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The Humanities Can Change the World for the Better   

Cynthia Head Shot
I love this time of year! Family and friends gather, sun sparkles on freshly fallen snow, and winter solstice brings the promise of longer days.

The Utah Humanities Council exists because we believe in the power of the humanities to change the world for the better. Discussing important issues, challenging assumptions, examining values, and exploring differences all help us to make better decisions for ourselves and for our communities



Novelist Annie Dillard reminds us how central the humanities are to our everyday lives:

"We all lead the life of the mind.  
When we teach our children not to hit or steal, we are passing on the great ideas of moral philosophy.  
When we claim our rights as citizens, we invoke a social contract.  
When we defend our freedom, or our neighbor's freedom, we hearken to one of the most stirring ideas of western thought. 
When we decide how to vote, when we pray, when we debate an issue, and when we fall in love, we are participating in the humanities.  
When we reflect on the changes in our own lives, when we recognize some of the things we love about the world, and when we resist loss and death with all our strength, we are participating in the humanities.  
All adults think and choose; all adults reflect and wonder.  
The humanities address our deepest contemporary concerns."

The new year beckons all of us to get involved. Please join us!

 Cynthia

Cynthia Buckingham 
Executive Director
Utah Humanities Council

Clemente Students Passionate about New Course
 
Clemente students at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art.
Photo credit: Jorge Rojas 
Democracy or Autocracy? Which generates the most happiness? Why, exactly? OK, now that you have argued that side, switch, and argue the opposite. Oh, and explain how Perimedes and Polus would answer the question. Do all of this in the context of Homer's Odyssey. Sound like fun? A group of 10th graders at East High School in Salt Lake City think so.  After ninety minutes, they didn't want to leave class.  UHC's new Clemente Course in the Humanities is turning students on to learning about their world.

Clemente uses Socratic dialogue and an emphasis on primary sources, instead of textbooks. Evidence of learning is through writing and projects, instead of tests. The goal of the course is to introduce students to college-level discourse and thinking and to develop the skills most needed in college: close reading, critical and integrative thinking, and clear writing and speaking.

Initiated and directed by the Utah Humanities Council, the Clemente Course is a community partnership created to offer a two-semester, interdisciplinary humanities course for AVID students at East High.  The course is taught by faculty from the University of Utah's Honors College and Westminster College's Honors Program and by Brooke Ipson, an honors teacher at East High. Clemente college faculty are assisted by teaching fellows, first-generation honors undergraduates interested in education and passionate about learning. Clemente is coordinated at East by Cate Praggastis, Coordinator of the AVID program, and supported by Principal Paul Sagers. University Neighborhood Partners assists the effort by supporting the development of parent involvement.   

Stay tuned for more stories about this program and these phenomenal students!  

 

Muslim Journeys: An Important Aspect of American History
Image Credit: "Rejoice" quilt by textile artist Christina L. Adams, shown at Roots of Racism: Ignorance and Fear, Art in Embassies Quilt Exhibition Islamabad, Pakistan, 2003.

Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, a collection of books, films, and other resources that will introduce the American public to the complex history and culture of Muslims in the United States and around the world.

Muslims and the American Stories
The Muslim Journeys Bookshelf offers several themes from which to choose as a focus for discussion and sharing. We have chosen to focus on "American Stories."

Here is an excerpt of an essay by Kambiz GhaneaBassiri is an Associate Professor of Religion and Humanities at Reed College on this theme:

"By virtue of being both American and Muslim, the stories listed here draw attention to the ways people of varying religious, cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds interact with one another to shape and reshape their individual lives and American society.  As such, they open new vistas on the formation of Muslim and American identities in the modern world."

 Click here to read the entire essay.

Our local partners for offering Muslim Journey events are:

- Brigham City Library
- Park City Library
- SLC Public Library
- SLC Library Services, Veridian site
- Utah Education Network (UEN)
- Utah Cultural Celebration Center
- Utah Film Center

Stay tuned for more information on local events coming up!

For more information on the entire collection visit the Muslim Journeys portion of the NEH website.

Smithsonian Exhibit "Journey Stories" is Coming!
  
Journey Stories is a traveling exhibition created by the Smithsonian Institution and brought to five communities around Utah from May 2014 to March 2015 by the Utah Humanities Council.

Journey stories are tales of how we and our ancestors came to America - and are a central element of our personal heritage. From Native Americans to new American citizens and regardless of our ethnic or racial background, everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?

Join us in 2014 at these terrific locations for the Journey Stories exhibit along with local tie-ins and history. Click here for Smithsonian information on the exhibit and stay tuned for our local details!

- 24 May - 11 July 2014, Museum of Moab, Moab
- 19 July - 5 Sept 2014, Uintah County Western Heritage Museum, Vernal
- 13 Sept - 24 Oct 2014, Utah Cultural Celebration Center, West Valley City
- 1 Nov - 9 Jan 2015, Granary Art Center with Snow College, Ephraim
- 17 Jan - 18 Mar 2015, Brigham City Museum, Brigham City 

 

Make a Gift, Make a Difference!
 
As we approach the end of 2013, we want to extend a sincere thank you to our many donors from around the state. If you are not a part of this vital group, we hope you will consider a gift today.

You may have received or will receive a letter in the mail from the Utah Humanities Council requesting a year-end gift to support our important outreach using humanities to improve communities.

We hope you will take a moment to reflect on how the humanities have positively affected your life. Please send a gift to help them stay alive in Utah. You may also make a gift by simply clicking on the link below to give electronically. Thank you for your interest and participation in our work.

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About Us
 The Utah Humanities Council empowers Utahns to improve their communities
 through active engagement in the humanities.
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202 West 300 North
Salt Lake City, UT 84103