Kevin’s Corner: November Update

Over the past three months, I have been on the road doing a bit of driving. In addition to our MHC Statewide Tour – which took me to New Ulm, Rochester, St. Paul, Fergus Falls, Duluth, and Red Wing – I have been travelling with our good friends from Danger Boat Productions and OMG Studios (along with their wonderful OMG Innovation Lab youth) for our Sketches of Minnesota and Reconstruction Destructed film tours.

Those travels gave me the opportunity to have inspiring conversations with folks throughout the state. I can firmly attest that the power of the humanities – to increase awareness and understanding between communities, illuminate the past to give greater clarity to our present world, and to spark innovative and creative ideas – is alive and well in Minnesota.

In order to showcase some of that power, I would like to continue those conversations with you on one topic that offered several interesting ideas: I am curious to hear from you on how MHC and the people throughout Minnesota should commemorate the 250^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Please take a moment to fill out this form and submit your suggestions for how we can celebrate this milestone together.

In other important news, MHC has recently launched a $6 million Cultural Heritage grant opportunity. These funds seek to support projects that celebrate and teach the art, culture, and heritage of the many diverse cultural groups and Indigenous nations in Minnesota. Organizations that support programming for Veterans and historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Applicants may request up to $300,000 and MHC will accept applications until close of business on December 8.

MHC recently launched the Navigating the U.S. History Eras program, a year-long professional learning opportunity for K-12 educators that explores historical eras and their connection to current social studies standards. This initiative, a collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education, explores specific historical eras through a combination of “Content Sessions” (looking at the history) and “Pedagogy Sessions” (how to teach it).

This program aims to support educators in using inquiry-based, standards-aligned approaches to teaching U.S. History. Educators can register for any of the individual sessions that interest them. The program is free; however, registration is required for each offering.

After almost a full year of planning, MHC hosted some truly moving programming honoring the 50^th Commemoration of the Vietnam War, Secret War, and southeast Asian conflict over the past few weekends. We also sponsored several Veteran-focused commemoration events in the Cambodian, Hmong, Lao, and Vietnamese communities to give us time to pause and reflect upon the sacrifices of those who served and fought for freedom.

Yesterday, we received news that there is a deal to resolve the Federal government shutdown. The deal will not result in an appropriation bill for fiscal year 2026 for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) but instead a continuing resolution (CR) funding bill.

This is not an insignificant difference given that the administration has taken the legal position in court this past year that it has greater discretion, if not absolute discretion, to withhold funding from humanities councils such as MHC when NEH receives funding under a CR bill. Currently, MHC has not received $600,000 in 2025 congressional appropriations. If the Administration takes similar steps in 2026, MHC stands to lose $1.2 million, largely unrestricted, in critical funding.

While MHC will continue to leverage and maximize the state funding it receives through the Arts and Cultural Legacy Fund, the loss of federal funding has and will continue to impact the work of MHC.

As we come to the end of the year, I hope that you will consider making a financial gift to the Minnesota Humanities Center. Your gift will allow us the opportunity to unlock a $20,000 matching gift by December 31, 2025.

Thank you for your support of humanities and MHC.