Fund for New Communities

FAIN: CH-50962-12

Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities (Northampton, MA 01060-2406)
John Sieracki (Project Director: May 2011 to February 2012)
David A. Tebaldi (Project Director: February 2012 to December 2016)

Endow a Fund for New Communities that will enable the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities to expand its Clemente Course in the Humanities to four sites.

Mass Humanities requests a Challenge Grant of $500,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities toward an endowed Fund for New Communities, as part of a larger comprehensive campaign for $10-million that combines endowment and annual funding. The Fund for New Communities would align with Mass Humanities long-standing strategic goal to reach underserved audiences, those access to the humanities is limited due to social, economic, educational, or geographic circumstances. The Fund would allow Mass Humanities to expand the Clemente Course in the Humanities to four sites. This program provides low-income adult students with a bridge to higher education. Students take five tuition-free introductory college-level courses -- American history, art history, literature, moral philosophy, and writing and critical thinking -- at sites located in their communities, with highly qualified faculty members. Those who complete the one-year program receive six transferable college credits.