 Historic Cemeteries
NEW URBAN ARTS/PUSHED LEARNING AND MEDIA — $10,100 to Teacher Training, Curriculum Development, & Academic Support for Teachers & Ethnic Studies Programs
PROVIDENCE PRESERVATION SOCIETY — $12,000 to Sites and Stories Explored through Community Engaged Art and Scholarship
MEETING STREET — $9,850 to “Be the Change”: The Grace School Public Policy Initiative
STAGES OF FREEDOM — $9,999 to America’s First Black Diva: Sissieretta Jones at 150
DOCUMENTARY FILM GRANTS
MINI GRANT AWARDS
CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY — $5,000 to Unjuried/Uncensored: Making AS220 RHODE ISLAND PBS, WSBE — $5,000 to The Missing Season: Race and Community in Rhode Island’s Golden Age of Baseball RHODE ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY — $12,000 to Triple Decker, A New England Love Story
PUBLIC PROJECT GRANTS NEW URBAN ARTS — $12,000 to Scholar and Program Support for Summer Art Internships MANTON AVENUE PROJECT — $12,000 to Playwriting as Civic Engagement Series for Young People in Olneyville
CIVIC EDUCATION GRANTS PAWTUCKET SCHOOL DEPARTMENT — $1,100 to Generation Citizen (Pawtucket 2018) PONAGANSET HIGH SCHOOL — $2,000 to Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall & Oral History Civic Engagement Project
PUBLIC PROJECT GRANTS SCHOOL ONE — $2,000 to Write Rhode Island (2018) SOUTHSIDE CULTURAL CENTER OF RHODE ISLAND — $2,000 to 23rd Annual Langston Hughes Community Poetry Reading PRESERVE RHODE ISLAND/ PRESERVE WAKEFIELD — $1,800 to Public Forum on the Future of Wakefield’s Main Street
FREQUENCY WRITERS — $722 to Creative Cartography Summer Youth Class CONGRESS FOR THE NEW URBANISM, NEW ENGLAND — $2,000 to (Un)Built Providence COMMUNITY MUSICWORKS — $2,000 to Planning for “Traces” THE WILBURY THEATRE GROUP — $2,000 to Fringe PVD Daily NEWMAN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH UCC — $2,000 to Lecture & Music Performance: Celebrating the 375-Year Anniversary of the Newman Church & Rehoboth BOOKS ARE WINGS — $1,715 to Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives: Latino Social Justice Lesson Plan Development PROVIDENCE PUBLIC LIBRARY — $2,000 to Year of the City: The Providence Project WARREN PRESERVATION SOCIETY — $1,999.50 to Sowams Heritage Area Education Project
INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH GRANTS RAYMOND TWO HAWKS WATSON — $2,000 to Meshanticut Cultural Heritage Project EVAN VILLARI — $2,000 to Blood and Water Shed: The Scituate Reservoir JOEY DEFRANCESCO — $2,000 to A People’s History of 18th Century Rhode Island AMY BARLOW — $1,989.98 to Opening Act CHARLOTTE MANGIN — $2,000 to Research on Sissieretta Jones and Annie Smith Peck for UNLADYLIKE2020 Videos For more information on grant projects, visit: rihumanities.org/grants/recent-grants.
PARTNERSHIPS Expanding the Impact of the Humanities
The Council’s partnerships brought together resources, expertise, networks, and audiences and enabled us to seed new approaches, support larger initiatives, and strengthen the humanities sector.
RHODE TOUR: the app and website now includes
25 tours and nearly 250 stories about Rhode Island. Rhode Tour has been accessed by over 23,460 visitors with the largest percentage of users being 25-34 year-olds. Among the five new tours in 2018 is “First Peoples of Rhode Island” developed with the Tomaquag Museum, sharing the histories, culture, and achievements of Rhode Island’s Indigenous peoples. Partners: Brown University’s Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage and the Rhode Island Historical Society.
(PRESS)ED: A Podcast About The Media, Fake News, and The Future Of Our Democracy explores the fractured media environment and connects issues for democracy, the humanities, and journalism. It has reached thousands of listeners and included a panel discussion at Slater Mill in Pawtucket with an audience of 100+. (Press)ed is part of the national “Democracy and the Informed Citizen” initiative of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, generously supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in partnership with the Pulitzer Prizes. Partner: The Public’s Radio. RI EXPANSION ARTS PROGRAM (RIEAP): offers
funding and organizational assistance to community-based, culturally diverse arts and cultural organizations. In 2018, RIEAP supported the Colombian-American Cultural Society, the Laotian Community Center of Rhode Island, RI Cape Verdean Heritage Subcommittee, and the India Association of Rhode Island; their cultural festivals and youth development programs reached thousands of participants. Partners: Rhode Island Foundation and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts.
RI CENTER FOR THE BOOK– A NEW CHAPTER: In 2018, Rhode
Island Center for the Book programs reached over 6,500 Rhode Islanders through 53 events and programs. After over six years under the Humanities Council’s fiscal sponsorship, the Center for the Book is moving forward as an independent nonprofit. The Humanities Council is proud to have promoted the Center for the Book’s growth and impact on literacy and civic engagement through reading in Rhode Island, and we will continue to advance these shared goals. Learn more at: ribook.org.
FY18 SUPPORTERS
Philanthropy that strengthens democracy and enriches culture
We are grateful for the generous support of our donors, funders, and sponsors. Your generosity expands the impact of the humanities and builds on the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities — putting the humanities into action in Rhode Island’s communities. Thank you for making this work possible. Gifts of $1,000 & over Pell Circle Donors * Center for the Book Members + For gifts under $100, visit: rihumanities.org
INDIVIDUALS $100 & over Joan & Richard Abrams * Alexandra Agati Ann Alquist Nancy Anderson Anonymous (3) + Margaret Asselin + Diane & Sandy Ballou Amy Barlow Reenie Barrow + Suzanne Bartlett + Phoebe Bean Susanna Beckwith + Nathan Beraha Robert Berkelhammer Rebecca Bertrand Maria Betancur Christina Bevilacqua Ed & Mary Bishop Charles Blackman
Christy Law Blanchard + Debbie Block & Bill Harley David Booth & Jane Garnett in honor of Polly Hutcheson Alice C. Boss Jeffrey Brier Carolina Briones Winifred E. Brownell, PhD in honor of Elizabeth Francis Dominique Browning Thomas & Antonia Bryson Julia Bush + Len & Judy Cabral Ed Cabral & Tripp Evans Anna Cano-Morales Kyleen Carpenter & Bill Devine, Jr Dantes Carrasco Diana Champa Alex Chiulli + Shawn Anthony Christian, PhD Edward & Audrey Clifton + Peter Cohen Abigail Congdon Harold J. Cook Melanie & Stephen Coon Elizabeth Crawford Karen L. Daigle, MD + Lewis & Betty Dana Denise Dangremond Carol DeBoer-Langworthy David DeJesus, Jr + Elizabeth Delude-Dix * Morgan Devlin Bill Dimmick Diane M. Disney Ann Doherty + Amy & Jerry Dorfman Bev Ehrich & Carl Freeman Sandra Enos Barnaby Evans Holly Ewald Elaine & Barry Fain *
Mary Beth Faustine & Andrew Workman Michael Fein Jocelyn & Carl Feldman D.J. Foley + Stephanie Fortunato Elizabeth Francis + Rabbi Wayne Franklin Carl & Beverly Freedman Pam Gasner Touba Ghadessi + Susan Gibbs Gayle L. Gifford & Jonathan W. Howard Risa Gilpin in honor of Dorothy Bocian Richard & Mary Glenn + Arthur Fixler & Maxine Goldin Karen Gray + Judith Greenblatt Larson Gunness & Liana Cassar + Mattie Gustafson + Emily Gutheinz John Harkey + Froma Harrop * Susan & David Hibbitt Logan Hinderliter James A. Hopkins Polly Hutcheson & George Rice Pam Hyland Jane Isaac + James Janecek & Carol Terry Herrick & Barbara Jeffers Polly & Dave Jeffers in honor of Rachael Lee Jeffers Rachael Jeffers Galen & Jean Johnson Cheryl Jordan Daniel Kamil & Emily Steffian in memory of Sarah Enders Steffian Goat Hill in honor of Taylor Polites
Edward N. Kaufman Danielle Kemsley Carolyn Kent Daniel Kertzner Kate & Howard Kilguss * Richard & Laura Kowal Paula M. Krebs & Claire Buck Bernice Kumins Seth Kurn & Barbara Harris in honor of Rabbi Franklin Sandra Lake Matthew Lawrence Francis J. Leazes, Jr Michael & Donna Lennon in honor of Taylor Polites Leslie Atik & Robert Preucel Carol Levitt & Michael Fine Mayer A. Levitt Allison Levy Toby & Moshe Liebowitz Deborah Linnell Judy Barrett Litoff, PhD Steve Lubar & Lisa Theorle Betsy Marcotte & Lloyd Feinberg Annu Palakunnathu Matthew Karen McCann Gina McDonald Gero Meyersiek Michael Miele in honor of Taylor Polites Eugene B. Mihaly E. Pierre Morenon Adrienne Morris & Stewart Martin Louise B. Moulton + Laurie Moyer Margaret Murphy in honor of Taylor Polites Ken Newman Mildred T. Nichols Julie Nora + Carol Nulman Marjory Gomez O’Toole
Scott Oberacker Ruth Oppenheim in honor of Jean Patiky Ken Orenstein Richard S. Palmer Thomas Palmer & Dominique Alfandre Robert Papa Karen Parker Shelley & Larry Parness Mary Lee Partington John J. Partridge Jean & Mark Patiky in memory of Jennifer Jeffers+ James T. Patterson in honor of Tom Roberts Caroline Payson Robert Pelcovits Elizabeth Beretta Perik Jill Pipher Roberta Powell Judith Queen in memory of Charles “Chuck” Fink Kurt A. Raaflaub Sara Rapport Rebecca Brenner & Daniel Zussman Maureen T. Reddy, PhD & Douglas Best Jason Reed Angela & Raymond Renaud Elaine P. Reynolds in memory of Gene Soles Sarah B. Richardson & Craig Richardson * Betty Rickman in honor of Stages of Freedom Ray Rickman James P. Riley Jeannette E. Riley & Kathleen M. Torrens Rebecca R. Riley * Arthur & Judy Robbins Tom & Elizabeth Roberts Ronald Markoff & Karen Triedman in honor of Rabbi Franklin Randall Rosenbaum Fred & Marcia Rosenzweig Pamela Rowland +
Noel Rubinton & Amy Cohen Rubinton Rep. Deborah Ruggiero Paula Sager Ronni Saltzman Guttin Daniel S. Santos Judith Savage Suzanne Scanlan Cynthia Scheinberg Mary L. Schwartz Anne Scurria & Barry Press + Deming & Jane Sherman John Simmonds + Gretchen Dow Simpson Missy (Helen) Sittler Susan Smulyan Barbara Sokoloff Jacqueline Sordoni Lorén Spears Cheryl Stein + Jonathan Stevens Taquasia Stevens Joyce L. Stevos Paul Stouber Marjorie Lee Sundlun Judith Swift in memory of Estes Benson Maureen Taylor Yarrow L. Thorne Cindy Trask Rosanne Trissler + Rose E. Weaver Lamountain Sarah Weed + George Wein Jessica & Aaron Weinstein Naida Weisberg Ilene Weismehl Kathryn Wells Fox Wetle Jon Whiting Martina Windels Ryder & Anne Windham Don & Kitty Wineberg Kate Wodehouse Ed & Linda Wood Patricia A. Woods Margaret Wool Connie Worthington & Terry Tullis in honor of Kate Lentz +
Josephine & Harrison M. Wright Rachel Zerin Joanna Ziegler
ORGANIZATIONS $100 & over Adler Pollock & Sheehan, PC Alex and Ani The Avery Bar & Lounge Bank Newport Barrington Books + Barton Gilman, LLP + Brown University Cogut Institute for the Humanities The John Carter Brown Library John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities & Cultural Heritage Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women Bryant University Citrin Cooperman City of Pawtucket E.F. Bishop Group Fidelity Investments + Fiscal Management Associates Flatbread Providence, Inc. + Hasbro, Inc. Ivory Ella, LLC + Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island Johnson & Wales University McLaughlin and Moran, Inc. MetLife New Urban Arts Office of Library and Information Services + Office of the Secretary of State Paris Muse Educational Travel Pawtucket Credit Union Preserve Rhode Island
The Providence Athenaeum Providence Preservation Society Residential Properties, Ltd. Restivo Monacelli, LLP Rhode Island College Rhode Island Library Association + Rhode Island PBS Roger Williams University Salve Regina University Savoy Bookshop & Café + TD Bank + Teatro ECAS University of Rhode Island Wheaton College The Wheaton Institute for the Interdisciplinary Humanities Yankee Travel, Inc.
GRANTS
The Council gratefully acknowledges the support of: Billy Andrade – Brad Faxon Charities for Children + Federation of State Humanities Councils The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation The Pulitzer Prizes Governor’s Workforce Board Grimshaw-Gudewicz Charitable Foundation + Heritage Harbor Foundation Library of Congress + Morgan Stanley Foundation National Endowment for the Humanities Ocean State Charities Trust + Rhode Island Foundation SEI Giving Fund TD Charitable Foundation+
INDIVIDUALS Up to $99 Rena Abeles Angela Aboramra + Linda Maria Afonso + Teale Aldrich Melody Llyod Allen + Peter & Susan Allen in honor of Tom Roberts Dianne Apici + Dawn Appleby + Elizabeth Archetto + Melanie Aska + Kieran Ayton + William & Judith Babcock + Evelyn Bain + Sue Barker + Pamela & Robert Beck Alice H.R.H. Beckwith, PhD + Christine M. Bell + Judith H. Bell Gene & Kathy Bence Dorothy Bergeron + Marc & Maria Bernier + Mary Ann Bevilacqua in memory of Joseph Bevilacqua Margaret Bierden + Susan Bissell + Marcia Bliss + Denise Boule + Linda Brennan + Nancy Carignan in honor of Marjory O’Toole Anna Caruolo + Linda Casey + Hope Chase + Kathleen Church + Anne Edmonds Clanton Bruce Clarke Janet Coleman Francis Conklin + Suzanne Conklin + Lillian Connor + Deborah Coons in honor of RICH’s 45th Anniversary
Bethany Costello + Nancy Cottrill + Joy Csanadi + Muriel Dickinson + Susan Billon + Donna Longo DiMichele + Kathleen Duffy + Lynne Edmonds + John Eng-Wong in honor of Bob & Ellie Kates Donna Essery + Barbara H. Findley + Viginia F. Fletcher in honor of Tom Roberts Joan Flynn + David & Ginny Fox + Peggy Frederick Alex Friedman Peahl + Nancy Fritz + Laura Gang Steve & Gail Gang Nancy Geraghty + Jane Gerhard Joan Glazer + Michael Goldenberg in honor of Rabbi Franklin Liz Gotauco + Julie Lombardi Goulet + Stephen Graham Carolyn Greeley + Amy Greer + Sarah Gretzky + Jane Guertin + Rabbi Leslie Yale Gutterman Don Hagist + Nancy Haley + Daniel Harropp III, MD Betty Havrylik + Joan Hertel Arlene Hicks + Helga Hoffman + Stuart Horwitz Kay Hughes + P. William Hutchinson in honor of Marilyn Meardon Laura Jocobs Norma Jenkes +
Paulla Dove Jennings in honor of the Tomaquag Museum Carole Jolie + Virginia Jones + Justine Karmozyn + Deborah Katz + Margaret Kaufer Joan Kelley + Ellen A. Kellner in memory of George H. Kellner Maureen Kelsey + Lilly Kilvert Steven Krasner + Faxine Lafond + Donna Lancaster + Jane Lancaster Yvette Landroche + Patricia Lang + Nola LaSalle + Ann Lavoie + Thomas Lazieh Michelle Le Brun Robyn (Galvin) Levine + Bonnie Lilienthal + Connie Lima Trish Lindberg Hannah & John Lombardo Melissa Ludwig + Marilyn J. Malina Patrick Malone Faye Maris + Carolyn Mark + Marilyn Mattera + Karen & Bud McCann + Cheryl McCarthy + Jean McCombs + W. Brett & Johanna McKenzie Paulette McLaren + Nancy McMahon + Dave & Elizabeth McNab Miriam McRobb Richard & Patricia Menoche + Susan Millis + Patricia Moriarty + Johannes C. & Hedrika F. Nagtegaal
John Nazarian Bill & Susan Newkirk + Lynn K. Nicoletta Pat Nolan Edna O’Connell + Lucia O’Rilly & Charles W. Reckard Gregg Oehler & Susan Pitt + Filomena B. Paolucci + Susan Peckham _ Ken & Ann Peloquin + Rebecca Pittman Mark Pompelia in honor of Robert Scott Brooks + Scott Raker Theil Ramsbey + Pete Reynolds + Loretta Rhodes + David T. Riedel Nancy Riley + William P. Robinson III + Karen T. Romer Rita Rosenbloom _ Mary Ryder + Bonnie Ryvicker in honor or Rabbi Franklin Patricia A. Saccoccio + Carolyn Salk + Michele Sammartino + Carol Sarro + Ivana Saucier in honor of Rabbi Franklin Mary Scanlon + Elizabeth J. Sceppa + Joanne Schacht + Katherine Schelleng + Daniel Schleifer Marie Jenkins Schwartz + Yvonne Seggerman Beauregard Audrey Shapiro + Gail Shepherd + Consuelo Sherba
Rebecca A. Silliman Paula Silva Carole Skeffington + Mary Ann Slocomb + Lee Smith + Sylvia Ann Soares Carolyn St. Jean-Gogan + Edith Stahlberger + Mary K. Staples Ilira Steinman + Sue Stenhouse Jennifer Sanborn Sternick + Ruth Stach _ Trish Sylvester + Jeannie Thiboutot + Jeanne Thomason + Carlos Tobon Adrian Moore Trask Jessica Unger Jane Vincelette + Susan Viveiros + Lynn Watterson + Robin Wetherill Maria Wheeler Ruth B. Whipple Dianne Whitehead + Loraine Winthrop + Scott Wolf & Joyce Krabach Susan Wood + Peter & Patricia Young + Colleen Zeitz + Lynne Zelonis +
ORGANIZATIONS Up to $99 Connecting for Children & Families, Inc. + The Thomas & William Gilbane Foundation + Hi Hi (Historical Fiction) Group Pawtucket Public Library + Robert & Rita M. Usselman Living Trust +
“I see the humanities in action in my community through families gathering on summer nights to enjoy music festivals, filmmakers giving voice to untold stories through new documentaries, and students exploring new interests in the classroom – each of these expressions of the humanities makes me proud to support the Humanities Council each year! ”
- Winifred Brownell, PhD
2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
HONORARY CHAIRS
IMAGES & PHOTO CREDITS
Touba Ghadessi, PhD, Chair
Senator Jack Reed Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Our thanks to Matthew Ferrara Photography, Cat Laine, and all of our grantees who have contributed photographs.
Julie Nora, PhD, Vice Chair Jean Patiky, Secretary Gina McDonald, CPA, Treasurer
2018 STAFF
Reenie Barrow
Elizabeth Francis Executive Director
Phoebe Bean, MLS Christina Bevilacqua Winifred Brownell, PhD Daniel Cavicchi, PhD C. Alexander Chiulli, Esq. Elaine B. Fain, MD Michael R. Fein, PhD Froma Harrop Kenneth C. Newman Mary Lee Partington James P. Riley Rebecca R. Riley
Logan Hinderliter Associate Director, Grants & Partnerships
design-agency.org
Rachael Jeffers Development & Communications Officer Cat Laine Program Coordinator Scott Raker Operations Officer
John Simmonds Jonathan Stevens Jessica L. Weinstein Don E. Wineberg Ex Officio: Polly Hutcheson, Immediate-Past Chair
N N O C Y A ST Join us in deepening and broadening access to history, culture, civic engagement, and education to enrich and improve the lives of all Rhode Islanders.
PARTICIPATE Attend a humanities event near you or apply for a grant to support your next public humanities project. CELEBRATE Join us for the annual Celebration of the Humanities in October to mark National Arts & Humanities Month.
D E T EC ADVOCATE Show your support for the humanities by telling policy makers the humanities matter. Write a letter, sign a petition, or share your story. DONATE Make a gift to strengthen cultural, historical, and civic engagement throughout the state; rihumanities. org/get-involved/donate
Visit rihumanities.org to learn more and join our mailing list. facebook.com/ rihumanities @rihumanities @rihumanities