At the National Humanities Conference on Friday, October 27, the Federation of State Humanities Councils (Federation) presented the 2023 Schwartz Prize for outstanding work in the public humanities to Rhode Island Humanities along with Alaska Humanities Forum and North Carolina Humanities. Rhode Island Humanities won for the 2022 RI Civic Health Index; Alaska Humanities Forum for the Ilakucaraq Program; and North Carolina Humanities for the North Carolina Reads program.
“This year’s winners have worked in and with communities across the nation to build deeper understandings and develop curiosity and empathy,” said Phoebe Stein, President of the Federation State Humanities Councils. “We are pleased to recognize three of our member Councils for strengthening community connections through multi-faceted approaches that have resulted in innovative and sustainable public humanities programming.”
Elizabeth Francis, Executive Director of RI Humanities, noted, “Rhode Island Humanities developed the state’s first Civic Health Index as an essential first step for shared understanding and action to improve civic life through the humanities. We are honored by this national recognition and to be in the company of our Council colleagues from Alaska and North Carolina. Receiving the Schwartz Prize for the RI Civic Health Index underscores – at a time when it matters deeply – that humanities are essential to civic health and how we understand our world from varied perspectives.”