- Featured, News, Youth-Led Humanities
At Saturday Light Brigade Radio, young people lead live broadcasts, choose the topics they care about, and engage in thoughtful conversations about history, community, their schools and their own lives.
We champion the humanities to spark civic engagement, build community, educate, inspire, and make long-lasting change.
Here's all we accomplished together in 2025, the most challenging year in PA Humanities’ history.
We contribute our learnings to the larger conversation about the role of the humanities in creating lasting change through major projects, including PA CultureCheck, PA Humanities Discovery Project, and more. We put participatory research at the forefront of all our work and partner with scholars, consultants, and a cross-sector of leaders including Drexel University, University of Pennsylvania’s PennPraxis, Elizabeth Myrick + Associates, and Allegheny Intermediate Unit.
An independent nonprofit that puts people first, PA Humanities relies on financial support from people like you. As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, your support will help more Pennsylvanians experience the humanities and put them in action through civic engagement, education, building community, and however they are inspired to make change.
Consider making a gift today to help us reach our $25,000 end-of-year goal! This would put us in great shape to meet our fundraising needs for our planned work in 2026.
We are developing a strong, growing slate of activities for next year without relying on a dime of federal funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Our programs reach every corner of the Commonwealth and support youth, communities, creativity, and the upcoming 250th celebration of the Declaration of Independence.
Let’s keep doing the work together - have a happy and healthy New Year!
Donate now: pahumanities.org/donate
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“When they hear these stories and become friends... it’s the most transformative thing about TRL.”
🎥 Watch as Tammy Blount, Assistant Director of Literacy Services at @erielibrary shares how Teen Reading Lounge became a supportive space where young people engage in meaningful conversations, build friendships, and take the lead in designing projects and activities.
🔗 Link in our bio for the full video! 🔗
This video is part of #LetsRise, our collection of videos celebrating the humanities in Pennsylvania, created by Emmy-winning journalist @kellydessoye.
This series is made possible with the generous support of Thomas B. Hagen.
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“...[young people] matter and you’re important and we care about what you have to say.”
🎥 #RainPoetryPhiladelphia kicked off a statewide initiative that not only taught youth the art of haiku poetry but also showed them, through public installations and celebrations of their work, that their voices deserve to be heard.
Watch as @trapetam, former Poet Laureate of Philadelphia, and @EnochthePoet, a trauma-informed arts educator, explain how #RainPoetry became a powerful tool for youth development and connecting through our shared humanity.
🔗🔗🔗 Link to full video in our bio! 🔗🔗🔗
This video is part of #LetsRise, our collection of videos celebrating the humanities in Pennsylvania, created by Emmy-winning journalist Kelly Dessoye.
This series is made possible with the generous support of Thomas B. Hagen.
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2025 brought major challenges, but your support kept us moving forward. Through community, poetry, storytelling, youth development, advocacy, people-powered research, and so much more, the humanities thrived across Pennsylvania.
✨ Thank you for standing with us and helping uplift creativity, connection, and our shared humanity.
Go to PAHumanities.org for a look back at all we accomplished together this year...
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