California Humanities staff and board recently went to Washington, D.C. for Humanities on the Hill, an annual three-day concentrated advocacy effort led by the Federation of State Humanities Councils to ask for support of $155 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities, (NEH), including $46 million for the Federal/State Partnership.
California Humanities enjoys talking with our Congressional members about our work across the state. This year took on a special urgency. After the announcement of a budget blueprint that calls for the elimination of the NEH and other cultural agencies, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the Institute of Museum and Libraries it was imperative that our time in D.C. was spent focusing on key messages about the work we do. With two teams and 37 meetings spread over three days, we met with the offices of Democrats and Republicans. Our meetings addressed the consequences of the possible elimination of the NEH head-on with concrete evidence of how California Humanities-supported projects enrich the lives of Californians through programs that take place in local libraries, veterans’ organizations, schools, museums, and through film, radio and television in every corner of the state. By highlighting key projects in Congressional districts, talking about our ongoing grants programs, and stressing how important it is for us to continue to work closely with the district offices to meet the needs of their constituents, we stressed the need for ongoing support for the continued funding of the NEH.
We know we cannot do this alone. We’re asking for you to be our advocates on the ground in your district. Please email or call your representative directly, or visit them in-person to tell them how much the work of California Humanities means to you. Congress will be in recess from April 7 – April 24th at which time many members will be in their district offices, and it would be the perfect time to make an appointment to visit your elected representative. There are many ways you can help us take action:
- Email to Take Action
- Call and have your voice heard through Patch-Through Calling
- Find your elected official & make an appointment
- Visit our website for talking points
- Read and share an op-ed piece written by California Humanities President & CEO, Julie Fry
- Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and share our posts
We at California Humanities will continue to do our part throughout this uncertain time, and we know we can count on your support to help us fight the good fight. Remember, support for the NEH is an investment in the nation’s future as we improve education, create deeper civic engagement and connect to each to other through our shared experiences.