2020-2021 Humanities TN Annual Report

HUMANITIES TENNESSEE P.O. Box 60467 807 Main St, Ste B Nashville, TN 37206 Phone: (615) 770-0006 Email: info@HumTN.org Website: HumTN.org

ABOUT HUMANITIES TENNESSEE

MISSION To foster community and civility in Tennessee through public programs that examine and reflect upon ideas, stories, history, arts, and culture.

HumanitiesTennessee HumanitiesTN Humanities_TN HumanitiesTennessee

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Daryl A. Carter (Chair, 2021), Johnson City Sammie Arnold, (Vice Chair, 2021) Nashville Lynn Alexander (Past Chair, 2020), Martin April Alvarez, Sewanee Peggy Burch, Memphis Mary Pom Claiborne, Knoxville Amy Elias, Knoxville Lauren Fitzgerald, Smyrna Julie Forkner, Oak Ridge Courtney Gregg, Nashville (Board Intern) Mary Kennedy Hendershot, Sweetwater Kathi Leatherwood, Jackson Randy Mackin, Murfreesboro Carol McCoy, Nashville James McKissic, Chattanooga John Talbott, Henderson Jennifer Triplett, Nashville Jen Wheatley, Paris

STAFF Tim Henderson, Executive Director Melissa Davis, Director, Community History Programs Jenny Fernandez, Office Administrator Serenity Gerbman, Director, Literature & Language Programs Paul McCoy, Deputy Director of Grants & Public Programs Sandy Obodzinski, Development & Communications Director Patrick Shaffner, Program Officer Alexis Stevens, Director of Operations Maria Browning, Editor, Chapter 16

01 | Annual Report 2020-2021

OUR COMMITMENT At the heart of the humanities are stories. Stories carry our culture; they educate, transform, and change us.

They can spark new ideas and fresh thinking, but we must willingly listen to one another and engage in difficult conversations about our past, the complexities we face today, and the future we can create together.

We know we will not be perfect, but we will be present.

Humanities Tennessee stands with all fellow humans engaged in the enduring struggle for justice and we commit to doing what we can to achieve an equitable Tennessee.

Humanities Tennessee commits to creating safe spaces where all people of Tennessee can share their stories and explore ideas free of intolerance.

Humanities Tennessee will provide resources, share readings, and collaborate with humanists (scholars and writers) to curate texts for reflection and learning so that the work for a more just and inclusive society can continue.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR, DARYL CARTER

I am pleased to share this annual report with you on how Humanities Tennessee has impacted the State of Tennessee over the past year. Since March 2020, Humanities Tennessee, like the rest of the nation, has been grappling with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It sure has been tough. Our staff has diligently worked to support our programming, grants, outreach, fundraising, and the Southern Festival of Books. In the process we have seized the unique opportunity presented by the pandemic to strengthen our team, improve our services, amplify our message, and reach deeply into all three grand divisions of the state.

Certain aspects of the past year have been especially difficult. The nation is badly divided over issues such as race, ethnicity, politics, the presidential election, and the pandemic. It is no secret why humanities-based programming and education is becoming so highly sought after.

The humanities help us understand the human condition. Humanities touches us in ways business and science never could. Tennesseans, from Memphis to Mountain City, are hungry for knowledge and understanding, for human connection. HT is in the business of making those connections happen.

HT is currently working with a strategic planning specialist on our next strategic plan. We have expertly used CARES Act grant funding to support humanities programs across Tennessee.

HT also received money from the American Rescue Plan, which Congress passed early this year.

We are using this new round of funding to provide better service and support to our constituencies across the state. Finally, HT continues to make a name for itself leading what is known as a top tier celebration of the written word: The Southern Festival of Books.

Humanities Tennessee is deeply grateful for your support. As we move forward we will continue our push to provide resources and support to our partners across the state. This includes the rural and hard to reach areas which so desperately need partnership and collaboration. Thank you for supporting the Humanities in Tennessee. Thank you for supporting our efforts to boost understanding, respect, and civility.

Dr. Daryl A. Carter, Board Chair Associate Dean, Director, and Professor of History East Tennessee State University

02 | Annual Report 2020-2021

03 | Annual Reportt 2020-2021 LITERARY PROGRAMS

The

Southern

Festival

of

Books

A Celebration of the Written Word

SoFestofBooks SoFestofBooks SoFestofBooks

The 32nd annual Festival took place online October 1-11, 2020. More than 11,000 book enthusiasts throughout Tennessee, the U.S., and around the world connected online to celebrate the written word. Over 11 days, the Festival featured 76 sessions with 123 authors. And, audiences have been able to enjoy most sessions throughout the past year via the recordings on our YouTube channel.

Notable appearances included: Ann Patchett in conversation with Yaa Gyasi, author of the acclaimed novel Transcendent Kingdom; bestselling author Erik Larson (The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz); former National Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey with her memoir Memorial Drive and current National Poet Laureate Joy Harjo; and, renowned youth authors Sharon Cameron, Lamar Giles, Kim Johnson, Tony diTerlizzi, and David Wiesner.

Chapter

Artwork by Kevin Bongang

16

A community of Tennessee writers, readers, and passersby In 2021, The New Yorker featured an article by Casey Cep on the value of our online literary publication.

"The Tennessee Solution to Disappearing Book Reviews" illuminated the importance and necessity of book coverage, highlighted the rich community of writers across Tennessee, and expanded the audience of one of Humanities Tennessee's core programs and most significant annual investments.

That is why, every week, as many as half a million people read something from Chapter 16, and it is why, although the outlet calls itself “a community of Tennessee writers, readers, and passersby,” it offers what might be a model of sustainable arts coverage for the rest of the country. ~ Casey Cep Humanities Tennessee founded Chapter16.org in 2009 as a response to the loss of book coverage in Tennessee newspapers and to provide easily accessible information about authors and events.

04 | Annual Report 2020-2021 LITERARY PROGRAMS

The Tennessee

Writers'

Young

Workshops

Like last summer, the Young Writers' Workshop was housed not on a college campus but online. Roughly 45 teenaged students participated for the weeklong workshop, writing alongside peers and pros. The week culminated in a student reading.

This year's faculty included Ciona Rouse, Sarah Pinsker, Taria Person, Jesse Graves and Hannah V. Warren. The counselors included Lagnajita Muhopadhyay, Jacob Milstein, Carley Haggerty, Jesse Montagna, and Melissa McKnight.

"Thank you for all your support which has allowed me to discover the joys of writing. This workshop has given me a new outlook on my writing, and it has given me confidence that I can be a great writer."

—YWW 2021 Participant

Student

Reader

Artwork by Quantavious Worship

Day

In conjunction with the Southern Festival of Books, we distributed 120 copies of Erik Larson's The Splendid and the Vile to students at Northwest High School in Clarksville.

In addition to welcoming Kim Johnson for a virtual school visit in the Spring, we also distributed 631 copies of her novel This is My America to students at: Stratford STEM Magnet School Library (Nashville); John Early Museum Magnet Middle School (Nashville); East Nashville Magnet Middle School (Nashville); Wartburg Central Middle School (Wartburg); and, Two Rivers Middle School (Nashville).

Tennessee

Libraries

~

Author

Sessions

In 2021, we partnered with Tennessee State Library and Archives and libraries around the state to present one author event each month in partnership with a public library. This series launched on Thursday, January 28 with author Rob Simbeck in partnership with Linebaugh Public Library in Murfreesboro.

Through these events, we hope to provide opportunities for local libraries to host author events in the many communities that do not have the opportunity to do so regularly. These partnerships will allow us to work closely with local libraries, and to share information about Humanities Tennessee and our programs with attendees.

In June 2020, Humanities Tennessee awarded assistance to humanities organizations in Tennessee as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) passed by Congress in March. These funds supported essential expenses to save jobs and help organizations will into the Fall of 2020.

CARES GRANTS

Grants totaling $550,000 awarded to 98 cultural organizations provided general operating support during this period of financial hardship caused by the current COVID-19 pandemic. Nonprofit grantees represent all nine Tennessee Congressional districts in urban and rural communities.

“We are greatly relieved to be awarded CARES funds from Humanities Tennessee as this will help us transition to remote collaboration and allow us to move forward. Thank you for all your help and good work.”

—Jamie Ross, James Agee Film Project

“I wished to say thank you to Humanities Tennessee for awarding the Knoxville History Project a $5,000 CARES Act. This award brings much needed, and most sincerely appreciated, funding to our work at this time.”

—Paul James, Knoxville History Project

“Thank you ... Your notification was such a pleasant surprise in these uncertain times, and we can’t wait to put those funds to work re-creating our cultural museum presentations for schools.

—Ellen S. Gilbert, Global Education Center

“Thank you SO VERY MUCH! One of my staff called me in tears to thank me for this for her.”

—Tori Mason, Grassmere Historic Farm

05 | Annual Report 2020-2021

GRANTS PROGRAM

Humanities TN makes funding investments in all three Grand Divisions of the state to support the efforts of cultural, educational and community-based organizations providing public humanities programs. General grants are awarded through an annual competition. Any nonprofit, institution, or government agency may apply.

2020/21 awardees are listed below. Opportunity grants are designed to help nonprofits, with budgets less than $150,000 annually, strengthen their work in communities.

HT’s Board of Directors holds the expectation that the foundational approach, interpretive themes, and audience outcomes for all funded projects are guided by the following values: accountability, agency, complexity, empathy, inclusivity, and specificity.

The Morton Cabin Project Nashville Zoo (featured photos)

Suffrage Showdown: Tennessee’s Pivotal Role in Votes for Women East Tennessee Historical Society

Kate Kirkman’s Legacy: The Women’s Building & the Road to Equal Suffrage Conservancy for Centennial Park/Parthenon

Arts in Conversation Memphis Brooks Museum of Art

Nashville Sites, Phase 3 Metro Historical Commission Foundation

Grant-Supported

Suffrage

Programs

Our grant program, including the CARES Act funding awards, helped support organizations and programs across the state celebrating and engaging communities with the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. The Tennessee State Museum created an "exhibit in a box" to bring "To Make Our Voices Heard! Tennessee Women's Fight for the Vote" to 87 libraries across the state. With this program, educational materials were able to be shared digitally.

Organizations and programs supported include: East TN History Museum, Knoxville; Parthenon & Centennial Park, Nashville; Nashville Public Library; and Metro Nashville Historical Commission, Nashville Sites.

06 | Annual Report 2020-2021

07 | Annual Report 2020-2021

HUMANITIES IN THE COMMUNITY

Humanities TN annually contributes staff time and/or funding to organizations doing public humanities programs throughout the state. These investments ensure that communities can participate in programs related to history, culture, literary and cultural arts. Together, we can accomplish more and reach more members of the community than any one organization may do alone.

March to the 19th

Partner: Chick History, Inc.

Nashville Reads

Partners: The Mayor's Office, Parnassus Books, Nashville Public Library, Nashville Public Library Foundation, BookPage

Tennessee History Day

TN History Highlights Workshops

Partner: TN Historical Society

Partner: East TN Historical Society

Turn the Page Literacy Initiative

Salon@615

Partners: Parnassus Books, Nashville Public Library, Nashville Public Library Foundation, BookPage

Summer Literacy Program

Partner: East Nashville Hope Exchange

Partner: Southern Lit Alliance

West Tennessee Poet Residencies

Partner: Southern Word

08 | Annual Report 2020-2021

AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS

Conference Scholarships

Humanities TN offers scholarships to the annual TN Association of Museums (TAM) conference for small, volunteer-run organizations across the state. Our scholarships cover the conference registration and an annual institutional membership fee, and are available to volunteers without museum-related backgrounds working for nonprofit museums with no paid, professional staff.

The following volunteers received scholarships for the 2021 virtual conference: Ann Davis & Brooke Marshal, McMinn Co. Living Heritage Museum (Athens) Jill Jones-Lazuka & Barbara Langley, Morgan Co. Genealogical & Historical Society (Wartburg) Cheryl Christensen Bennett, Broylesville Archives & Museum (Limestone) Lynda Skelton & Jack Pierce, Surgoinsville Area Archives & Museum (Surgoinsville) Danny Atchley & Stacey Knight, Robertson Co. Historical Society (Springfield) Lisa Huff, Granville Museum (Granville)

TRAVELING EXHIBITS

2020 saw more change than we bargained for, and this was true for the Crossroads: Change in Rural America exhibit, touring Tennessee through the Smithsonian Museum on Main Street program (MoMs.) As the exhibit was wrapping up in Pulaski on March 14th, the specter of COVID-19 loomed large over the entire country. By the time the exhibit reached Selmer on March 21st, Arts in McNairy was forced to cancel their opening events and subsequent public programs and tours. Five months later, the exhibit left the Promise Land Heritage Association in Charlotte, and returned to Washington DC. Both Selmer and Charlotte adapted in creative way to present digital programming during their respective runs, as well as offer limited tours to visitors with safety protocols observed.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

July 2020 - June 2021

Revenue: $1,310,694 In Kind 2.5% Other Government 9%

Individuals, Foundations, Corporations 11.4%

Federal Grants 74.4%

Expenses: $1,220,209 Development 15.1%

Administrative 13.4%

Programs 71.5%

09 | Annual Report 2020-2021

Patrons' Circle

In the midst of an anxious and disruptive year, Humanities Tennessee looked for creative opportunities and partnerships to help deliver meaningful humanitiesbased programming to our communities state-wide. On behalf of the board and staff of HT, I want to offer a very special “thank you” to the individuals and organizations who supported that work in the past year. In nearly fifty years of doing our work for Tennesseans, this year has proven to be one of the most challenging, and you have stepped up with your vital support.

To all of these supporters, we acknowledge how much we rely on your contributions to extend the reach and the depth of these programs and how much we need them now.

Thank you!

Tim Henderson Executive Director

GIFTS OF $1,000 OR MORE

GIFTS OF $500 OR MORE

Lynn M. Alexander Jean and Dennis C. Bottorff Patsy Q. Carson Karen B. Davis Melanie and Randall D.Ford Ann Wilson Green Tim and Lauran Henderson William B. and Robin King Neil Krugman and Lee Pratt Elaine K. Lytle Sandra McLeroy John and Gaye Patton Pen America A. Warren Phillips Jennifer H. and Gustavus A. Puryear Ken Roberts, Jr. Sandra Schatten Foundation Ron Watson and Jeffrey Corvin Joyce and Stephen Wood Eileen and John Zanath

Jeannette Brown Rebecca Busby-Maiello Barbara Chadwick Wayne Christeson Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Ruth D'Eredita Luda Davies Melissa Davis The Steven & Laurie Eskind Family Foundation Cynthia Ezell Beth Fortune Karen Hayes Roberta T. Herrin Marilyn Kallet Patricia Lane Sharon H. Lassiter The Honorable Carol McCoy Paul & Alexis McCoy Mary McGrath Kimberly Quillen Alma Faye Rivers Kathryn A. Stephenson Whitworth Stokes and Nancy Rankin Bruce D. and Elaine H. Sullivan Jennifer Triplett Karen E. and Randy Williams

10 | Annual Report 2020-2021

Corporate Sponsors & Foundations

IN-KIND SUPPORT

Corporations, private and family foundations, as well as public support drive the mission of Humanities Tennessee.

If your company or organization is interested in supporting humanities programs, sponsoring events, or serving in a leadership capacity, we invite you to contact us at info@humtn.org.

10 | Annual Report 2020-2021

2020-2021 SUPPORTERS

THANK YOU to the following individuals and organizations who made our work possible.

GIFTS OF $250-$499

GIFTS OF $100-$249

Stephen M. Abelman and Robin Holab-Abelman Clare C. Armistead Grace and Carl Awh Maria Browning Ann and Frank Bumstead Varina Buntin Shuly Cawood Colin Dayan Amy P. Dietrich Ann B. Egerton Stanley E. and Sara K. Graber Courtney Gregg Elizabeth Gregory Joanna Hall Mary K. Hendershot Andrea O. E. Lindsey Ann Miller Dianne Ferrell Neal Leslie F. and Scott Newman Scott Newstok Jesilee Northington Sandy Obodzinski Margaret Renkl Bobby Rogers Victoria O. Ross Melissa M. and Philip R. Russ Alice M. Sanford Julie Schoerke James A. Scruton Daniel Sharfstein Joan Blum Shayne Alexis Stevens Kate Stone The Honorable Byron Trauger Dan Webber Thomas and Pauline Whitsitt Etta and Amos Wilson

Benjamin F. Adams, Jr. Lamar and Honey Alexander Bruce Barry Betty Bellamy Barri Bernstein Roger D. and Martha P. Bishop Richard Blackett Kathryn Boehm Mary Ann Buehler Amy Bush Mary Cavarra Anthony P. Cavender Linda Cooper Hunter Crabtree Nancy K. Dillon Martha Edington Mariwyn Evans Jenny Fernandez Kimball S. Ford Wilmoth Foreman Joe F. Fowlkes David Friedlander Doug Gamble William Garrett Ruthann Getz Mary Belle Ginanni Jinny St. Goar Connie J. and Richard C. Green Karen Hackett Diane H. Harvey Carol Harwood Susan A. and H. Wayne Hogan Helen R. Houston Imagine New Ronald Kidd Susan W. Knowles Joe and Kathy Kremer Susan Kupisch

Anne Ledford Bobby Lovett Robert Mangeot Katie McDougall Flossie McNabb Terry Minnen Trish and Christopher Mixon Donald Moore Kent Oliver Joseph and Keri Pagetta Ophelia T. and George C. Paine, II Carolyn D. and Courtney N. Pearre Lisa Peerman Ron Pennel Gregory Plemmons Dan E. Pomeroy Meaghan and Jared Porter Diana B. and David L. Revell Howard Ross Laura H. Schmink Owen G. Shell Charles Sherrill Emily Shouse Mary Q. and John H. Stevens Michael Strickland Michael Toomey Holly Tucker Melissa Turrentine Kay Tyler Carroll Van West Margaret Vaughn James O. and Ruth B. White Amy Lyles Wilson Frances H. Wolf Patricia H. Wright Jane and Bill Young Michael and Margaret B. Zibart

GIFTS UP TO $100 James E. Akenson Anonymous Stephen V. and Jean C. Ash Joy H. Austin Gloria Ballard Katrin Bean Linda Behrend John Blanton Karen A. Bowyer Jacquelyn Branham Carol C. Brewer Lois L. Brown Mary M. Buckner Tina Foster Caldwell Mary Vaughan Carpenter Karen Carr Melanie Chadwell Gary Chandler Mary Helen Clarke Randall Clemons Barbara Daane Fay L. Delk Anne W. Der Kathleen Dietz John and Bonnie Dings Stephen Doster Jane DuBose Patricia Dykstra William Edington Ann Ercelawn Lee Fairbend Janet H. Fairchild Alicia Farmer Susannah Felts Paula Fowler Phyllis and Stanley P. Frank Marla and Phillip Graham Maureen Grigsby Johnanna L. Grimes-Williams Bill Guy Hope Hall Kelly Fisk Hamlin Georganne Harmon Marlina Hartley Clark Henderson Kendall Hinote

Jerrilyn Hobdy Pamela A. Hoover Margie Hunter Marilyn Hury Julia Huskey Eve Hutcherson Tanner Jacobs Margaret Faye Jones Angela Joynes Nancy Kavanaugh Sarah P. and Hugh C. Knapp William Kornrich Donna Walters and Ron Kozberg Sara Kruszka Adrienne Law Kim H. and Robert J. Looney Elaine Loughlin Lawson Mabry David and Roberta Madden Heather Mangeot Jane Marcellus Jeff Marshburn Galyn Glick Martin Michaela Mathews June Hall McCash Anne McCraw James E. and Judy McFarland Alice Merritt Adam Meyer Cathy Morgan Letizia Modena Jeff and Gretchen Moore Carolynne R. and Robert Moss Mt. Zion Cemetery Jennie Murray Margaret S. Norris Robert T. and Mary Lou O'Gorman Benton Olivares Tonie Osborne Billie Jean Padgett Sally Palmer Erin Parr-Carranza Preston Parsons Martha K.S. Patrick Bill and Emily Peach Steve Phillips

Rebecca Price Angie and Mitch Pryor Heidi and George Remy Charles Remy Patricia S. Roe Hiasaura Rubenstein Michelle Sanchez Julie K. Sandine Claudia Schauman Claudia and Andy Schenck Jenness and Alex B. Schuhmann Laura Sell Maggie Selvidge Patrick Shaffner Sandra Shelton Helen Sirett Kathryn S. Skinner Nora Smart Natalie Smith Alice Marie Starks Helen Stewart Bonnie Tinsley Barbara S. Turner Corinne Van Buren Linda Wagner Louise W. Watkins Jinx Watson John Weakley Judith Wenzel Alana White Carolyn Wills Women's National Book Association, Nashville Chapter Martha Ann Woodmore Jenna Wright

* Indicates in-kind support

SUPPORT HUMANITIES TENNESSEE

There are many ways to support the work of Humanities Tennessee across the state, from financial gifts to volunteering and more. See below and visit our website at www.HumTN.org for more information.

You may also contact Sandy Obodzinski, Development & Communications Director at sandy@humtn.org.

Attend a Humanities Tennessee event in rural and urban areas throughout the state.

Visit the calendar on our website for details and follow social media channels for event updates in your area.

Give a one-time or recurring gift online or via mail. Financial gifts provide vital support. We also accept gifts of stock, charitable annuities, and commitments made via wills and estate plans.

Visit HumTN.org and Chapter16.org to sign up for our newsletters (we never sell your information). Like, follow, share and comment on our social media channels to stay updated on all programs.

Volunteer your time to help with events, lend your leadership skills to our Board, or complete administrative tasks throughout the year. We also put out a call every year before the Southern Festival of Books.

P.O. Box 60467 807 Main St, Ste B Nashville, TN 37206 Phone: (615) 770-0006 Email: info@HumTN.org Website: HumTN.org

HumanitiesTennessee HumanitiesTN Humanities_TN HumanitiesTennessee