The Humanities are for all of us.
They also provide tools to bridge divides that can arise from differences between cultures, languages, social constructs, and histories within a diverse society.
NJCH is committed to ensuring that our programs and resources serve all the diverse communities of New Jersey. Through the disciplines of history, literature, philosophy, culture, and more, the humanities provide us with invaluable tools to navigate the complexities of our world and foster a more inclusive society.
One of the most profound aspects of the humanities is their ability to transcend the limitations of our individual experiences. By exploring these human-centered endeavors, we can uncover the interconnectedness of societies across time and space, recognizing both the diversity of human experiences and the universal themes that bind us together.
Moreover, the humanities allow us to break free from the constraints of our own perspectives and to see the world through the eyes of others. By engaging with diverse narratives and viewpoints, we cultivate empathy, understanding, and appreciation for the richness of human diversity. In doing so, we become better equipped to address the social inequalities and injustices that continue to shape our world.
In a democratic society, this appreciation is key to creating systems that uphold the values of fairness and justice. We believe that strengthening the humanities will in turn strengthen our country's democracy.
We recognize the power of the humanities to make the stories of our pasts relevant and accessible to all. Through our programs and resources, we strive to engage diverse audiences in critical reflections on the shared human experience. Whether through interactive exhibits, community discussions, or educational initiatives, we seek to spark meaningful conversations about the past, present, and future of our society.
We aim to achieve these aims through representation within the programs we present and the audiences we serve. A common focus of many of our initiatives is to empower historically marginalized communities within New Jersey by providing the humanities tools and public forum needed to share their stories with broad audiences. We also advocate within and outside of the humanities community for space to be made for these voices.
Our commitment to representation has included specific efforts to amplify the voices and share the stories of the Indigenous peoples of present-day New Jersey, as well as communities historically marginalized based on race, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, language, immigrant backgrounds, national heritage, and economic disadvantage. We strive to ensure accessibility and inclusivity in all our programs and services, engaging in dialogue with communities to ensure accurate representation of their experiences and perspectives.
Our commitment to serving all the diverse communities of New Jersey is rooted in the belief that the humanities have the transformative potential to inspire positive change and foster a more equitable and inclusive society. By embracing the richness of human experiences and perspectives, we can collectively imagine and create a better world for generations to come.
Related Programs
Founded in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Council in 2022, the Stanley N. Katz Prize for Excellence in Public Humanities is awarded annually. The award recognizes an organization which has demonstrated significant engagement with and impact through community-focused public humanities work in New Jersey.
Events in this program will include professional development and skill-building for individuals working on humanities programs, capacity building for organizations, and opportunities for all of us to come together for learning and networking. Efforts include virtual and in-person gatherings, as well as Communities of Practice for community college humanists and storytelling and oral history practitioners.
Humanities Lab provides a space for organizations to experiment with new program ideas, learn about new program models, and push their own practices in exciting directions.
Community History participants work closely with their communities to learn about and share their untold stories. Participants receive instruction on public history practices, develop projects in a collaborative environment, and receive funding from NJCH to launch projects in their communities.
NJCH and Journalism + Design at the New School are partnering with a set of community colleges around the state in 2023-24 to create and deliver free noncredit community journalism certificate offerings, to equip people with tools to better understand and articulate what's happening in their communities.
As the official state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, NJCH has supported hundreds of organizations with millions of dollars in grant funding. NJCH regularly offers grant funding in two separate streams: Incubation Grants and Action Grants. Both offer awards between $3,000-$15,000. Incubation Grants support the planning and development of public humanities projects, while Action Grants support the implementation or continuation of public humanities projects.
In March 2023, NJCH hosted a free daylong program to foster intellectual exchange and debate about the most pressing topics for humanities faculty on community college campuses and provide needed spaces for these faculty to connect and collaborate as peers.
Funding, creating, and amplifying humanities-grounded programming that raises media literacy and expands support for local journalism—particularly in communities and places that are seldom covered by traditional media outlets.
NJCH sponsorships support public humanities events, programs, and opportunities that help institutions serving the people of New Jersey explore the public humanities in our lives. Sponsorships are designed to fund activities that advance NJCH’s mission and strategic goals, with the aim of providing greater visibility and access to audiences that are not currently served by NJCH's grantmaking or other programs. NJCH will provide funding up to $3,000 for an organization's event, in return for marketing visibility and exposure.
