Dear Wisconsin Humanities Friends and Supporters,

My heart is full these days, as I keep working to help Wisconsinites understand and care for one another. In the face of political division and national turmoil, our Wisconsin Humanities family is resilient and generous. I’m fueled by your support — and by hope.

Because of your generosity, despite our federal defunding Wisconsin Humanities has held seven Listening Sessions with incredible community leaders. A teacher who joined us in Superior told us how a past WH partnership changed the way she thought about her teaching – and changed her rural community. When she realized what students could learn by connecting with people and cultures right in their own backyard, she created Finnish culture classes. Then she kept going and helped found a heritage center that today is a beloved rural gathering place for people of every background. Long-lasting, multi-generational community-building — that’s what happens when Wisconsin Humanities is there to help community leaders leverage the power of connecting through culture. It happens in Oulu, in Milwaukee, and so many places in between.

Our teacher’s story is just one of many we’ve heard recently, as people urge us to rebuild programs that were devastatingly paused eight months ago. Hand-in-hand with librarians, local historians, artists, scholars, grassroots civic leaders, and you, we’re pressing forward!

Today, Congressional action promises that some new federal funds will arrive. But we can’t count on it. Meanwhile, the fragile social and cultural fabric of our communities keeps tearing. Our civic life must be brought back to health for our communities to function — and for democracy to survive. Wisconsinites need to reconnect. Our communities need us now.

This is why I’m asking for your support today, to ensure that with or without new federal funding, in 2026 we can:

• Reopen our statewide grant program for nonprofits that build community through culture and dialogue.
• Restart our Community Powered training sessions, which help local leaders strengthen civic life.
• Inspire listeners statewide through new episodes of our Human Powered podcast, sharing what’s working in Wisconsin communities right now.