Making the case for the humanities on Capitol Hill

a collage of PA Humanities staff, board members, and Pennsylvania lawmakers meeting during Humanities on the Hill

Humanities on the Hill is an annual opportunity for humanities councils from across the nation to travel to Washington, D.C., meet with lawmakers and ask for their support for funding the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). This month our team of board and staff spoke with a record 16 out of 17 House congressional offices and both Senators, sharing about our latest PA CultureCheck research, the significant humanities funding in their districts and why they should support funding the NEH.

Year in review: 23 humanities highlights of ’23

This was a big year for PA Humanities, as we kicked off our 50th anniversary celebration that will continue into 2024. It was also a year of great accomplishments for organizations across Pennsylvania as they continue to demonstrate the power of the humanities to uncover and uplift hidden voices, bring communities together to create positive change and share stories of our history and the bonds that unite us all. Join us in celebrating some of our favorite moments, projects and more from 2023!

Join the movement: Spotlight on Jessica Herzing

As we celebrate our 50 years of championing the humanities throughout the state, we’re spotlighting some of the people who’ve joined us along the way and contributed to our work with their donations, time, energy, skills and creativity.

Young people ‘adulting,’ leading a change in narrative about Chester

In a community where outside narratives often focus on the negative, Tara Jones is helping young people use their voice to illuminate the positive. Jones created the Chester Cultural Arts & Technology Center in Chester, Pa., to be a resource for residents of the city, and it’s now also a place where young adults and teens can explore the topics that matter to them and make themselves heard well beyond the borders of Chester through their own podcasts.

Celebrating the legacy of Paul Robeson

Display panels at The Paul Robeson House & Museum in West Philadelphia describe different facets of Robeson's life. Photo by Hannah Price.

Paul Robeson was once one of the most famous people in the world, and he used his considerable platform to speak out against racism, Jim Crow laws and injustice in the U.S. and abroad. He also suffered the consequences.

Cliveden illuminates stories lost in the shadows of one of Philadelphia’s most powerful men

Benjamin Chew was one of the most powerful and wealthy men in Philadelphia in the 1700s, but his legacy includes being head of one of the largest slave-holding families in Pennsylvania. As research into family documents reveals more and more of that difficult history, leadership at Cliveden hasn’t shied from sharing it and exploring what life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness meant during the Revolutionary War era.

Stay Up To Date

Sign up for the PA Humanities newsletter now.