Mass Humanities

Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 12:30 pm at Wistariahurst to celebrate the launch of Clementinos: Voices from the Clemente Writing Project.

Location: Wistariahurst , 238 Cabot Street, Holyoke, MA 01040

Save the date! Join us next Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 12:30 pm at Wistariahurst to celebrate the launch of Clementinos: Voices from the Clemente Writing Project.

Location: Wistariahurst , 238 Cabot Street, Holyoke, MA 01040

We're thrilled to share that Clementinos: Voices from the Clemente Writing Project is out now! Clementinos is a new book featuring writing by Massachusetts residents who share their understanding of the Commonwealth through lived experiences in Brockton, Dorchester, Holyoke, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester. Twenty three students and three faculty members are featured in the volume.

You can read William's essay, as well as additional excerpts from the book, on our website: https://buff.ly/4bZpzcD

Stay tuned for additional information about three book launch events taking place through the fall, too.



CC: The Clemente Course in the Humanities National Endowment for the Humanities Mass Cultural Council

We recently sat down with poet, editor, essayist, and translator Martín Espada to discuss the role that the humanities plays in his work. “Poetry should go where it’s least expected," says Espada. "Poetry should go where it allegedly does not belong.”

Read the full interview with Espada, a 2024 Governor's Award in the Humanities honoree, on our website: https://buff.ly/3WteMBB



CC: Martín Espada Northeastern University School of Law UMass Amherst College of Humanities & Fine Arts at UMass Amherst

We're thrilled to share that Clementinos: Voices from the Clemente Writing Project is out now! Clementinos is a new book featuring writing by Massachusetts residents who share their understanding of the Commonwealth through lived experiences in Brockton, Dorchester, Holyoke, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester. Twenty three students and three faculty members are featured in the volume.

You can read Maria's poem, as well as additional excerpts from the book, on our website: https://buff.ly/4bZpzcD

Stay tuned for additional information about three book launch events taking place through the fall, too.



CC: The Clemente Course in the Humanities National Endowment for the Humanities Mass Cultural Council

Spotlight: Massachusetts 250 Grant Program – Mass Cultural Council Time: 1pm This year, to curate information and build awareness about opportunities and resources that may be of interest to the creative and cultural

You're invited! Join us September 26 at the JFK Library in Boston to honor four incredible champions of the humanities: Martín Espada, Jackie Jenkins-Scott, Bob Rivers, and Cheryll Toney Holley. Tickets are available on our website: https://buff.ly/3YtserY

Proceeds from ticket sales, sponsorships and direct donations benefit the organizations and programs that Mass Humanities supports each year, including Expand Massachusetts Stories, the Clemente Course in the Humanities, Reading Frederick Douglass Together, and the Smithsonian Museum on Main Street traveling exhibit.

We're thrilled to share that Clementinos: Voices from the Clemente Writing Project is out now! Clementinos is a new book featuring writing by Massachusetts residents who share their understanding of the Commonwealth through lived experiences in Brockton, Dorchester, Holyoke, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester. Twenty three students and three faculty members are featured in the volume.

You can read Jessie's poem, as well as additional excerpts from the book, on our website: https://buff.ly/4bZpzcD

Stay tuned for additional information about three book launch events taking place through the fall, too.



CC: The Clemente Course in the Humanities National Endowment for the Humanities Mass Cultural Council

We're thrilled to share that Clementinos: Voices from the Clemente Writing Project is out now! Clementinos is a new book featuring writing by Massachusetts residents who share their understanding of the Commonwealth through lived experiences in Brockton, Dorchester, Holyoke, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester. Twenty three students and three faculty members are featured in the volume.

You can read Larry's essay, as well as additional excerpts from the book, on our website: https://buff.ly/4bZpzcD

Stay tuned for additional information about three book launch events taking place through the fall, too.



CC: The Clemente Course in the Humanities National Endowment for the Humanities Mass Cultural Council

We're thrilled to share that Clementinos: Voices from the Clemente Writing Project is out now! Clementinos is a new book featuring writing by Massachusetts residents who share their understanding of the Commonwealth through lived experiences in Brockton, Dorchester, Holyoke, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester. Twenty three students and three faculty members are featured in the volume.

You can read Theresa's essay, as well as additional excerpts from the book, on our website: https://buff.ly/4bZpzcD

Stay tuned for additional information about five book launch events taking place through the fall, too.



CC: The Clemente Course in the Humanities National Endowment for the Humanities Mass Cultural Council

Join us in Worcester and Springfield this weekend to celebrate the publication of Clementinos: Voices from the Clemente Writing Project! Location details are available below and on our website: https://buff.ly/46fBYYB

Worcester
Address: Salisbury House Ballroom, 61 Harvard Street, Worcester, MA 01609
Date & Time : July 27, 2024 | 12:00 PM

Springfield
Address: Olive Tree Bookstore, 97 Hancock Street, Springfield, MA 01109
Date & Time : July 28, 2024 | 2:00 PM

CC:

We're thrilled to share that Clementinos: Voices from the Clemente Writing Project is out now! Clementinos is a new book featuring writing by Massachusetts residents who share their understanding of the Commonwealth through lived experiences in Brockton, Dorchester, Holyoke, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester. Twenty three students and three faculty members are featured in the volume.

You can read Louise's essay, as well as additional excerpts from the book, on our website: https://buff.ly/4bZpzcD

Stay tuned for additional information about five book launch events taking place through the fall, too.



CC:

Our 2023 Annual Report is now available to read or download via our website: https://buff.ly/3zKTRSP

Let us know what you think, and how you plan on supporting the humanities this year, using .

Design by Liz Moran Design.

The is strong in Massachusetts. We're proud to partner with Mass Cultural Council !

Mass Cultural Council’s FY25 Budget Appropriation is a Record High $26.9M – Mass Cultural Council The state budget now advances to the Governor’s desk for final approval

We're excited to share a new essay by Desiree Taylor, one of our 2023 Reading Frederick Douglass Together Research Fellows. Her research explores Douglass, African American public memory traditions, and celebration and truth-telling as modes of resistance. You can read the introduction to Taylor's essay on our website, and then download the full essay as a PDF: https://masshumanities.org/rfdt-african-american-public-memory-traditions/

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below 👇

Thank you to Monte Belmonte and Kaliis Smith of New England Public Media The Fabulous 413 for hosting Brian Boyles and Aaron Vega last week to learn more about this milestone. You can listen to the full episode here: https://buff.ly/3VXgM4N

More scenes from our "Future of Storytelling" workshop and gathering on June 28. ICYMI: we're moving our headquarters to Holyoke this summer! Be sure to follow us on socials and visit our website masshumanities.org for more updates.

📸 Steph Craig Studios

Scenes from the Frederick Douglass reading hosted by Indian Orchard Citizens Council in Springfield on July 3 🙌 There are 7 readings happening today, July 5, including: Amherst, East Falmouth, Edgartown, Grafton, Greenfield, Marblehead, and Sharon. Visit https://masshumanities.org/2024-reading-frederick-douglass-events-announced/ for details!

Thank you Zaida Govan-Ward 8 Springfield City Councilor, Representative Orlando Ramos, and all who attended the reading!

Photos by Mass Humanities' very own Brenda's Child !

Scenes from our 15th annual Frederick Douglass reading on the Boston Common 🫶 There are 10 readings happening today on July 4, including in Boston (x2), Concord, Medford, Newburyport, North Andover, Norwood, Oak Bluffs, Plainfield, and Springfield. Visit our website for more details: https://buff.ly/3x5ylaC

Hear from Boston residents about their experiences reading on the common: https://buff.ly/4cR3UUV

Scenes from "The Future of Storytelling", our workshop and social gathering in Holyoke on June 28. In case you missed the big announcement, we're excited to share that we are moving our headquarters to Holyoke in August! Special thanks to everyone who attended the event and celebrated 50 years of Mass Humanities.

Thank you Bomba De Aqui and Tony Silva Spanish Guitar for your dynamic performances. Thank you MILL 1 at Open Square for hosting us. Thank you for capturing our day. Thank you Aaron Vega for your support in making this event a reality. Thank you Mayor Joshua A. Garcia, Michael J. Bobbitt, and for your support. And, thank you to all of our stellar grantees--your work is invaluable in bringing attention to deeply powerful stories, histories, and lived experiences of Massachusetts residents.

📸 Steph Craig Studios

Join us Tuesday, July 2, at 12:00 pm on the Boston Common for the 15th annual reading of "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" We're proud to co-host this event with , Community Change Inc, and Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry.

For a full list of readings, visit:
https://masshumanities.org/2024-reading-frederick-douglass-events-announced/

Tune into The Culture Show on GBH 89.7 TODAY at 2:00 pm to hear from Executive Director Brian Boyles and vocalist Paula Elliott about the history and impact of the Boston Common reading of Frederick Douglass' 4th of July address. Then, join us for the 15th annual reading on July 2 at 12pm, at the foot of the monument to the 54th.



GBH

We have a major announcement to share...we're moving to Holyoke! https://masshumanities.org/mass-humanities-shifts-headquarters-to-holyoke/

“We are honored to join the vibrant cultural landscape in Holyoke,” said Brian Boyles, executive director of Mass Humanities. “The humanities connect each of us to traditions and perspectives that strengthen the bonds we share as participants in our democracy. We look forward to learning from this incredible community and to deepening our commitment to this region.”

On Friday, June 28, we held a workshop for grantees in Holyoke, along with a social gathering in the evening that brought together staff, board and former board, local legislators, and community partners.

Thank you Mayor Joshua A. Garcia, State Representative Pat Duffy, Mass Cultural Council Executive Director Michael J. Bobbitt, and everyone else for gathering in community and celebrating this milestone in our history.

Stay tuned for more coverage of the event and our upcoming move!

“I feel like we’re all abolitionists,” says Ruby Hall, co-chair of Friends of Fitchburg Abolitionist Park. “We’re fighting to make it better for other people.”

Read our recap of the first ever Douglass reading at Fitchburg's Abolitionist Park on our website now: https://masshumanities.org/fitchburg-douglass-reading-channels-abolitionist-energy/

Thank you to Sam Squailia, Fitchburg Mayor, Fitchburg City Councilor Sally Cragin, Beth Walsh Councilor At Large Candidate, Digi Chivetta, Nakan dance group, and all of residents of Fitchburg who attended the event!

Governor's Award nominee Martín Espada delivered a powerful reading of select poems from his book Floaters at the Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke today. The event was hosted by The Care Center, which has a long history of collaboration with the poet🤝

➡️ Upcoming Frederick Douglass Readings this Tuesday:

-Tuesday, June 18, 12:45 pm in Salem, hosted by the City of Salem
-Tuesday, June 18, 6:30 pm in Boston's Lombardi Park, hosted by Maverick Landing Community Services

Visit https://buff.ly/3x5ylaC for location details!

2024 Reading Frederick Douglass Events Announced - Mass Humanities We believe Frederick Douglass’ words belong in public spaces. Every year we provide grants to support readings of his influential address, What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?, in town squares, community centers, churches, museums, libraries, parks, and more. Organizations interested in hostin...