Illinois Humanities

05/29/2026

A record breaking 1,063 young people from across Illinois submitted poems to this year’s Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards.

Judging is now underway, but today we’re celebrating every student who took the step to write and submit. We’re glad you’re part of this community.

Read Program Manager of Teaching and Learning Margy LaFreniere’s reflection on this year’s awards and the history behind them. From Gwendolyn Brooks’ work with young writers decades ago to the vibrant community of poets across Illinois today.

Read more at: ilhumanities.org/news/lineage-and-legacies

05/28/2026

Illinois Humanities is proud to present Damon Locks’ world-renowned, Black Monument Ensemble, live at Garfield Park Conservatory & Gardens on June 24, 2026🎶

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, providing a unique opportunity to reflect on the complex legacy of our country’s founding.

In partnership with the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, Chicago Park District, Jane M. Saks/Project&, and Empty Bottle, join Damon Locks’ Black Monument Ensemble as it returns to Garfield Park Conservatory to deliver a timely and powerful performance that interweaves Black histories and speculative futures, prompting us all to contemplate where we are today.

Be part of the experience, get your tickets today at: ilhumanities.org/BME

05/23/2026

Illinois Humanities is partnering with the Illinois America 250 and StoryCorps Studios to present Illinois Voices 250, a statewide time capsule capturing stories from all 102 Illinois counties in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.

From shared wisdom to hopes and concerns, this initiative documents our moment in time through a diverse, representative record of who Illinoisans are today, while inviting reflection on our past and aspirations for the future.

Submit your online recording today or learn more about our Community Recording Days at ilhumanities.org/programs/ilvoices250

05/20/2026

The final People’s Salon of the season is almost here! RSVP today at: ilhumanities.org/history

Featuring performances and presentations by Zayd Ayers Dohrn, Sylvia Ewing, Reginald R. Robinson, and more.

Together, we’ll explore: When does history happen? Who shapes the stories that endure and how do those choices shape our dreams, our lives, and our communities?

05/19/2026

The 2026 Public Humanities Awards are here and we’re celebrating the people bringing stories, history, and culture to life across Illinois.

Join us September 23, 2026 at Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center for an unforgettable evening of connection, recognition, and community.

To read full honoree bios or get your tickets today, visit: ilhumanities.org/news/you-are-invited-public-humanities-awards-2026

05/18/2026

We’re inspired by grantee partner Anderson Taylor, recently recognized as the world’s youngest museum curator at just only 11!

His curiosity and drive are a powerful reminder that a passion for learning can grow into something extraordinary at any age.

Read the full story at: kewaneevoice.com/guinness-names-11-year-old-cambridge-resident-worlds-youngest-museum-curator/

Anderson Taylor of Cambridge, Ill., has officially been recognized by Guinness World Records as the youngest museum curator in the world. Now 11, Taylor was just 9 years old when he opened the Cambridge Natural History Museum on August 10, 2024. The son of John and Stephanie Taylor, he has become a....

05/13/2026

What happens when a small town makes space for everyone’s story? In Mendota, Illinois, a community of just over 7,000 is doing exactly that, honoring its past while embracing the voices that shape its present.

Through a project supported by an Illinois Humanities grant, the Mendota Museum & Historical Society brought to life Where Our Paths Meet: Journeys to Mendota, a documentary capturing the migration stories of residents who helped transform the town’s cultural landscape.

Click the link to read the full story: ilhumanities.org/news/gps-mmhs

The Mendota Museum & Historical Society in La Salle County is preserving local history through community‑centered storytelling and public humanities…

05/12/2026

Envisioning Justice Grant Opportunity is Live!

We’re proud to have supported Reparations Media in our previous Envisioning Justice grant cycle, an organization using journalism, storytelling, and community centered media as tools for equity and accountability.

Founded by Judith McCray, Reparations Media is a media education and production organization with a mission to provide quality information through multi-media productions regarding issues affecting marginalized and communities of color across the United States and globally.

Now, we’re inviting artists, scholars, journalists, and organizations across Illinois to apply for the next round of Envisioning Justice funding.

Letters of Intent due June 12, 2026 and are open to both individuals and organizations. Learn more and submit today at ilhumanities.org/grants

05/11/2026

When does history happen? Who decides which histories live on and how they are interpreted, and how do those decisions affect our dreams, lives, and communities?

By actively engaging with history – researching, sharing, and acknowledging our power as creators of history rather than passive observers, we expand our understanding of the present and inspire the future with possibility. Illinois Humanities invites you to join us for our final salon in 2026, DOING HISTORY, to reflect on individual, local, and national histories and to make a new history together.

Come curious. Come hungry. Come ready to make HISTORY.

Register at ilhumanities.org/history

05/11/2026

🎭✨ Stories that move bodies and move change.

Join award‑winning storyteller and arts educator Jasmin Cárdenas for WorkersTEATRO, an interactive, hands‑on experience blending movement, storytelling, and real‑life moments to spark meaningful dialogue around workers’ rights at Tobias Music.

📅 May 17 | 9:30 AM–12:30 PM
5013 Fairview Ave.
Downers Grove, IL
FREE (pre‑registration recommended)

Come ready to listen, play, and connect. Register at fvfs.org