Blues and Community in Small-Town Georgia (By the People Podcast Episode)

Hartwell, Georgia, has a story to tell, and on a hot day this spring, the community came together for an entire day dedicated to the stories, sounds, and traditions of this small town of 4,500 people.

Before Wyoming: The West in 1776 (By the People Podcast Episode)

What was going in the West while the thirteen colonies fought for independence?

Mariachi and Son Jarocho in Washington (By the People Podcast Episode)

Guests in this episode share the history and traditions of son jarocho and mariachi, discuss how their own identities and lives have been shaped through these practices, and reflect on how they are using this music to build community and connection in Washington state.

Letter from the President: Humanities Councils Have Solutions to the Literacy Crisis

Humanities councils already know how to get preschoolers, kids, teenagers, and adults from every background excited about reading and interpreting literature.

Letter from the President (July 2026)

Dear friends, Writing from the nation’s capital on the eve of July 4 and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I celebrate the fact that … Read more

Federation of State Humanities and Oregon Humanities File Motion for Summary Judgment in Case Challenging Mass Terminations of Humanities Council Grants by NEH and DOGE

The lawsuit against the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Department of Government Efficiency seeks to void unlawful mass terminations of humanities councils’ grants and enjoin NEH from again violating the Constitution and NEH Statutes.

Humanities = Training Community Journalists in DC

HumanitiesDC’s Community Journalism Program addresses this pressing need by training Washington, D.C., residents in the discipline of journalism so they can tell the stories that matter most to them and their neighbors.

Humanities = Supporting HBCU Scholarship

Virginia Humanities’ HBCU Scholars Fellowship supports faculty and alumni of HBCUs by giving these humanities scholars time to focus on research projects. In this episode, we speak with current HBCU Scholars Fellow Dr. Monika Rhue and Virginia Humanities’ Yosef Medina, who runs the program.

51 Humanities Councils Join National Initiative to Explore the 250th through Community-Driven Cultural Programs

By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by 51 humanities councils across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia in collaboration with local partners. Together, these programs explore 250 years of the nation’s cultural life and imagine its shared future. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

Federation Statement on Passage of Level Funding for NEH and Humanities Councils

On January 15, the Senate passed the 2026 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which includes level funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the humanities councils—$207 million for the NEH, with $65 million of that budget allocated to the 56 state and territorial humanities councils. The bill will now go to the President for his signature.