- Featured, News, Youth-Led Humanities
At Saturday Light Brigade Radio, young people lead live broadcasts, choose the topics they care about, and engage in thoughtful conversations about history, community, their schools and their own lives.
We champion the humanities to spark civic engagement, build community, educate, inspire, and make long-lasting change.
Here's all we accomplished together in 2025, the most challenging year in PA Humanities’ history.
We contribute our learnings to the larger conversation about the role of the humanities in creating lasting change through major projects, including PA CultureCheck, PA Humanities Discovery Project, and more. We put participatory research at the forefront of all our work and partner with scholars, consultants, and a cross-sector of leaders including Drexel University, University of Pennsylvania’s PennPraxis, Elizabeth Myrick + Associates, and Allegheny Intermediate Unit.
An independent nonprofit that puts people first, PA Humanities relies on financial support from people like you. As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, your support will help more Pennsylvanians experience the humanities and put them in action through civic engagement, education, building community, and however they are inspired to make change.
🎉PA Humanities is proud to announce our first-ever 2026 Rain Poetry Grant awardees!
Building on the success of our popular statewide Rain Poetry program, ten organizations across Pennsylvania will receive funding to support youth creativity by bringing young people’s words to life in public spaces through rain-activated poetry installations and public celebrations.
Congrats to the awardees:
Basement Poetry - Bethlehem, Lehigh County
Boyertown Community Library - Boyertown, Berks County
Carlisle Arts Learning Center - Carlisle, Cumberland County
Chester Writers House / Sparrow House - Chester, Delaware County
City Charter High School - Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Confluence Creative Arts Center - Confluence, Somerset County
Corry Higher Education Council - Corry, Erie County
Friends’ Memorial Public Library - Kane, McKean County
Pearl S. Buck International - Perkasie, Bucks County
Rodef Shalom Congregation - Pittsburgh, Allegheny County
Find the full press release on PAHumanities.org
Rain Poetry is part of PA Humanities’ ongoing work to spark creativity, strengthen communities, and connect people through the power of the humanities. Its expansion has been made possible with the support of Pennsylvania’s state legislators. Funding has been provided by William Penn Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, Pennsylvania Rural Arts Alliance, Richard King Mellon Foundation, The Grable Foundation, The Wyomissing Foundation, with support from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, administered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth Financing Authority, and the Department of Community and Economic Development Community and Economic Assistance Program.
#RainPoetry #RainPoetryPA
@basementpoetry @boyertown.library @carlislearts @chester_writers_house @cityhighpgh @confluencecreativeartscenter @corryhied @pearlsbuckintl @rodef.shalom
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“There are fewer opportunities for the type of communion that happens when you share a story about something happening on this micro level that only matters to a very small amount of people, but it’s still so important.”
🎥 Journalist and podcaster Lee Stabert speaks about how her partnership with PA Humanities created powerful opportunities to engage people from across the state in transformational conversations about the humanities.
Watch the full video at PAHumanities.org !
This video is part of #LetsRise, our collection of videos celebrating the humanities in Pennsylvania, created by Emmy-winning journalist Kelly Dessoye.
This series is made possible with the generous support of Thomas B. Hagen.
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“...there’s a spirit of independence and energy in our libraries that have worked with PA Humanities.”
🎥 Watch as Susan Banks, Deputy Secretary for Libraries and State Librarian, reflects on how partnering with PA Humanities has engaged and inspired young people through reading, reflection, and real-world impact.
This video is part of #LetsRise, our collection of videos celebrating the humanities in Pennsylvania, created by Emmy-winning journalist Kelly Dessoye.
Watch the full video at pahumanities.org
This series is made possible with the generous support of Thomas B. Hagen.
Pennsylvania Department of Education Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) PA Forward Pennsylvania Libraries
https://youtu.be/i5xtnpf80_w?si=bVT3m8yjhbhsQfTo
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Consider making a gift today to help us reach our $25,000 end-of-year goal! This would put us in great shape to meet our fundraising needs for our planned work in 2026.
We are developing a strong, growing slate of activities for next year without relying on a dime of federal funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Our programs reach every corner of the Commonwealth and support youth, communities, creativity, and the upcoming 250th celebration of the Declaration of Independence.
Let’s keep doing the work together - have a happy and healthy New Year!
Donate now: pahumanities.org/donate
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