Illinois Humanities believes education is liberatory and should be accessible to all. That belief led them, 25 years ago, to partner with The Clemente Course in the Humanities to offer free college courses to low-income adults in the Chicago area through a program called the Odyssey Project or Proyecto Odisea. In this episode, learn more about this program and how it changes lives. Our guests are Dulce Maria Diaz (Odyssey Project alumnus), Dr. Rebecca Amato (Director of Teaching and Learning, Illinois Humanities), and Dr. Aaron Rosen (Executive Director, The Clemente Course in the Humanities). Transcript and show notes available at statehumanities.org/podcast.

Does reading poetry make the world a better place? Are poetry readings better in the great outdoors? Every summer, Vermont Humanities hold a series of poetry readings in Vermont state parks called Words in the Woods, which connects participants with the state’s natural resources and its living literary legacy. Dive into the relevance of poetry in our modern world, the relationship between nature and poetry, and the importance of supporting living poets in this conversation featuring Jacob Pelletier, Community Programs Officer at Vermont Humanities, and Bianca Stone, Vermont Poet Laureate (and past Words in the Woods speaker). Transcripts, photos, and related content available at statehumanities.org/podcast.

It’s true that youth are the future, but we have to give them the tools and skills to make it a good one. In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at two programs using the humanities and public libraries to inspire and empower teens to speak up and play an active role in their communities. In Montana, the Democracy Project from Humanities Montana brings teens together via their local library to learn about civics and design a project to meet a need in their community. In Pennsylvania, PA Humanities’ Youth Led Humanities provides funding and support to libraries for humanities clubs and projects that let teens take the lead. Both these programs aim to give teens opportunities to lead, find their voice, and understand how much power they have to tackle problems and make positive change in their schools and communities. Transcripts, photos, and related content available at statehumanities.org/podcast.

Empowering and equipping families to read aloud at home is a powerful way to boost childhood literacy and help families bond. In this episode, we take a closer look at two family reading programs: Humanities Nebraska’s Prime Time Family Reading and Colorado Humanities’ Motheread/Fatheread. We’ll dig into how critical early reading is for academic achievement, the incredible benefits kids and families get from reading aloud at home, and how these two programs are giving parents the tools to make reading together a regular family activity. Humanities = is a production of the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Transcripts, photos, and related content available at statehumanities.org/podcast.

How can reflective conversations help veterans open up and share their experiences? In this episode, two conversation programs are creating spaces where veterans can reflect on their service and find connection through dialogue. Humanities Texas’ Veterans' Voices program brings veterans and members of the public together to read and discuss literary excerpts related to war and service. Michigan Humanities’ Same Mission. Many Many Stories. program used WWII museum objects to spark conversation among women veterans. Humanities = is a production of the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Transcripts, photos, and related content available at statehumanities.org/podcast.

Two stories about how the humanities can provide healing for people during and after incarceration. The Mississippi Humanities Council’s prison book club program provides intellectual stimulation and community for men and women at 16 Mississippi prisons. And in New Jersey, a theatrical program called Ritual4Return gives returning citizens the opportunity to create and perform their own rite of passage to mark their return to families and communities after incarceration. Humanities = is a production of the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Transcripts, photos, and related content available at statehumanities.org/podcast.

Listen to clips from the first three episodes of Humanities =, a podcast about real individuals, organizations, and communities making a real difference through the humanities. This show is a production of the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Find episode transcripts and additional podcast content at statehumanities.org/podcast.