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The Gift of Being Human
"A wonderful gift may not be wrapped as you expect."
 From our earliest awareness on this planet, we have been considering what it is that makes us human. Our collective cave drawings, poetry, religious writings, art, science documents, literature, philosophy--indeed, much of what we have created throughout the ages--touches, examines, or defines the subject of being human. What are our origins as a species? What is our potential as human beings? What is our future on this planet? What can we learn from our history, writings, art, science? These, in addition to many more pragmatic, philosophical, and existential questions are at the heart of being human; the very act of asking these questions is evidence of our "humanness" and is a gift in itself. The humanities offer avenues for exploring what it means to be human. The humanities give structure to the human ability for self-reflection and observation. Especially when we become complacent in the status quo and give in to the comforts of the familiar, the humanities can challenge us to question the unquestioned, speak the unspoken, and observe the unobserved. Even within all of our folly and weakness, the ability for self-reflection offers opportunity for growth as individuals and communities. Practical change begins with the personal and collective awareness available through the humanities. During this gift-giving season, here's to the gift we can never underestimate or take for granted. Here's to the gift of being human!  Deena Pyle Public Relations Manager Utah Humanities Council You can reach Deena for all Public Relations content, questions, or assistance at pyle@utahhumanities.org or 801.359.9670 ext. 111
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Utah Humanities Council Newsletter
December 2012
"If we are to achieve a richer culture, rich in contrasting values, we must recognize the whole gamut of human potentialities, and so weave a less arbitrary social fabric, one in which each diverse human gift will find a fitting place."
- Margaret Mead
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UHC Grants and Outreach: The Gift of Sharing
Welcome to our new Grants and Outreach Program Officer! We are thrilled to introduce Jodi Graham, our new Grants and Outreach Program Officer. Jodi began her history with the Utah Humanities Council in 1996 with a variety of responsibilities. She particularly enjoyed coordinating the Speakers Bureau, managing the grants program, and working with board members. In 2004, Jodi left UHC and moved with her family to Vienna, Austria, where she worked for the International Atomic Energy Agency. After being immersed in the rich culture of a big city, her family landed in Riverton, Wyoming, where they found an abundance of pioneer history, Native American culture, and wide open spaces. Jodi returned to UHC in September 2012, and is so happy to be "home." She received her BS in Musical Theatre Performance from Weber State University, and still sings with her husband whenever she has the chance. You can reach Jodi at graham@utahhumanities.org or at 801.359.9670, ext. 105. Draft Grant Applications are Due February 1, 2013Competitive grant applications (for up to $5,000) are due on Friday, February 1, 2013. All applicants are required to submit a draft, with the final application due on March 1, 2013. Projects being considered must begin on or after May 1, 2013. Our Competitive Grant Guidelines have changed recently, so please be sure you are using the most current version from the grants page on our website.For grant questions, please contact Jodi Graham at graham@utahhumanities.org.
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Venture Course in the Humanities: The Gift of Learning  | |
Families and friends listen to Venture students in Salt Lake City share their writing at the annual Winter Celebration in December. Photo courtesy of Jean Cheney
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Pablo Neruda, Sandra Cisneros, Mary Oliver, Van Gogh, Praxiteles--all give gifts each fall to students in Venture, UHC's interdisciplinary college humanities course. At the end of their first semester, students express gratitude to donors, academic partners, and UHC for making Venture possible. Tonya Lemus, from the Salt Lake City Course, writes: "In attending Venture I have met a new group of writing peers; college students who seek education for a better tomorrow. I bring all the information I can to our class that will benefit my new Venture Family. Thank you for making this possible for me. Words cannot express how grateful I am to be able to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity." Want to study in Venture? Courses are offered in Ogden, through a partnership with Weber State University, in Salt Lake City, with Westminster College, and in Cedar City with Southern Utah University. Call 801.359.9670 for more information.
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Museum Interpretation Initiative: The Gift of Remembering  | |
A pioneer child would have found only two or three gifts in her stocking. Only a very lucky girl might have received a porcelain doll like this one, made in Germany before 1850 and carried across the plains to Utah.
Photo courtesy Cedar City DUP Museum.
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The award-winning Museum Interpretation Initiative has concluded three years of workshops designed to support Utah's small museums in telling their community stories. This ambitious initiative has literally changed the landscape of heritage preservation in Utah by helping small museums create more engaging exhibits, ultimately bringing important aspects of Utah's history and culture to life. One museum from this year's workshops even chose Christmas as its story-telling focal point. The Cedar City Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum's workshop project is an exhibit called "A Pioneer Christmas in Southern Utah," which tells about the multi-cultural traditions in the area, including special foods and decorations, imaginative gift-giving, and abundant music. There are fascinating objects featured and fun hands-on games to play, but the best part is the chance to read Christmas memories posted by visitors - and then share a favorite one of your own! Click Episode 189 at this Beehive Archive link to hear the two-minute story on Cedar City's gift-giving past.
This is just one of the 50 terrific exhibits supported by this UHC program. Completed projects span the state, ranging from Logan and Manila to Bluff and Santa Clara. Visit the Museum Interpretation Initiative portion of our website to learn more about the program and to see how Utah's museums are giving the gift of remembering by telling their community stories. |
The Utah Humanities Book Festival: The Gift of Reading  | |
15th Annual Utah Humanities Book Festival.
Photo courtesy of Jean Cheney
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Each year during the entire month of October,
in celebration of National Book Month and as our gift to Utah, we offer the Utah Humanities Book Festival.
This year marked our milestone 15th festival, and we were honored to join with all of you in meeting phenomenal authors and sharing transformative ideas conveyed through the medium of books and words.
This year's festival featured 140 events in 24 cities across the state. Approximately 14,000 Utahns met, listened to, and discussed ideas with 160 authors!
Just to refresh your memory, here are some highlights from this year's festival:
- Charlaine Harris, Sookie Stackhouse Series, inspiration of the HBO series True Blood
- Timothy Egan, The Worst Hard Time
- Ana Castillo, The Guardians
- Taylor Mali, Slam Poet Extraordinaire and author of What Teachers Make
- Lance Larsen, Utah's Poet Laureate
- Young Adult authors: Brodi Ashton, Dan Krokos, Lisa Mangum, Shannon Hale
- Children's Authors: Francisco Alarcon, Matthew Kirby, George Ancona, Jan Thomas, Jessica Day George
- David Quammen, lauded science and nature writer, author of Spillover
- Craig Childs, spellbinding speaker and author of Apocalyptic Planet
- Mark Sundeen and Daniel Suelo, The Man Who Quit Money
We are already planning our 2013 festival, so stay tuned and expect to join us next October!
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Make A Gift, Make a Difference: The Gift of Donating
Speaking of gift-giving, you have recently received a mailing from UHC asking you to make a year-end gift to help our programs and our statewide influence continue. Your gifts make a meaningful difference in our work, and we continue to be gratified at the generosity of our friends. Your response shows that you value the humanities and the impact it can have on communities and individual lives. Right now, if you click below, you too can make a simple, fully tax-deductible online donation on our secure site. If you haven't yet donated, please just make that click! It's a great way to end 2012 on a giving note. P.S. Our giving site includes an option to set up an automatic recurring monthly gift to UHC. It's an easy way to give a significant gift in small monthly increments. Think about giving in this way, as many others have! |
Community Involvement: The Gift of Influencing
 UHC's 2013 Human Ties AwardNominate a local Humanities hero for UHC's 2013 Human Ties Award! Do you know someone who has made a difference in your community by creating a humanities experience? Or an organization that brings people together to discuss important ideas and issues? Who has inspired you to think in new ways about the world and your place in it? Help UHC to discover and honor these creative leaders by nominating individuals or groups for UHC's 2013 Human Ties Awards, to be announced this coming spring. Here's what we need: - Your name and contact information - Name and contact information for the individual or group you're nominating - A description of the activity that is worthy of an award Please send your nomination to Cynthia Buckingham at buckingham@utahhumanities.org. We will be sending out reminders and more information as our Human Ties Award event, slated for Spring 2013, draws closer. UHC Board Member NominationsUHC is accepting nominations and applications for board membership. The 23-member Board of Directors is a volunteer governing body that is legally responsible for the council's operations and finances. We seek broad representation in the following areas: geographic location, community involvement, profession, gender, ethnicity, culture, perspective, and professional or personal involvement with the humanities. If you know of an energetic and highly qualified candidate, click here for nomination and application forms, plus a job description.
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About Us
The Utah Humanities Council empowers individuals and groups to improve their communities through active engagement in the humanities.
202 West 300 North
Salt Lake City, UT 84103
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