RI Humanities

  • ABOUT
    • HISTORY & MISSION
    • STAFF & BOARD
  • GRANTS
    • GRANTMAKING
    • RI CHARG (with RISCA)
    • FEATURED GRANTS
    • RECENT GRANTS
  • INITIATIVES
    • RI CIVIC HEALTH INDEX
    • CULTURE IS KEY
      • Culture is Key: Advisory Committee
      • Culture is Key: Pilot Projects
    • RHODE TOUR
    • EXPANSION ARTS
    • INITIATIVE ARCHIVE
      • CATALYZING NEWPORT
      • PELL HUMANITIES INITIATIVE
      • (PRESS)ED Podcast Series
      • PULITZER SERIES
      • RI Arts and Culture Research Fellowship
      • XIX: Shall Not Be Denied
  • GET INVOLVED
    • DONATE
    • PARTICIPATE
    • CELEBRATE
      • 2022 Celebration Honoree & Speaker Information
    • ADVOCATE
  • CALENDAR
  • NEWS
    • Humanities In Context

Celebration of the Humanities Raises Funds for Public Humanities and Honors Four Leaders

October 16, 2017 By RI Humanities

On Thursday, October 5, 2017 – the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities honored Judge Judith C. Savage, former RI Superior Court Judge and distinguished Jurist in Residence at Roger Williams School of Law, Len Cabral, International Storyteller, Little Compton Historical Society’s “If Jane Should Want to Be Sold” exhibit and programs, and Valerie Tutson, Founding Member and Executive Director of Rhode Island Black Storytellers. 300 community and business leaders, scholars, artists, government officials, and Rhode Islanders gathered at the Providence Public Library to raise over $74,000 to support the public humanities including culture, history, heritage, and civic education in our state.

With the timely theme of PROXIMITY, the Celebration highlighted the power of the humanities to bridge difference and build strong, empathetic communities poised to address our most pressing challenges. This year’s honorees exemplify the humanities in action–by using storytelling to engage people all ages and cultural backgrounds to contribute to community, by using historical research to see slavery and servitude in new ways, and by connecting the law and the humanities to effect change in our state.

RI Council for the Humanities Executive Director Elizabeth Francis remarked:

“This year’s theme of PROXIMITY is inspired by the attorney Bryan Stevenson’s reflections on justice in his book Just Mercy. Proximity expresses the hope that that we can understand each other across differences, to have empathy, and to create a future of connection rather than division. For nearly 45 years, the Humanities Council has championed understanding and expression through public history, cultural heritage, civic education and community engagement. This past year–indeed, these past days–have shown us how important these acts of understanding and expression are and how much we need to keep acting.”

The Honorary Chairs’ Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Humanities was presented to Judge Judith C. Savage for her two decades of service as a trial justice and especially for the work she has done since as an educator and organizer of issues of injustice in the criminal justice system. In all that she does, Judge Savage challenges Rhode Islanders to think and speak honestly about issues of equality and empathy–considering their impact on a deeply human level.

The Tom Roberts Prize for Creative Achievement in the Humanities honored Len Cabral for his four decades of inspired storytelling that brings generations of Rhode Islanders together, engaging communities in challenging conversations about how the past can inform the future. As a leader and performer, Cabral bridges Rhode Island’s diverse communities helping broaden our definitions of American culture.

The Innovation in the Humanities Award went to the Little Compton Historical Society for their achievements with the “If Jane Should Want to Be Sold” exhibition and programs that exemplify the Society’s commitment to research, diversifying the stories represented, and developing engaging public programs. This exhibit and programs provided a model for small historical societies, highlighting the personal stories of 17th, 18th, and 19th century people of color–promoting authentic, engaging understandings of the past.

The Public Humanities Scholar Award was presented to Valerie Tutson for her work to promote the sharing of stories as an art form and invaluable tool for communication. Her interdisciplinary approach encourages critical thinking and fosters empathy–requiring students and audiences to consider how actions impact a collective. As an educator, cultural programmer, and storyteller, Tutson makes powerful connections and sparks community engagement.

Thank you to all who attended the Celebration and helped us raise this vital support for public humanities by and for all Rhode Islanders. If you were inspired by this year’s honorees and would like to continue to support our work, please visit the Get Involved section of our website and consider a donation to the Council’s Annual Fund. You each play a pivotal role in strengthening and connecting communities across our state and we could not do this work without you.

Please enjoy the photos from the Celebration of the Humanities below and follow our Facebook and Instagram for more photos coming soon!

2017 honorees Len Cabral and Valerie Tutson with Council board member Christina Bevilacqua and niece Justine Bevilacqua
Guests enjoying the Celebration of the Humanities
Judge Judith C. Savage receiving the 2017 Honorary Chairs’ Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Humanities

Rep. David Cicilline with Council grantee Caroline Stevens of Doors Open RI and Barry Press of Living Literature who also serves on the Advisory Committee of the RI Center for the Book at the Council for the Humanities
Honorary Co-Chair of the Celebration of the Humanities, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea speaking at the VIP reception
Council board members and event co-chairs Touba Ghadessi and Jessica Kowal with John Richard, Hannah Parzen, and Council staff member Logan Hinderliter

latest tweets

  • "The humanities serve as tools to stand up for democracy at this moment." Read the 12th issue of our… https://t.co/dlDGeYd53d June 5, 2020 6:00 pm
  • "Engaging history and culture is not just about reflection and understanding but about action." Read more at:… https://t.co/OxR7zWgfg8 June 3, 2020 8:35 pm
  • Explore the Digital Public Library of America. In addition to 37,136,118 images, texts, videos, and sounds from acr… https://t.co/H3xczefx9E May 29, 2020 3:13 pm
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Archives

GRANTMAKING FY2015 – 2019
2021 HIGHLIGHTS
40th ANNIVERSARY REPORT

QUICK LINKS

Board of Directors Login
Grant Archive Digital Library
Donate to the Council
Credits

MAILING LIST

Want to be the first to hear about all the humanities related news and updates? Get on the list!
JOIN

CONNECT

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

CONTACT

  401-273-2250

  401-454-4872
  131 Washington St., Suite 210
      Providence, RI 02903

Copyright © 2023 Rhode Island Council for the Humanities · Website design & development by //DESIGN AGENCY//