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1400 WEST MARKHAM STREET SUITE 400 Non-Profit Org. LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201 U.S. Postage 501-353-0349 • arkansashumanitiescouncil.org PAID Little Rock, AR ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Permit No. 2622 VOL. 1, ISSUE 4 • FALL 2020 Making Virtual Events Accessible and Inclusive Melanie Thornton Coordinator of Access and Equity Outreach University of Arkansas — Partners for Inclusive Communities Have you moved your humanities programming or events online using video conferencing technology? Providing virtual events is a great way to remove barriers to participation for many people during this pandemic and beyond. Following a few simple principles can extend your reach even further. Select an accessible platform. Some video INSIDE THIS ISSUE conferencing platforms are more accessible than captions and if you plan to provide the link to the others. Check the company’s commitment to archived event, it will be accessible to anyone accessibility by visiting their website. You might who accesses it later. Inspiring Change also consult with an organization that provides information about digital access or notice what Provide materials to attendees in an accessible Through the Art of platform those organizations use. digital format. Any slides or other materials that are shown on the screen during your event will Provide a way for attendees to request Hank Willis Thomas not be accessible to blind attendees or others who accommodations. When you set up registration access content using screen reader or for your event, make sure to provide a way for text-to-speech technologies. Sending those people to request accommodations such as materials in an accessible format before the event captioning, accessible materials or sign language is a great way to ensure everyone has access to interpreters. Make sure to also budget for them. accommodations so that you will be able to provide these services when requested. Making these few changes will go a long way toward making your event more accessible. You Provide captions proactively. If possible, it is can learn more about these and other strategies at: always better to provide captions even if you do https://exploreaccess.org/virtual/. not have a request for captions as an accommodation. Many people benefit from Allow Me to Say, Goodbye but Hello FROM THE DIRECTOR to Future Humanities Events Jama Best, Executive Director Dr. Felicia Petty Smith, Board Chair The Arkansas IN THIS ISSUE The moment of writing my last I inherited skills of strategic planning and Humanities Artist Hank Willis Thomas Inspires Change at article has arrived. Like history, lobbying US Congressmen in Washington, D.C. Council continues Crystal Bridges......................................................... 2 there will always be memories through the AHC Board. Skill sets were gained to offer numerous of my experiences and my from national conferences too. It was an grant opportunities Arkansas Imagination Library: in the face of the Inspiring Young Minds Through Books .................... 6 colleagues’ interactions over experience on a different level to interview the past seven years that have qualified Director applicants. It was exciting to coronavirus Ordinary Happiness in Extraordinary Times ............. 8 extended my knowledge and approve grants that placed funding to make pandemic. Funds growth in the humanities. programs happen in small communities. The are available to Staff Highlight.........................................................13 Museum directors and Smithsonian Institute‘s Museum on Main Street cultural nonprofits, Hugh Manatee’s Corner ........................................ 14 librarians shared their passion to collect and share provided the “Hometown Teams: How Sports history. Professors debated their facts and Shape America” exhibit to Arkansas communities humanities-based Intrapreneurship: A Covid-19 Response opinions within their expertise. We are a where their own famous citizens were nonprofits, to Economics......................................................... 15 hardworking board with humanities, education, recognized. colleges and universities, museums, libraries, archives, historic sites, historical societies, and In Memory of Ramona J. Roe ................................ 19 and nonprofit experiences. Furthermore, we The CARES grant committee is a recent addition schools. depended on a fantastic Arkansas Humanities that funded some facilities under the humanities CARES Act Grants.................................................. 20 Council (AHC) staff to provide their assistance and was an honor for us. With this said, I urge We offer grants for public programs (virtual or and knowledge. I applaud Jama, Tamisha, and you to review the grants on the AHC website and in-person), research, publications, film CARES ACT Grants ................................................ 21 Katie for their hard, dedicated work! production, and other media–virtual or apply. Visit the site also for events happening in Mini Grant Awards ................................................ 24 It saddens me to leave the board after this year. your area. Grow your programs for children and in-person exhibits, humanities-based web Future experts will continue to come. I have my adults to participate in your hometowns. In content, historical markers. The grant type will R.E.A.C.H. Grant Awards ...................................... 25 memories. One of the most memorable events for addition, utilize the wealth of information within depend on the amount of funds needed for me was when I was presented the 2017 Passing your libraries and museums. As an educator, I your project. We offer minigrants of up to Access to the Humanities: $3,000 (deadline January 15 and June 15) or a Making Virtual Events Accessible the Torch Legacy of Service Award (by the request for you to apply for the AHC REACH and Inclusive ........................................ BACK COVER Arkansas Martin Luther King, Inc. Commission at grants to expand your teaching experiences major grant of up to $15,000 (deadline a Fort Smith event). It totally caught me off guard! through workshops and to provide enriching September 15). Other memorable experiences include learning materials for your students. If you are a teacher or school librarian there about the Marshallese culture in Springdale from So, I will say goodbye but not farewell. I will are a number of grant opportunities just for representatives of the community. Viewing films continue to participate in the humanities. It has you. They include the REACH Grant, Helen T. by our own Arkansas, Larry Foley (film producer), been a pleasure serving the people of Arkansas Leigh Museum Field Trip Grant, and Arkansas that were funded by AHC grants was another and more so for Arkansans to enrich my State Park Field Trip Grant. These grants offer an experience to cherish. experiences in the humanities! array of possibilities for humanities activities, programs, and professional development. We continue to work remotely, but we are AHC BOARD MEMBERS available to answer any questions, review drafts of proposals, discuss ideas, or offer Felicia Smith, Fort Smith (Chair) Kim Coryat, Little Rock Robert Moore, Siloam Springs assistance throughout the grant application ON THE COVER: Part of an exhibit by contemporary Stuart Towns, Forrest City (Vice Chair) Jen Hughes, Cabot Leatrice Russ-Glenns, Little Rock process. We are here for you and can be artist Hank Willis Thomas at Crystal Bridges Museum in reached via email. If you would like to talk by Bentonville, Arkansas. Paul Babbitt, Magnolia (Secretary) Claudine James, Malvern Edma Solorzano, Little Rock phone, send us an email with your phone Laura McClellan, Little Rock (Treasurer) Joseph Key, Jonesboro Tamela Tenpenny-Lewis, Little Rock number and we’ll be glad to give you a call. Amelia Bowman, Batesville Tippi McCullough, Little Rock Sydney Westbrook, Texarkana CONNECT is a publication of the Arkansas Marynell Branch, Hot Springs Kaylin Mason, Springdale James Willis, Little Rock The Arkansas Humanities Council is here to Humanities Council. Kevin Butler, Little Rock James Metzger, Little Rock Mel Zabecki, Fayetteville serve Arkansans and will continue to do so in Scott Cashion, Little Rock Rachel Miller, Pine Bluff the months to come. Editor: Jama Best Assistant Editor: Ann Clements 1 Design: Lesley Cooper, Cooper Design, LLC Allow Me to Say, Goodbye but Hello FROM THE DIRECTOR to Future Humanities Events Jama Best, Executive Director Dr. Felicia Petty Smith, Board Chair The Arkansas IN THIS ISSUE The moment of writing my last I inherited skills of strategic planning and Humanities Artist Hank Willis Thomas Inspires Change at article has arrived. Like history, lobbying US Congressmen in Washington, D.C. Council continues Crystal Bridges......................................................... 2 there will always be memories through the AHC Board. Skill sets were gained to offer numerous of my experiences and my from national conferences too. It was an grant opportunities Arkansas Imagination Library: in the face of the Inspiring Young Minds Through Books .................... 6 colleagues’ interactions over experience on a different level to interview the past seven years that have qualified Director applicants. It was exciting to coronavirus Ordinary Happiness in Extraordinary Times ............. 8 extended my knowledge and approve grants that placed funding to make pandemic. Funds growth in the humanities. programs happen in small communities. The are available