July 29, 2021
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Cherie Hill, Communications Manager, chill@calhum.org
(Oakland, CA)—The state of California announced an allocation of $2 million for California Humanities in the 2021-2022 state budget signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on July 9, thanks to the leadership of California State Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), who made a historic budget appropriation request for the organization.
California Humanities produces, funds, creates, and delivers humanities-based projects and programs, cultural experiences, and meaningful conversations that help tell the stories of the people of California. In 2020, for example, they partnered with eight community colleges across the state to provide fellowships and learning opportunities for emerging student journalists. In addition, their Library Innovation Lab, a program offering support to California libraries to create programming for immigrant communities, received a national Schwartz Prize for outstanding work in the public humanities.
“I am heartened California Humanities is receiving much needed funding in this year’s budget,” said Senator Allen. “At this critical moment of global reset and reflection, bolstering civic participation and uplifting diverse voices throughout our state is essential. Partnering with our community colleges and libraries, journalism fellows, local immigrant organizations, and other non-profit humanities-focused organizations, the work of California Humanities will inspire, unite, help us heal, and better understand our history and our democracy.”
“We are honored to receive this critical support through the California State Library to expand and deepen our programs and grantmaking efforts that help us better understand our unique histories and cultures and strengthen our connections,” remarked Julie Fry, President & CEO of California Humanities. “Thanks to Senator Allen and his staff, this funding allocation will help us to foster greater understanding and inclusion throughout the state through the public humanities.”
An independent nonprofit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, California Humanities relies primarily on federal funding, private foundations, and individual giving to support its numerous grants and programs throughout the state. The approval of this state funding, the second time the State of California has provided funds to the organization, will enable humanities programs to reach more people, particularly those in underserved communities across California.
About California Humanities:
California Humanities, a nonprofit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, promotes the humanities—focused on ideas, discourse and learning—as relevant, meaningful ways to understand the human condition and connect people to each other in order to help strengthen California. California Humanities has provided grants and programs across the state since 1975. To learn more, visit calhum.org, or like and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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