Humanities DC

05/22/2026

What does it mean to call the nation’s capital home?

We are thrilled to announce "hometown DC," a city-wide collaboration featuring oral history and outdoor exhibitions at a DC Public Library in every ward. As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, we are passing the mic to the people who call DC home.

Through immersive outdoor installations—designed as interactive cubes—and free public events in partnership with the Verbal Gymnastics Theater Company, we invite you to explore newly recorded oral history interviews from 21 Washingtonians sharing their stories of arrival, belonging, or pride in the District.

These stories will be presented in conversation with past oral history interviews from the People's Archive at the DC Public Library, historic photographs from the DC History Center, and works by local artists from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities's Art Bank.

"hometown DC", a joint project of HumanitiesDC, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the DC History Center, and DC Public Library, celebrates the vibrant culture and diversity that define Washington, DC.

Join us this summer to celebrate the fabric of our city! Stay tuned to learn more and see the full schedule of upcoming events.

Click here to read the full press release: https://dchistory.org/news-and-insights/new-oral-history-exhibition-hometown-dc-opens-june-2026/

Image of Dahlia Aguilar, narrator in “hometown DC.” Photo by Farrah Skeiky

This project is part of the following initiatives:
DC250
By the People Conversations Beyond 250

By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

hometown DC is a citywide public history project celebrating DC residents through oral histories, outdoor exhibits, and community events across all eight wards.

05/19/2026

Looking for Wednesday plans? We’d love to see you at metrobar DC tomorrow, May 20 from 6-8 PM, for our Humanitini happy hour fundraiser! More than a happy hour, the Humanitini is an evening of great drinks, new connections, and local impact✨

Meet Denzell Spencer, one of our board members bringing this event to life!
Denzell followed his passion for the humanities all the way to DC to pursue an English degree at Howard University. As a teacher of literature and writing, Denzell now shares the importance of humanities with DC’s next generation of humanists.

Despite the ongoing challenges facing humanities-focused organizations across the country, Denzell is hopeful events like this can help bring people together. He shares, "I believe our Humanitini event can galvanize residents of DC and inspire the connection needed to fuel the mission-driven work that helps all of us thrive...I imagine that this event will spark joy, connection, and ultimately collaboration."

Every $25 ticket goes directly toward accessible, city-wide humanities programming. Plus, thanks to a generous match from our board, your contribution goes twice as far!

🎟️ Tickets are $25 (includes food + entry). Click the link to secure your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/humanitini-happy-hour-fundraiser-registration-1985848731012?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/19/2026

There’s still time to grab a ticket for our Humanitini happy hour fundraiser taking place tomorrow, May 20 from 6-8 PM at (640 Rhode Island Ave NE)! More than a happy hour, the Humanitini is an evening of great drinks, new connections, and local impact✨

Meet Nia Crawford, one of our board members bringing this event to life!
A proud DC native, Nia cares deeply for the community that raised her. While trips to the National Mall were part of her childhood, she recognized early on that the District’s stories live with its residents.

When asked about her vision for this event, Nia shares, "I hope [the Humanitini] sparks real conversations about the future of the humanities in DC and how we can better use our platforms to show just how special this city and its communities truly are. DC is so much bigger than the monuments...the soul of this city is because of the people who live here and the stories they carry with them."

Every $25 ticket goes directly toward accessible, city-wide humanities programming. Plus, thanks to a generous match from our board, your contribution goes twice as far!

🎟️ Tickets are $25 (includes food + entry). Click the link to secure your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/humanitini-happy-hour-fundraiser-registration-1985848731012?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/07/2026

Congratulations to our Cycle I Grantees! 🎉 This cycle, we are proud to support 41 projects through three grant categories: Community Culture & Heritage, DC Oral History Collaborative - Oral History Interviewing, and Visions - Projects + Events.

Through these Community Grants, we will support efforts such as: the production of documentaries and digital storytelling by local creators; the preservation of neighborhood traditions and Washingtonians' memories through oral histories; the exploration of identity and civic advocacy through youth-centered projects; the appreciation of artistic expressions including music and dance, and the celebration of the District’s unique cultural heritage through literature and community festivals.

We also want to show our appreciation for the expertise and dedication of our 83 volunteer grant reviewers–a record number for a single cycle. On average, our reviewers donated 20 hours of their time to the peer-review process.

We look forward to checking back in on our grantees and sharing their work and the ways you can get involved or learn more. Stay tuned to learn more!

04/27/2026

🚇Grab your metro card and meet the HumanitiesDC board and staff at on May 20! The Humanitini Happy Hour Fundraiser is an evening of great drinks, new connections, and local impact✨

Every $25 ticket goes directly toward accessible, city-wide humanities programming. Thanks to a generous match from our board, your contribution goes twice as far!

🎟️ Each $25 ticket includes food + entry:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/humanitini-happy-hour-fundraiser-registration-1985848731012?aff=oddtdtcreator
🗓️ May 20 | 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 metrobar, 640 Rhode Island Ave NE

04/23/2026

Read the latest HumanitiesDC Newsletter: https://web-extract.constantcontact.com/v1/social_annotation_v2?permalink_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fconta.cc%2F4e0PAwN&image_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlsvc01-prod.s3.amazonaws.com%2F3634685a001%2Faf5256f9-1766-4d7c-9226-0b23ec6940e3.png

In this issue:

Humanist Highlight
Since 1973, the DC History Conference has served as the region’s largest annual gathering for the local humanities. As the Senior Program Manager at DC History Center, Maren Orchard has been leading conference planning efforts since 2021. For Maren, the conference is a vital bridge between the District’s past and present communities. She shares, "the DC History Conference illustrates that history is for everyone. It's not an exclusive club, and our understanding of the past is made stronger by including multiple perspectives."

52nd Annual DC History Conference
Next Friday, May 1 & Saturday, May 2 at MLK Library! Join for a full program of local history, including a Closing Keynote featuring HumanitiesDC board members M. J. Rymsza-Pawlowska and Sojin Kim in conversation.
Register here: https://lnkd.in/eywGgc7z

DC[FRAMEWORKS]
On May 6, join us and DC/DOX Festival for this special off-season program dedicated to supporting DC-area filmmakers. Have your own film to share? Submit your work-in-progress documentary by April 27!

Cycle II Community Grants Closing Soon
Finalize your application and submit before the deadline: next Friday, May 1 at 4:59 PM.

Learn more about the DC History Conference, community grant opportunities, our upcoming Humanitini Fundraiser, and more in our latest newsletter!

Email from HumanitiesDC Plus, grant applications closing soon, film screenings, and more! April 23, 2026 HUMANITIES/HIGHLIGHT Top left to right: Paul Grant presenting at the 51st conference (photo by

04/15/2026

📣 Breaking News: Writing the Future of Journalism in DC! 📣

Join HumanitiesDC to celebrate our fourth cohort of Community Journalism Program graduates, and for an engaging panel discussion on how journalism in DC is evolving and adapting to meet the moment. Our panelists will explore how journalism in DC is responding to the changes in the media landscape.


📅 Monday, May 18 │ 6:30 PM
📍 True Reformer Building, 1200 U St. NW
🎟️ Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/breaking-news-writing-the-future-of-journalism-in-dc-adapting-to-thrive-tickets-1986222095756?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Featured Panelists:
• Abigail Higgins, Co-founder and Managing Editor, The 51st
• Mike Schaffer, Full-time Host and Executive Editor, City Cast DC
• Harry Jaffe, Co-founder and President, SpotlightDC

Moderated by Kayla Hewitt, News Producer and Editor, WAMU

This event is in partnership with the American Press Institute.

Space is limited. Register today to secure your seat for this one of a kind celebration and discussion of local and community journalism!

04/09/2026

Tonight’s the night! The HumanitiesDC Community Showcase kicks off at 6:00 PM at THEARC (1901 Mississippi Ave SE). We can’t wait to celebrate our 2025 Community Culture & Heritage grantees with you!

Grab some delicious food from Dreaming Out Loud and meet the humanists helping shape our city and before they take the stage at 7:00 PM.�Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/humanitiesdc-community-showcase-tickets-1984150140482?

Swipe for a sneak peek at three of the 13 projects you’ll learn about tonight:

📸 Jeronique Bartley | The Great 8 Fashion & Style Tour: East of The River
Discover the deeper meaning and influence of style in the District. This interactive documentary captures how fashion East of the River serves as a powerful language for leadership and identity, proving that style in DC is about much more than the clothes you wear.

📣 Dunbar HS Law & Public Policy Academy | Voices of Justice: Youth Civic Power
Learn how classroom lessons can turn into real-world advocacy. Through original documentaries and exhibits, these students examined how power and justice shape the experiences of young people in DC.

🕰️ Marquett Milton | U St Time Travel
Experience the history of U Street through an immersive new lens. Marquett is developing time-traveling kits filled with hands-on artifacts that transport learners through neighborhood history spanning from 1860 to 1968.

Image Credits:
Photo 1: Jeronique Bartley
Photo 2: Paul Laurence Dunbar High School Alumni Federation
Photo 3: Marquett Milton