Keepers of Our Stories

The stories we gather shape who we are; the stories we share shape the world we live in. 

 Colorado Humanities has been in the business of telling the human story for more than 50 years. I was fortunate to be a part of that effort for 43 years. I can attest that every one of our humanities programs - living history performances, writing programs for young people, author talks, teacher institutes, facilitated conversations, museum exhibits, family reading programs, films, and more - was a vehicle for sharing a part of the human story and provided a place for people to seek, remember, create, and share their own stories.

 Recently, I have been going through family photo albums. Some photos tell me stories, stories that I want to share with family members and friends. Other photos prompt questions. I want to understand what shaped the lives of the people pictured. I want to know their stories and learn how they intersect with mine.

 The beauty of stories is that they come to us in many ways - some written, some told, some new, some old; from scholars and neighbors, journalists and artists, religious leaders and media producers, teachers and writers, and family and friends.   

 Stories help us to understand the past and to imagine a future. They inspire us, create empathy, and can guide us through challenging times.

 I'm raising funds to keep our stories alive through humanities programs that reach statewide.  Without sufficient funding, Colorado Humanities and its cultural and educational partners cannot continue the important work of connecting us all to the stories that define us, our state, and the world. When you support my campaign, you help communities to record and preserve their history, help kids discover the joy of reading, give teachers new resources, and provide exhibits, films, and speakers to rural and remote communities.

 The human story is at risk. Please donate.  And please share your story with us.