Humanities in Action: Building a Better Future

In this bonus episode, Neecole Gregory shares an object from the Morton Museum of Collierville History's collection that would have been inconceivable to the Founding Fathers. She also shares the types of artifacts she's collecting today for future curators of her museum.

In this second episode of our special series Curating Tennessee, 1776-2076, we're speaking with Neecole Gregory, the Director of the Morton Museum of Collierville History in Shelby County. You'll hear about a complicated artifact in their collection that reflects historical meaning making and the complicated process of creating a more perfect union. Gregory also shares a recently acquired artifact and what she imagines collecting for the country's Tricentennial.

In this bonus episode, Adam Alfrey discusses an object from the East Tennessee Historical Society collection that would have been inconceivable to the Founding Fathers. He also shares what he's interested in collecting today to help his future counterpart. If you haven't yet, we hope you'll listen to our previous episode to learn more about ETHS, Adam, and our Curating Tennessee series.

In this first episode of our special series Curating Tennessee, 1776-2076, we're joined by Adam Alfrey of the Knox County Public Library. As we prepare for America's 250th birthday, we're asking museum curators across the state to tell us about artifacts in their collections that represent the revolutionary process of creating a more perfect union. We’re discussing what they are collecting today to show how we the people are continuing this undertaking, and we’re inviting them to imagine what they might collect in the next fifty years as we continue this process into the future. 

In this episode, we're speaking with Dr. Warren Dockter, the President and CEO of the East Tennessee Historical Society and Vice Chair of the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial. We’re talking about Tennessee’s role in the American Revolution, the work the Tennessee 250 Commission is doing throughout the state - including making grants to county commissions and organizations, and how he envisions Tennesseeans today setting the stage for our future counterparts celebrating the Tricentennial.Music by Florews  and Mike Kripak from Pixabay.

In this episode, we're exploring uncertainty - the awareness that we've reached the edge of our knowledge - and the role it plays in the public humanities. We'll start by looking at how the Neighborhood Story Project is designed with uncertainty at its core. We'll also look at what happens when the most stable part of a project, our appropriated federal funding, is revoked. Thank you to Amie Thurber, Janet Palmore, Derek Hawn, Nikki Moreland, and Jill Jones-Lazuda for their work on the Neighborhood Story Project and for participating in this podcast.If you would like to support our work, you can do so on our website. And thank you.

In this special episode, we're speaking with Serina Gilbert at Promise Land Heritage Association in Charlotte about her experiences working with Humanities Tennessee and how she imagines their museum will be impacted if our organization is forced to stop our work because of the termination of our federal funding.On April 2, 2025, all of the state humanities councils - including Humanities Tennessee - received notice that our federal funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities was terminated effective immediately. Humanities Tennessee receives approximately $1.2 million annually from the NEH. We leverage this public investment with additional individual, foundation, and corporate contributions to fund programs and projects throughout the state. We need your support to speak to the value of history, cultural studies, stories, ideas, literary arts, and public humanities programming for everyone in Tennessee. Together, we foster connection and community, and this work is more essential than ever! Please contact your elected officials and ask them to reinstate FY25 funding to allow Humanities Tennessee and all the state humanities councils access to the funds already appropriated by Congress and approved through the most recent Continuing Resolution (CR). Without these funds, we will be unable to continue operating. We also welcome individual gifts to support our work.

On April 2, 2025, all of the state humanities councils - including Humanities Tennessee - received notice that our federal funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities was terminated effective immediately. Humanities Tennessee receives approximately $1.2 million annually from the NEH. We leverage this public investment with additional individual, foundation, and corporate contributions to fund programs and projects throughout the state. In this special episode, we're speaking with Kelly Hamlin at Wolf Gap in Pulaski, TN, about her experiences working with Humanities Tennessee and how she imagines her community will be impacted if Humanities Tennessee is forced to close its doors. We need your support to speak to the value of history, cultural studies, stories, ideas, literary arts, and public humanities programming for everyone in Tennessee. Together, we foster connection and community, and this work is more essential than ever! Please contact your elected officials and ask them to reinstate FY25 funding to allow Humanities Tennessee and all the state humanities councils access to the funds already appropriated by Congress and approved through the most recent Continuing Resolution (CR). Without these funds, we will be unable to continue operating. We also welcome individual gifts to support our work.

In this episode, we're speaking with Tranae Chatman, the President of the Inter-Museum Council of Nashville. We’re talking about ICON’s Community Histories oral history project, why this volunteer, professional organization decided to take on the work, and what she hopes the future impact of the project will be.Music by Nikola Špoljar and Mike Kripak from Pixabay

In this episode, we're speaking with Shamichael Hallman, the Director of Civic Health and Economic Opportunity at the Urban Libraries Council and author of Meet Me at the Library: A Place to Foster Social Connection and Promote Democracy.We’re talking about his role in reimagining the Cossitt Library in Downtown Memphis, why libraries are a critical part of civic infrastructure, and what he envisions for the future of libraries.Music by BackgroundMusicForVideo and Mike Kripak from Pixabay.

In this episode, we're speaking with Sheila Renee Moore Williams who manages theMoore Family Farm in Benton County, Tennessee, with the assistance of her family. We’re talking about her family’s farming legacy, the Moore Land Project: Testimonies of Black Owned Farms and Gardens in Tennessee, and what she hopes for the future of Black and Indigenous farming in our state.

In this episode, we're speaking with Mark Dudney, a public historian and regional planner for the Upper Cumberland Development District. We’re talking about why historic preservation and public history are important in rural communities and his hopes for the future of Tennessee’s Upper Cumberland region. Music by Grand_Project and Mike Kripak from Pixabay.

In this episode, we're speaking with Emily Masters, the Development Director at Launch Tennessee - a nonprofit organization that supports the state’s startup ecosystem through capital, connections, and commercialization.  We’re talking about Launch Tennessee’s programs, how Masters's background in the humanities impacts her role and the organization, and what role the humanities could play in the future of Tennessee startups. Music by  Oleksii Holubiev and Mike Kripak from Pixabay

In this episode, we're speaking with Cameron Katz, Head of Content + Partnerships for ⁠Made By Us⁠. We’re talking about how Made by Us is building a coalition of cultural institutions and members of Gen Z to empower young adults to understand our history in order to create our future. During the episode, we'll discuss two of Made By Us's largest programs. Click here to learn more about ⁠Civic Season⁠ and ⁠Youth 250⁠ by following the links. You can also discover your civic superpower ⁠here⁠.

In this episode, we're speaking with Jessica Moore, the Executive Director of ⁠Autism Tennessee⁠, and Casey Davis, the organization’s Adult Program Director. We’re talking about Autism Tennessee’s Exploring Autistic Life and Culture Project, why it’s needed, and how they hope their programming impacts their participants into the future. Humanities Tennessee is proud to support the Exploring Autistic Life and Culture Project with a ⁠FY23-24 General Grant⁠. Music by ⁠SunnyVibesAudio⁠  and ⁠Mike Kripak⁠ from ⁠Pixabay⁠

This is the final episode of our special edition United We Stand: Connecting Through Culture series about the future of belonging in Tennessee. Host and historian Brigette Jones and Humanities Tennessee’s executive director Tim Henderson discuss the outcomes of the series, what we've learning, and where this work may lead us in the future. United We Stand: Connecting Through Culture is a joint initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts that leverages the arts and humanities to combat hate motivated violence. Music by ⁠Mike Kripak⁠ from ⁠Pixabay.⁠

In this episode, speaking with Dr. Bradley Hanson, Director of Folklife for the Tennessee Arts Commission, and Evangeline Mee, the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Traditional Arts Specialist. We’re talking about the Tennessee Folklife Institute, why it’s needed, what participants in the next cohort can expect, and what they hope for the future of folklife in Tennessee. The Tennessee Folklife Program is currently accepting applications for the 2025 Tennessee Folklife Institute cohort. Applications are due by January 15, 2025. Humanities Tennessee provides funding and programming support for the Tennessee Folklife Institute.  Music by Dvir Silver and Mike Kripak from Pixabay.

This episode is part of our special edition United We Stand: Connecting Through Culture series about the future of belonging in Tennessee. In this episode, host and historian Brigette Jones discusses the mission of the National Civil Rights Museum with Ryan Jones, the museum’s Director of History, Interpretation & Curatorial Services. United We Stand: Connecting Through Culture is a joint initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts that leverages the arts and humanities to combat hate motivated violence.

In this episode, we're speaking with Amie Thurber, the creator and facilitator of the Neighborhood Story Project. We’re talking about how the project developed, why community-facilitated storytelling is important, and how she hopes participants will continue to impact communities in the future. Humanities Tennessee is accepting letters of interest from organizations that are interested in doing a Neighborhood Story Project. LOIs are due by December 6, 2024. For more information about the process and how to express interest, please download this flier. Music by Zakhar Valaha  and Mike Kripak from Pixabay

This is the fourth episode in our special edition United We Stand: Connecting Through Culture series about the future of belonging in Tennessee. In this episode, host and historian Brigette Jones discusses Black in Appalachia with William Isom, the organization’s Director. United We Stand: Connecting Through Culture is a joint initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) that leverages the arts and humanities to combat hate motivated violence.