ON Newsletter - Fall 2024
Sharing
From the Director
When September rolls around, my tomato plants are always producing more than I can use. I love packing up bags to share. So I’m tickled that this issue features a story about a tribal member and local organization who planned a Native feast (with local ingredients!) because they wanted to build relationships and understanding of Native people and culture.
Sharing food and culture is a powerful way to combat bias and hate. So is sharing stories. That is why we wrote real-life stories for the Stand Up to Hate classroom and community toolkit. Our stories of hate and resilience in Wisconsin communities, along with guidance on how to use them, are freely available online for youth, teachers, and adults who want to increase their communities’ ability to prevent or respond to bias and hate-based violence.
Sharing knowledge is at the heart of the humanities. For James Price, while incarcerated, the gift of learning how to bead was a lifeline. I hope you’ll listen to him tell the story on our Human Powered podcast.
We can’t wish away divisions or biases that make it hard for Wisconsinites to find common ground. Sometimes it takes sharing a carefully crafted story. Sometimes it takes learning new skills. Occasionally, if you’re lucky, you just need a tomato.
Thank you for being on this journey with Wisconsin Humanities, and for all the sharing you do.
Dena Wortzel, Director
In this issue:
Fall 2024
Stand Up to Hate: A Call to Action
Recent years have seen a startling rise in hate crimes and hate-motivated violence across the country.
Wisconsin, too, has felt this pain. At Wisconsin Humanities, we are confronting this challenge head-on with our Stand Up to Hate initiative, dedicated to promoting understanding throughout the state. Hate does more than create fear; it divides us and undermines the fundamental values of respect and inclusion.
Grantee Spotlight: To Have Community We Must Share a Meal
This past summer, Rubina Martini set out on a “Native Foodways Adventure,” traversing the state and region getting to know Native farmers, producers, chefs, and systems.
Love Wisconsin: Healthy Human Connections
Wisconsin is diverse geographically, politically, racially, and ethnically. The Love Wisconsin website features a large and growing collection of stories that remind us of the small miracles performed everyday by our neighbors who care deeply and step up to solve problems large and small.
Human Powered: Developing Tools to Thrive
When James Price first learned how to bead, he was incarcerated at the Stanley Correctional Institution in Wisconsin. He noticed a Native American man beading, so he asked if he could buy a pair of earrings. But they weren’t for sale.
Odyssey Beyond Bars: Own Your Story
Nestor Gomez got on stage at a Moth StorySlam years ago to get over the stuttering that plagued his childhood. Since then he has won more than 70 Slams! As a former undocumented immigrant, Nestor understands the importance of owning your own story.
WH Fellows: Envision a Vibrant Future
Every day, Wisconsinites use their creativity to tackle challenges in their communities. Our Community Powered program trains people to use an asset-based approach in community work.
