Cal Humanities

"The understanding of a culture comes from hearing the language, tasting the food, seeing personal interactions, experiencing the traditions, and so much more in context."

— Elizabeth Laval & Candice Pendergrass, Sikh Youth Public History Project

"The understanding of a culture comes from hearing the language, tasting the food, seeing personal interactions, experiencing the traditions, and so much more when it is in context."

— Elizabeth Laval & Candice Pendergrass, Sikh Youth Public History Project

The 70.8%: What Explains California’s Voter Turnout?  

Multiple hands in various colors hold papers. Behind them is an outline of the state of California.

In 2020, California had its highest voter turnout since 1952; but why? What factors into high and low voter turnout? How have watershed moments in California history affected turnout? We’ll explore what voting’s past means for California’s future.

California Youth & The Ballot  

Multiple hands in various colors hold papers. Behind them is an outline of the state of California.

What are young people doing now to address the issues they care about? What future do they want to build when they come of voting age?

Tools of the Trade: Increasing Your Visibility

Tools of the Trade info card for YouTube.

Explore ways to raise the visibility and impact of public humanities programs, through a conversation California Humanities grantees. Hear stories from project directors who have recently garnered new relationships with the media and elected officials.

Show & Tell: What Can We Learn from Artifacts of California Elections?     

Multiple hands in various colors hold papers. Behind them is an outline of the state of California.

Take a trip back through California’s voting history in this show-and-tell led by historian Susan D. Anderson and archivists from across the state. Hear seldom-told stories of struggles for voting rights and representation, from Suffrage to Civil Rights and more. Recorded February 2021.

Speakers: Angela Brinskele, Frances Kaplan, Sean Dickerson, Tamara Martin, Xaviera Flores

The Electoral College: What Were the Founders Thinking? 

Multiple hands in various colors hold papers. Behind them is an outline of the state of California.

The Electoral College is an original American model, never duplicated outside of the country. Created after lively debate in the last days of the five-month long Constitutional Convention of 1787, it set forth that presidents would be selected — not by popular vote — but by electors in each state. What is its legacy today, in a more populous and mature America? Recorded January 2021.

Speakers: Sonja Diaz, Karthick Ramakrishnan, Mindy Romero, Dan Schnur