(San Francisco, CA) California Humanities announces the launch of an initiative focused on the experience of veterans returning from war. War Comes Home will create opportunities for communities across California to grapple with tough questions: What responsibilities do we have to those whom our country has sent into harm’s way? How can we build bridges of understanding between those who have served and those who have not? War Comes Home will include hundreds of events throughout California. These events will bring communities together with veterans and their families, writers, and historians to explore how veterans are coming home to California. Here are the main components of the initiative:
Public Conversations: (June & August) California Humanities will host five public forums focusing on the theme of returning veterans, from the special challenges faced by women to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and its impact back home. Conversations will take place in San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Riverside. (A partnership with the University of California Humanities Research Institute and the California State Library)
California Reads: (September-November) Californians will read What It Is Like To Go to War, by Vietnam Marine First Lieutenant and Rhodes Scholar, Karl Marlantes, who will do a statewide speaking tour in Fall of 2014. Through California Humanities grants, 43 different library systems and hundreds of branches will present more than 800 public programs about veterans’ issues throughout California. (A partnership with the California Center for the Book)
Community Stories: (ongoing) California Humanities has been supporting community-based projects across California related to veterans, ranging from oral histories of black veterans to an online exhibit of veterans’ tattoos. These community programs will take place in ten communities.
In Schools: California Humanities is sponsoring standards/Common Core-aligned teacher professional development activities on how to incorporate veterans’ stories into the teaching of U.S. history and government. (A partnership with the California History-Social Science Project)
Literature and Medicine: (ongoing) California Humanities supports discussions of literature for healthcare professionals to deepen their understanding of and empathy for their patients. We are partnering with major VA medical centers in Palo Alto, Sacramento, and San Francisco.
The Legacy: (Fall) War Comes Home: The Legacy is a banner exhibit that will bring to light veterans’ and their families’ perspectives through their letters and personal writing. The exhibit will be available for libraries, colleges, small museums, cultural centers, and more. (A partnership with Exhibit Envoy)
More information, please click HERE.
