VIHC Announces Over 25 Years of Service In The Humanities
Date: March 30, 2010 | Press Release: #10-001
Over the past 25 years, the Virgin Islands Humanities Council has been providing humanities programs for the diverse population of the Virgin Islands with the main goals of promoting a love of learning, encouraging dialogue, enhancing understanding, and broadening the perspectives of the human experience.
Since May, 1984, the VI Humanities Council has been a local affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Based in Washington, D.C, the National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency created in 1965. It is one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States, in the areas of preserving and providing access to cultural resources, education, research, and public programs.
“The council is a resourceful entity within this community. It ensures opportunities for positive transformation and strengthening of our civic and cultural infrastructure,” explained Mabel Maduro, executive director of the Virgin Islands Humanities Council.
Over the last year, the V.I. Humanities Council has reached over 15,000 persons through its community programs. These programs range from “We the People” initiatives, to Community Grants for non-profits, to a Humanities Resource Center, to the Daniel L. Heftel lecture series and Humanist Award for exemplary cultural contributions, and the Heath Award for outstanding teachers.
Since 2005, the V.I. Humanities Council has organized several “We the People” initiatives to explore themes such as self-governance, cultural heritage tourism, and literature and spoken word in the Virgin Islands. Our latest initiative, “Building Community, Celebrating Diversity,” will explore cultural tolerance in the territory from May 7 to May 8, 2010.
The Council awards grants to non-profit organizations six times a year for projects that examine the cultural heritage of the Virgin Islands. Mini-grants up to $3,500; major grants up to $10,000, and teacher incentive grants up to $750 are available. In the past fiscal year, The V.I. Humanities Council awarded a total of $42,905 to nine community organizations. (See detailed list at the end)
“I saw the powerful impact our project had on students and heard their positive responses to the performance and classes,” said project director Sue Diverio of the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix. “I am grateful to the Virgin Islands Humanities Council for granting us the funding to put forth this program.”
Over 800 books, DVDs and resource materials such as teaching aids on African-American, Caribbean, and Virgin Islands history and heritage are part of the Humanities Resource Center. The resource center is a lending library for teachers, non-profits, researchers, and the general public. We also have some Council-funded publications for sale. The newest collection consists of over 70 books from the Alton Adams Music Research Institute.
The Heftel Lecture was started in 1990 to provide a forum for exploring humanities topics of interest. It is named after council co-founder Daniel L. Heftel, a St. Thomas businessman and civic leader who was well known throughout the Virgin Islands as a humanitarian who labored to improve the lot of his fellow citizens, and as a humanist who appreciated the importance of reflecting on the meaning of our lives, our sense of self-identity, our relation to each other, and our civic responsibilities. Some of the Council’s past Heftel presenters include calypsonian Dr. Hollis “Chalkdust” Liverpool, poet Lorna Goodison, political analyst Julianne Malveaux, the late Judge A. Leon Higginbotham Jr., and former NEH Chair Lynne Cheney.
Established in 1992, the Humanist Award gives recognition to Virgin Islanders who have made exemplary contributions to the cultural life of the community through the humanities. Some of the past award recipients include Sidney Lee, Ruth Moolenaar, Ulla Muller, Richard Schrader, Delta Dorsch, Marilyn Krigger, Barbara Christian, and Frederik C. Gjessing.
The annual Heath Award was established in 2003 to recognize the achievement of public school teachers who show excellence and dedication to teaching the humanities. One teacher from the St. Thomas-St. John district and one from the St. Croix district receive a $1,000 cash prize.
“I praise the Humanities Council for recognizing and rewarding the contribution that teachers make in the humanities, and I applaud the great work that you are doing in this community,” said Nurseen Davis, 2009 Heath Award recipient. “This has truly inspired me to be that beacon that guides our children onward and upward in the arts.”
Some former Heath Award recipients include Anselm Richards, Glenn Kwabena Davis, Frances Rutnik, Lisa Etre, Cedelle Petersen, Phyllis Rivera-Ryan, Lisa Lenhardt, Neomie Toussaint-Williams, Anna Marie Gordon, Sandra Reed, and Gerard Emanuel.
“We look forward to expanding our presence in the territory and enriching the lives of our diverse community.The Virgin Islands Humanities Council is a cultural leader in the territory, with over 25 years of telling our stories, preserving our traditions, and developing an informed citizenry,” said Maduro. “Join us, as we continue to transform our community.”
VI HUMANITIES COUNCIL GRANTS OVER THE PAST FISCAL YEAR
Major Grant Awards for 2008 to 2009
The St. John Community Foundation was awarded $5,000 for “Virgin Islands Culture: 275 Years Towards Determination” for the 18th annual folklife festival with a project that highlighted Virgin Islanders’ struggles for self-determination, from coal carrier strikes, to resistance to the naval administration, to migrations during the 1920s and 1950s. Project Director: Denise Georges.
Crucian Heritage and Nature Inc. was awarded $6,100 for “Historical Tour Guide Program,” a cultural heritage tourism project of historical walking tours through historic St. Croix that includes training in interpretation of sites within Christiansted and Frederiksted, and production of a simulated walking tour video. Project Director: Frandelle Gerard.
VI-Puerto Rico Friendship Committee was awarded $5,025 for a project entitled “The Puerto Rican Migration to the United States Virgin Islands: Living in Two Cultures,” to conduct two panel discussions and a documentary screening for youth and adults to discuss the rewards and challenges of living in two cultures. Project Director: Carmen Dennis.
The Women’s Coalition of St. Croix was awarded $9,680 for “Let’s Get Together,” a school-centered project focused on getting students to dialogue about issues of cultural diversity, including ethnicity, race, gender, and religion, through a series of student workshops, teacher workshops, and a five-week residency program combining music and film. Project Director: Sue Diverio.
Mini Grants Awards for 2008 to 2009
The Manor School was awarded $3,500 for “The St. Croix-Harlem Renaissance Event,” a project exploring St. Croix’s contribution to the Harlem Renaissance, through historical figures such as philosopher Hubert Harrison, stockbroker Casper Holstein, and author Nella Larsen, through poetry, letters, an art display, Renaissance dress and food. Project Director: Anita Roberts.
Carabana Ensemble Theater Company was awarded $3,300 for “The Play ‘Back Time’ and Its Caribbean Literary Significance,” targeted to school students across the territory who attended pre- and post-performance workshops to view and critically analyze the 40-minute play “Back Time,” inspired by the autobiographical accounts of Antiguan Samuel Smith, one of the oldest men of the Caribbean at the time of writing his book, “To Shoot Hard Labor.” Project Director: Clarence Cuthbertson.
St. John School of the Arts was awarded $3,500 for the “VISCWP Young Writers Camp,” a 2.5-weeklong camp in different genres of writing, which for its second year focused on “Unearthing the Pieces Lost in the Past,” giving students a chance to work in the area of cultural preservation. Parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and community elders were also interviewed on digital recorders and movie cameras. Project Director: Coreen Samuel.
The Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts was awarded $3,500 for “Daily Strife,” an exhibition celebrating Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship month with work by artists that deal with themes such as invasion, emigration, and the past present and future through photographs, digital video, and installations. Several artist discussions will be held to engage the public. Project Director: Candia Atwater.
The Down Street Organization was awarded $3,300 for “Down Street & Beyond,” a research project for an upcoming publication documenting the Down Street neighborhood of St. Thomas. Highlights will include the development of Anna’s Fancy, various area businesses, noted artists and sports figures. Copies of the final product will be displayed at libraries and schools. Project Director: Eric E. Dawson, Esq.