michigan2012 Annual Report michiganhumanities.org 18percent Newsletter reaches increase in new donors to MHC Welcome At a fairytale festival 76,468 Pearl Street in Grand Rapids, c. 1875–1881. Courtesy Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Since 1974, the Michigan Humanities Council has Most notably, we met an increased need of Key Accomplishments been at your side watching Michigan transform— humanities support from nonprofit organizations sometimes good and sometimes bad—but all stretching from the corner of southeast Michigan to Awarded $460,093 in grants to the while building stronger, more culturally the tip of the Upper Peninsula. We awarded more 50 counties, leveraging $1,420,725 aware communities. than $450,000 to more than 200 organizations in cost share needing assistance to build culture in their Each year, we continue to work diligently with Expanded Poetry Out Loud nonprofits and communities throughout the state to communities—through festivals, exhibits, oral history projects and much more. programming opportunities Cover photos (L–R): Lumbering in Michigan: Jenney, J.A.; Lapeer support the humanities —something we encounter schoolhouse: Acrylic Artist; Cass County workers: Courtesy of every day that transforms our thinking, whether Michigan is unique in many ways, and without Began acceptance of online grant Dowagiac Area History Museum; St. Paul’s church: Kim Long; Poetry Out Loud 2008 Champion Charles White; Fort Gratiot through a poetry recital, scholarly lecture, storytelling the support of our donors over the past years it is applications Online Grants lighthouse: Acrylic Artist. event, or something as simple as a film or radio uncertain how many small-town museums, libraries broadcast. and festivals would continue to thrive. We saw a Held adjudication and presented greater need for humanities support in 2012—and the new three-year Arts & In 2012, the Michigan Humanities Council changed— Humanities Touring staff transition opened doors to fresh perspectives thanks to you—that need was met. Directory. on how to keep Michigan’s culture vibrant. We We look forward to continuing this transformation in brought more than 100,000 Michiganians 2013, knowing that more than ever there is a need, Began successful start of new Awarded in Grants to 50 counties together in a discussion on housing segregation and and most importantly, support for the humanities in Smithsonian Institution exhibit tour— $460,093 gentrification; started a Smithsonian exhibit tour Michigan. The Way We Worked reaching our vibrant, rural cities; completed a new Arts & Humanities Touring Directory with 175 of Published first full-year of Michigan’s top musicians, storytellers, performers e-newsletter, reaching 76,468 leveraged by $1,420,725 in cost share and re-enactors; invited nearly 17,000 high school Robbe DiPietro Erik Nordberg students to open their hearts through poetry; and Acting Executive Director Executive Director Increased new donors to MHC by watched the relationship of parent and child grow August 2012–April 2013 May 2013–Present 18 percent through a simple act of reading together. 2012 Annual Report www.michiganhumanities.org “Prime Time Family Reading Time® brings families through the Peter White Public Library doors and introduces them to the resources and services provided to the community. When they learn about all the opportunities available to them, their enthusiasm is contagious!” Lynette Suckow, Youth Services Librarian at Peter White Public Library in Marquette 2,252 Attendees Prime Time Family Reading Time® In 2012, six libraries throughout Michigan took on the mission of transforming families page by page. Featuring a community dinner, family-engaged reading with a storyteller, and scholar-led discussion, Prime Time Family Reading Time® is making an impact. While there are many programs that focus on childhood literacy, Prime Time is unique in that it engages an entire family to read and discuss books together. FY 2012 at a Glance: Parents, grandparents and even siblings attend 90 minute sessions over the course of six weeks and have the opportunity to discuss children’s books in a $1,420,725 Grantee Cost Share new light. It provides a positive environment for discussion and an opportunity $460,093 Awarded in Grants for child and parent conversation on relevant humanities topics. Since Michigan began coordinating this program, nearly 8,000 children have benefited and built 419,048 Attendees stronger relationships with their family while gaining literary learning. 1,234 events Prime Time is a program of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and is made possible in Michigan with financial support from the National Endowment Programs: for the Humanities. Great Michigan Read Family literacy may seem like a never-ending battle, but with your continued support we can work to build a stronger future. $10,000 Prime Time Family High Density Reading Time® For more information, please contact Carla Ingrando—[email protected] Awarded in Site Grants or (517) 372-7770. Poetry Out Loud BY THE NUMBERS From top: Families gather at Stair Public Library The Way We Worked in Morenci for Prime Time Family Reading $10,000 Awarded in Site Grants Time®; credit Stair Public Library. Children Library/City/County Arts & Humanities Touring 2,252 Attendees from Alpena participate in a Prime Time Family ® Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library/Alpena/Alpena Major Grants 70 Events Reading Time commercial; credit Alpena Low Density County George N. Fletcher Public Library. Lenawee County Library/Adrian/Lenawee Quick & Planning Grants 5 Host Sites Loutit District Library/Adrian/Lenawee Peter White Public Library/Marquette/Marquette Stair Public Library/Morenci/Lenawee 2012 Annual Report www.michiganhumanities.org From top left: Mounir Jamal of Forest Hills Central High School, Alexis Barrera of Hartland High School, Olivia Finkelstein of West Bloomfield High School, the four finalists for 2012; credit Dave Trumpie. “Before I got involved with the program, I didn’t know much about poetry. …I found poems that really meant something to 1 me and it helped me learn more about myself and what I stand State Champion— for. I learned so much about literature and recitation and it was 24,486 an amazing program to be a part of.” Participating Randi Laundré of Randi Laundré, 2012 State Champion from Alba High School 168 Teachers Students Statewide Alba High School From top left: 2012 Poetry Out Loud Champion Randi Laundré of Alba High School, Poetry can be a key to your heart—for many it brings peace, comfort, power and student competitors at identity. However helpful poetry may be, it is unfortunately becoming a lost form the state competition, of artistic expression for today’s youth. The Michigan Humanities Council is proud poet Terry Blackhawk; credit Dave Trumpie. to keep poetry alive by engaging our high school youth in annual poetry recitation competitions. Poetry Out Loud, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation, is a national high school poetry recitation competition. Since the Michigan Humanities Council and Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs began hosting the program in 2005, more than 60,000 students have had their 22 voices heard. Counties In 2012, it was Randi Laundré, a sophomore at Alba Public School (Alba), who took home top honors as the Michigan Poetry Out Loud Champion. With the title, she earned a $200 cash award, $500 stipend for her school library, and all-expenses- paid trip to Washington, D.C., where she competed in the national competition. Alba Public School/Elmira/Antrim Franklin Road Christian School/Novi/Oakland Mercy High School/Farmington Hills/Oakland Bay City Central High School/Bay City/Bay Galesburg-Augusta High School/Galesburg/Kalamazoo Mesick Junior/ Senior High School/Mesick/Wexford Runners-up were: Alexis Barrera (Hartland High School), Brittni Eller (Grand River Berkley High School/Berkley/Oakland Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School/Grand Rapids/Kent Michigan Connections Academy/Okemos/Ingham Preparatory School), and Mounir Jamal (Forest Hills Central High School). Big Rapids High School/Big Rapids/Mecosta Grand River Preparatory High School/Kentwood/Kent North Branch High School/North Branch/Lapeer For more information on how you can have your school involved, please contact Boyne Falls School K-12/Boyne Falls/Charlevoix Gwinn High School/Gwinn/Marquette Oakland Christian School/Auburn Hills/Oakland 51 Judith Dworkin—[email protected] or (517) 372-7770. Bradford Academy High School/Southfield/Oakland Hartland High School/Hartland/Livingston Oxford High School/Oxford/Oakland BY THE NUMBERS Calumet High School/Calumet/Houghton Haslett High School/Haslett/Ingham Pentwater High School/Pentwater/Oceana High Schools Calvary Baptist Academy/Midland/Midland Houghton High School/Houghton/Houghton Petoskey High School/Petoskey/Emmet 24,486 Participating Students Carman-Ainsworth High School/Flint/Genesee International Academy/Bloomfield Hills/Oakland Portage Northern High School/Portage/Kalamazoo 168 Teachers Cass Technical High School/Detroit/Wayne Jeffers High School/Painesdale/Houghton Riverview Community High School/Riverview/Wayne 51 High Schools Classical Academy/Flint/Genesee John Glenn High School/Bay City/Bay Roosevelt High School/Wyandotte/Wayne 22 Counties Detroit Catholic Central High School/Novi/Oakland Leelanau School/Glen Arbor/Leelanau Saline High School/Saline/Washtenaw Detroit School of Arts/Detroit/Wayne Legacy High