LEH’s Institute for Louisiana Culture and History Wins Prestigious National Award
At the National Humanities Conference on Friday, November 15, the Federation of State Humanities Councils (Federation) presented the 2024 Schwartz Prize for outstanding work in the public humanities to the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) for the Institute for Louisiana Culture and History, as well as Humanities Montana for The Democracy Project and Wisconsin Humanities for Community Powered.
“These award-winning projects reflect the power of the public humanities and the deep community engagement at the core of humanities council work,” said Phoebe Stein, President of the Federation of State Humanities Councils. “Each project, in its own unique way, furthers education, access, and community health at the local level in ways that can inspire us nationally, even globally. My sincere congratulations to all.”
About the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities’ Institute for Louisiana Culture and History
The Institute for Louisiana Culture and History (ILCH) is a statewide educational hub providing reliable, free, and easily accessed Louisiana social studies resources to K–12 students and their teachers through workshops and online resources that are grade-level aligned at 64parishes.org/education.
Through the institute, LEH aims to ensure that every Louisiana student has access to free digital social studies content and that every Louisiana educator receives the pedagogical support necessary to bring this content to life in the classroom.
ILCH, which was launched in 2022 thanks to a grant from the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation, is strengthened by key partnerships with expert historians, curriculum specialists, and scholars as well as with organizations such as the Louisiana Department of Education, universities, museums, and archives. The institute and its partners all work toward a common goal of equipping teachers and students with the best social studies resources available to explore Louisiana’s complex history and culture and develop an understanding and appreciation of the state, its people, and its contributions to history.
One teacher workshop attendee remarked, “I will approach this [school] year with more openness and energy! I have been revived in my ‘why!’…This workshop has lessened my anxiety and awaken[ed] my creativity.”
About the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
LEH acts as a steward and supporter of Louisiana’s diverse and vibrant culture and history. To that end, we are dedicated to ensuring access to the humanities, offering and broadening pathways for a lifetime of learning for people of every generation and from every walk of life. They champion the humanities to enrich the lives of all Louisianans in all 64 parishes. Visit leh.org to learn more.
About the Schwartz Prize
Since 1982, the Federation has awarded the Schwartz Prize to up to three councils for outstanding work in the public humanities each year. The prize was established by founding Federation board member Martin Schwartz and his wife, Helen. The Schwartz Prize judges are selected from humanities partners, former board members, and council board and staff of the prior year’s winners. For more information, visit www.statehumanities.org/schwartz-prize-faqs.
The Federation of State Humanities Councils
The Federation of State Humanities Councils (Federation) was founded in 1977 as the membership association of state and jurisdictional councils. The Federation provides support for the state humanities councils and strives to create greater awareness of the humanities in public and private life. For more information about the Federation, visit: www.statehumanities.org.
The state humanities councils are independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations supporting grassroots humanities programs and community-based activities. Humanities councils were created by Congress in the early 1970s and receive an annual congressional appropriation through the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), which most councils supplement with private funding. For more information about the state humanities councils, visit www.statehumanities.org/directory.
