Democracy: Understanding and Engagement

FAIN: BC-50557-10

California Humanities (Oakland, CA 94607-3945)
Ralph Lewin (Project Director: May 2010 to March 2014)
Christina Sutherland (Project Director: March 2014 to March 2015)
Julie Fry (Project Director: March 2015 to September 2014)

Funding will support grants for media documentary projects and related programming to extend the reach of the media products, a range of programming related to a two-year initiative on building democracy, civic engagement programs in libraries, and reading and discussion programs in veterans hospitals.

To foster a healthy democracy, we see a growing need for reliable content, critical inquiry and respectful spaces for reflection and dialogue. For these reasons, CCH requests $409,810 to support three areas: 1) Promoting Understanding: media production and dissemination to engage audiences to explore issues and deepen understanding of history, contemporary life and culture; 2) Inspiring Engagement: a statewide thematic initiative to promote civic engagement and community dialogue; and 3) Building Skills: developing skills of librarians and health care providers through expanding humanities-based reflection and discussion programs. Activities include: 1) re-grants for research & development, production and dissemination of humanities media projects; 2) re-grants, public events and partnerships to develop content and activities that engage students and the general public with the theme of democracy; and 3) training, resources and stipends to promote humanities-informed dialogue.