University of South Florida Scholar Commons FORUM : the Magazine of the Florida Humanities Florida Humanities 9-1-2020 Forum : Vol. 44, No. 02 (Fall : 2020) Florida Humanities. Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/forum_magazine Recommended Citation Florida Humanities., "Forum : Vol. 44, No. 02 (Fall : 2020)" (2020). FORUM : the Magazine of the Florida Humanities. 90. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/forum_magazine/90 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Florida Humanities at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in FORUM : the Magazine of the Florida Humanities by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE MAGAZINE OF FLORIDA HUMANITIES FALL 2020 floridahumanities.org Alone, Together Stories of Florida in a time of crisis FACES OF SOLITUDE A PHOTO GALLERY WHAT HISTORY TELLS US A LOOK AT TROUBLED TIMES PAST POETS OF THE PANDEMIC TEENS LIFT THEIR VOICES IN VERSE HUMANITIES IN ACTION CARES GRANTS, JUST IN TIME PLUS: CHEF MICHY ON THE FLAVORS OF FAMILY WONDROUS FISH CAMPS Letter from the Executive Director There is no other path forward Steve Seibert hat are the until you climb into his skin and walk that also serves as a component of the humanities around in it,” wrote author Harper Lee way we view, and make decisions in, and why in To Kill a Mockingbird. the world. are they Read a good book and allow it to alter Especially during times of crisis important?” your perspective, have a meaningful and uncertainty, significant challenges “WFrom my first column in these pages conversation with someone who does not are only resolved by understanding nearly four years ago, I have endeavored to look like or think like you, learn about ourselves and each other better. answer these questions. someone else’s culture, listen to a history There is no other path forward. For many of you reading this, the lecture, visit a museum...and you are This is the truth I have learned understanding is deep; you intuitively walking around in someone else’s skin. during my time leading Florida perceive why the humanities – literature, You are learning their stories. You are Humanities: There is no other history, philosophy, for example – are curious. This is how we grow personally path forward. essential to our way of life. For others, it is and intellectually; it is how we relate to There is a place in our souls, at the still not so clear; in a world of needs, why do each other; it is how we survive in a free intersection of reason and empathy, the humanities matter? and diverse society. where the humanities thrive. This Please indulge me as I try to make the We are enriched by the disciplines is where we encounter literature case for the humanities one more time, as of the humanities, even if we don’t call and poetry, history, philosophy I will be leaving Florida Humanities before them by their formal names. We read for and religion. That place inspires the next issue of FORUM is published. entertainment and knowledge. We rely knowledge. And at the end of the day, To me, this quote captures the essence on stories from the past to link us to the when all else seems out of control, it is of the humanities: place we call home. Our life philosophies the humanities rope we hold onto to “You never really know a man until you may echo thinkers of the past and guide us through the turmoil. understand things from his point of view, present. And if we have a faith tradition, For the next year, Florida Humanities will focus on two core responsibilities: continue to publish FORUM magazine and increase its “There is a place in our souls, at the intersection of reach, and further improve our grant- reason and empathy, where the humanities thrive…. making function. We are deeply grateful for the loyal support the magazine And at the end of the day, when all else seems out of engenders. But we need to dramatically control, it is the humanities rope we hold onto to guide increase the number of people who read this wonderful magazine. And us through the turmoil.” most essential to our mission, we will continue to provide support, mostly by 2 FORUM FLORIDA HUMANITIES awarding modest but meaningful grants, 2020 Board of Directors to the libraries, museums, historical B. Lester Abberger ............................................................................................ Tallahassee societies, and other community-based Juan Bendeck, Treasurer ............................................................................................. Naples entities that do the hard work of sharing Danny Berenberg ................................................................................Ponte Vedra Beach knowledge “to people of all backgrounds Frank Biafora ..................................................................................................St. Petersburg wherever located.” Kurt Browning.................................................................................................... San Antonio The roles I described are reduced Peggy Bulger ........................................................................................ Fernandina Beach from past activities. For the second Reginald Ellis ...................................................................................................... Tallahassee consecutive year, we have lost state Casey Fletcher ............................................................................................................. Bartow funding, which historically accounts for Makiba Foster ...................................................................................................... Plantation approximately 25 percent of our annual Jose Garcia-Pedrosa ...................................................................................... Coral Gables revenue. Simply put, we cannot afford to Maria Goldberg ......................................................................................................Pensacola do all we have done in prior years. Joseph Harbaugh, Chair ....................................................................................Hollywood But rather than bemoan our losses, David Jackson ................................................................................................... Tallahassee I make a request instead. Please join Sue Kim .......................................................................................................... Ormond Beach Florida Humanities on its journey to help George Lange ..................................................................................................................Tampa spread the knowledge and understanding Thomas Luzier, Vice-Chair .................................................................................... Sarasota inspired by the humanities. Visit our Linda Marcelli, Secretary .......................................................................................Gulfport Advocacy page at floridahumanities.org. Janet Snyder Matthews ......................................................................................... Sarasota There you can donate, gift FORUM to a Michael Urette ..............................................................................................................Tampa friend, tell your own “humanities story,” Glenda Walters .................................................................................................. Lynn Haven and celebrate National Humanities Month in October with us. Florida Humanities Staff And please share your time and Steve Seibert ...................................................................................... Executive Director treasure to support the following Laurie Berlin ..................................................................... Director of Administration resolution: The humanities are Alex Buell .......................................................................................Program Coordinator indispensable to a free society. Makenzie Garner ...............................................................Communications Assistant At Florida Humanities, and perhaps Lisa Lennox ................................................................................. Digital Media Manager for you, this is our mission, our cause, Lindsey Morrison ............................................................................ Grants Coordinator our fight against this age. This truth cries Brenda O’Hara ..........................................................................Chief Financial Officer out, particularly in times of crisis, when Patricia Putman .................................................................................. Associate Director civil discourse and human understanding Madeline Rhodes ................................................................Digital Content Assistant seem to have lost their way. Keith Simmons ....................................................................Communications Director What a privilege it has been to work Mara Utterback .................................................................Finance and Data Assistant with an extraordinary staff, a brilliant FORUM Staff Board and with our dedicated community Jacki Levine .................................................................................................................... Editor partners in every nook and cranny across Janet Scherberger ........................................................