PA Humanities’ Youth-Led Humanities (YLH) program continues this fall with 20 public libraries and out-of-school time (OST) organizations. These sites, representing both rural and urban communities across the state, have demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering youth leadership and engagement through the humanities. The returning Teen Advisory Council — made up of youth from participating YLH sites — will take on special projects to make the program even more youth-centered.
“These humanities programs meet a big need for meaningful after-school experiences for teens in our state,” said Julia Katz, Education Programs Manager at PA Humanities. “Last year, we heard from sites that 100% of their students said they would come back again this year.”
Each site – selected in 2024 for a two-year program – will receive $5,000 to support humanities activities that reflect the interests of young people. Youth serving adults at host sites will also participate in professional development opportunities, including individualized coaching, community of practice meetings, and workshops led by library leaders and humanities professionals. The program runs from November 2025 through June 2026.
“Some programs had to add waiting lists this year, due to growing interest,” Katz said. “Teens want opportunities to learn about their world, make sense of their experiences, and create real change. I’m excited to continue supporting such amazing sites and practitioners, and I can’t wait to see the care and creativity our teens will bring to their communities and peers through the humanities this year.”
Listen to Julia Katz on the Humanities= podcast discussing YLH >
Some of the sites will build physical spaces, especially within libraries, where young people can feel like they belong. Others plan to create new weekly teen clubs, focus on neurodivergent participants and enhance Social Emotional Learning skills, or continue their current groups, including the popular Teen Reading Lounge, one of PA Humanities’ core programs.
2024-2026 Youth-Led Humanities Cohort:
- Abington Community Library (Clarks Summit)
- B.F. Jones Memorial Library (Aliquippa)
- Bloomsburg Public Library (Bloomsburg)
- Brandywine Community Library (Topton)
- Cambria County Library Association (Johnstown)
- Cleve J. Fredricksen Library (Camp Hill)
- Erie Center for Arts & Technology (Erie)
- Greensburg Hempfield Area Library (Greensburg)
- Indiana Free Library (Indiana)
- Lower Macungie Library (Macungie)
- Mighty Writers (Philadelphia)
- Montgomery County-Norristown Public Library (Norristown)
- New Castle Public Library (New Castle)
- Priestley Forsyth Memorial Library (Northumberland)
- Raymond M. Blasco, M.D. Memorial Library – Erie County Public Library (Erie)
- Sayre Public Library (Sayre)
- SLB Radio Productions, Inc. (Pittsburgh)
- Theatre Horizon (Norristown)
- Tredyffrin Township Libraries (Strafford)
- Upper Darby Township and Sellers Memorial Free Public Library (Upper Darby)
About the Youth-Led Humanities Program
Building on nearly 15 years of experience with Teen Reading Lounge, the Youth-Led Humanities program supports organizations in creating spaces of belonging that uplift young people through the humanities. The program focuses on cultivating youth leadership, fostering inclusive environments, and promoting equity. By providing high-quality programming that reflects young people’s interests and needs, the initiative leverages the humanities to nurture growth, encourage civic engagement, and inspire positive change among youth across Pennsylvania.
This project is made possible by Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Office of Commonwealth Libraries; by support from the J.D. Charitable Trust, the Caroline Fredericka Holdship Charitable Trust, and the Amelia Miles Foundation; and with additional support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, individual donors, and other funders.
For More Information
For additional details about the Youth-Led Humanities program or to learn more about PA Humanities, please contact Julia Katz, Education Programs Manager, at jkatz@pahumanities.org
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