Vermont Humanities SPRING 2019 Inside: 2018 Annual Report Insert Vermont Note from the Executive Director Humanities Newsletter of the The Audacity to Believe Vermont Humanities Council COMMUNITIES HOST VERMONT READS 2019 Editor: Ryan Newswanger hen I took my four-year-old son to the 50th Anniversary of the Vermont Humanities WMarch on Washington in 2013, we visited Dr. Martin Luther 11 Loomis Street King Jr.’s monument overlooking the Tidal Basin just off the National Montpelier, Vermont 05602 Mall. It’s a powerful place, and at that time it was made even more Phone: 802.262.2626 • Fax: 802.262.2620 powerful by the tens of thousands of people that came in support of Email: [email protected] making Dr. King’s dream a reality. Web: vermonthumanities.org I hold Dr. King’s words from his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance Staff speech close to my heart as I come to work every day in my (still new) role Joan M. Black, Administrative Assistant at Vermont Humanities. Dr. King said, “I have the audacity to believe that 802.262.1358, [email protected] peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and Jeff Euber, Program and Communications Coordinator culture for their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits.” 802.262.1353, [email protected] Here at Vermont Humanities, we have been diving deep into the world Richelle Franzoni, Community Programs Assistant of the civil rights movement since the beginning of this year—especially 802.262.1355, [email protected] through our Vermont Reads 2019 book, March: Book One by Rep. John Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup, Executive Director Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell. Dozens of communities around 802.262.1351, [email protected] Vermont have already read this Ryan Newswanger, Director of Communications powerful graphic novel telling the 802.262.1354, [email protected] story of John Lewis’s youth and Ali Palmer, Director of Literacy Programs 802.262.1352, [email protected] his work with Dr. King. Gina Robinson, Community Programs Associate In January, we launched Vermont Reads 2019 through 802.262.1361, [email protected] Rachel Lindsay from Seven Days visited the Waterbury Public Library in early March to teach a cartooning workshop as part of Vermont Reads 2019. Tess Taylor, Director of Community Programs a partnership with the Vermont 802.262.1356, [email protected] Youth Orchestra in celebration Linda Winter, Chief Financial Officer of Dr. King’s 90th birthday. Dr. MARCH: Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell 802.262.1359, [email protected] Benjamin Klemme, music director Linda Wrazen, Development Officer for the VYO, programmed 802.262.1357, [email protected] ver 50 Vermont communities have already signed Vermont Reads events to date have included a a powerful concert of music Oon to host programs related to the reading and cartooning workshop for teenagers with Seven Days Board connected to the African American experience, including Dvorak, Ellington, discussion of March: Book One. This is the first time in cartoonist Rachel Lindsay at the Waterbury Public Katy Smith Abbott, Middlebury, Vice Chair and spirituals from the civil rights movement. Former VPR Friday Night the 17-year history of the Vermont Reads program that Library, a Social Justice Film Series at the Norwich Jim Alic, Ludlow, Treasurer Jazz host Rueben Jackson read selections from March: Book One while Nate we have selected a graphic novel, a format that combines Public Library, and an interactive theater presentation Randall Balmer, Norwich Powell’s moving images were projected over the orchestra. Most importantly, prose with narrative drawing. All three volumes of about the Greensboro lunch counter from the National Judith Chalmer, Burlington all 80 members of the orchestra had the opportunity to read the book and Todd Daloz, Middlesex March illustrate the story of John Lewis’s commitment Museum of American History at the Richmond Rolf Diamant, Woodstock, Chair talk about what the civil rights movement means for them in 2019. to nonviolent protest in the pursuit of social justice. Free Library. Sarah Dopp, South Burlington, Secretary In this newsletter, you will see other examples of how we, like Dr. King, Joy Facos, Montpelier have the audacity to believe that education and culture, just as much as food Elizabeth Fenton, Essex Junction and shelter, are vital to the dignity, equality, and freedom of all people. Huck Gutman, Burlington As I think back on my visit to Washington with my son, I note the Applications: vtreads.org or Christine Hadsel, Burlington Take Part in Vermont Reads 2019! [email protected] Adrienne Major, Westminster West interplay between Dr. King’s memorial and that of Thomas Jefferson Libraries, schools, and other nonprofit organizations may apply; David Nichols, or 802.262.1355. Manchester on the other side of the basin. Jefferson’s memorial asks us to strive collaboration among town organizations and businesses is Mary Otto, Norwich towards the ideal expressed in the Declaration of Independence: “…that Steve Stettler, strongly encouraged. DUE DATE: June 1 Weston all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with Randall Szott, Barnard • RECEIVE FREE books and programming support for your community. Bob Taylor, Colchester certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Underwriter Media Sponsor Robert F. Wells, South Londonderry pursuit of Happiness.” • HOST readings, discussions, and community events in your schools, Jan Blomstrann Jessamyn West, Randolph And while I can admire those two titans of American history in the libraries, and local businesses. Yasmine Ziesler, Huntington gleaming marble of their national monuments, it is in our actions that we • STAY TUNED for an announcement about a big Vermont Reads event With support from the truly advance their ideals. Please join us in this important work. that will take place in October. Jack & Dorothy Byrne Foundation. Cover: Fifteen middle schools across Vermont will host Humanities Camps in the summer of 2019. Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup Vermont Humanities • Spring 2019 • Page 3 News and Notes Literacy Programs Peter’s visits to Dads’ Night Female Veterans Book Group are supported by Vermont Humanities via our Read with Inspires Deployed Play Me program, in which facilitators Reading Frederick Douglass share the importance and the joy n 2015, Valley News writer Nicola Smith attended two civilians about what it’s like to be a woman in the military.” of reading picture books with Isessions of a Veterans Book Group for women, held at the Smith imagines that readings of the play could be young children. Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VA) in White River Junction. performed at other VA Medical Centers in New England, “It’s always casual, and Peter “I knew there were women in the military, but I or that the play could be developed into a full-fledged asks really good questions,” says hadn’t really met any or listened to them talk about their production to be staged by small theater companies. Miller. “He notices the small experiences,” said Smith, who lives in Tunbridge. “I “The credit really goes to the women,” said Smith. pieces of the story and points thought the stories were so compelling that they would “They were really candid and forthcoming in describing them out to the dads, to show make a great theater piece.” things that weren’t always easy to talk about.” them how to connect with their In these groups sponsored by Vermont Humanities, kids on those aspects.” military veterans connect with each other by reading and But Peter’s approach emphasizes discussing literature. “I thought the group was a very useful that it’s not crucial to tell a story way for the women to talk about their experiences without exactly the way it’s written in a feeling as if they were in therapy,” Smith said. book. “I’ve really appreciated that, In the months after attending the sessions, she worked because of the different reading with Carey Russ from the VA to identify women who levels that guys have,” Miller says. would be willing to be interviewed about their military “It’s really important that fathers careers. The interviews led to Deployed, a play that Smith can feel confident to change co-wrote with Samantha Lazar, and which features the things up with the story.” stories of seven female veterans. “It’s about what they got Peter Burns shares picture books with young children and models techniques for reading stories aloud In addition, staff at the Family out of the military, their sense of patriotism, how they dealt during Dads’ Night at the Janet S. Munt Family Room in Burlington. Room have appreciated how with sexism, and their pride in having served,” Smith said. the books chosen by Vermont The professional theater company Northern Stage Humanities help teach emotional brought actors to White River Junction for one week in late Read with Me Helps Build Skills intelligence to both young March to rehearse the play with Smith, Lazar, and Director children and their caregivers. Amanda Rafuse. The rehearsals culminated in a public in Fathers and Children “The book, How do Dinosaurs reading at the VA on March 30. Say I’m Mad, led us into a “I don’t think people have really heard these stories,” Actors assembled at Northern Stage in White River Junction for a “[Peter Burns] notices the small pieces of the story conversation of how you respond to your kids when Smith said. “When we think of veterans, I believe we still read-through of Deployed, a play that originated from a Veterans Book and points them out to the dads, to show them how you’re angry and frustrated,” Miller says.