In honor of the country’s 250th anniversary, Illinois Humanities is partnering with the Illinois America 250 Commission and StoryCorps Studios to present Illinois Voices 250, a statewide time capsule of conversations from people in all 102 Illinois counties.
We’re inviting Illinoisans from every background, experience, and perspective to share a story, a memory, a worry, a hope, and whatever feels true to you. Your voice helps future generations understand what life, liberty, and happiness look like for people living in Illinois today.
Why participate:
✨ Take a moment to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going
❤️ Share a conversation with someone who matters to you
🤝 Help others understand the wide range of experiences across our state
📚 Contribute to a record that includes everyone’s story — not just a few
🎙️ Ready to add your voice? Submit your free recording today at ilhumanities.org/ilvoices250 or at the link in our bio.
#ILVoices250 #ILHumanities #IL250 #StoryCorps
The Public Humanities Awards are back for 2026!
Join us on September 23, 2026 in Chicago, as we celebrate the people and organizations advancing the humanities across Illinois. Awardees and venue will be announced soon.
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available at ilhumanities.org/PHA or at the link in our bio.
#ILHumanities #PHA26
Applications are now open for Illinois Humanities’ Odyssey Project/El Proyecto Odisea!
The Odyssey Project/El Proyecto Odisea offers the opportunity to explore the humanities, build confidence, strengthen critical thinking skills, and earn up to 11 free college credits from the University of Illinois Chicago — all at no cost.
Learn more and apply today at the link in our bio. 📲
#ILHumanities #TheOdysseyProject #ProyectoOdisea #AdultEducation #FreeCollegeProgram #ChicagoLearners
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 the link in our bio or at ilhumanities.org/grants
#ILHumanities #EnvisioningJustice #GrantOpportunity #ArtsAndHumanities
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
#APeoplesSalon #ILHumanities #DoingHistory #IL250
A late announcement, I’ve been selected as an Illinois Road Scholar for 2026-27. What that means is the state will send researchers and presenters to cultural and arts institutions all over Illinois that don’t have the resources or access to them.
But what I like most is the title itself: “Road Scholar” evokes the exact punk academia that I live for. It favores street knowledge as opposed to ivory tower rigidity.
I’ll be bringing my storytelling workshops and also a presentation called “The Curious Stories of South Asian Immigrants” based on my oral history work.
Schedule for the next few months is below. I’ll add more details as they come. You can also book me at link in bio or through @ilhumanities
May 9- Blind Service Chicago, 1pm
Jun 13-World Music Foundation, 3pm
Jun 21- Illinois State University (masters program teachers retreat), 4 pm
Aug 24- Helen Plum Library, 6:30 pm
Sep 17- Chillicothe Public Library, 4 pm
Tbd- Jonesboro Public Library
Catch me on the road 🚦🚙
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 or the link in our bio.
#ILVoices250 #ILHumanities #IL250 #StoryCorps
✨ Ready to start a new chapter? Applications are now open for Illinois Humanities’ Odyssey Project / El Proyecto Odisea!
Dive into the humanities, build confidence, sharpen critical thinking skills, and earn up to 11 free college credits from the University of Illinois Chicago, at no cost.
This is your invitation to learn, grow, and explore. Apply today at the link in our bio or at ilhumanities.org/odyssey or ilhumanities.org/odisea!
#ILHumanities #TheOdysseyProject #ProyectoOdisea #AdultEducation #FreeCollegeProgram #ChicagoLearners
Join us for the final salon of the season: DOING HISTORY: A People’s Salon.
When does history happen? Who decides which histories endure and how they’re interpreted? And how do those choices shape our dreams, lives, and communities?
By actively engaging with history - researching, sharing, and recognizing our power as creators rather than passive observers - we deepen our understanding of the present and open new possibilities for the future. Illinois Humanities invites you to our final salon of 2026, DOING HISTORY, to reflect on individual, local, and national histories and to make new history together.
Come curious. Come hungry. Come ready to make HISTORY. Explore photos from our April gathering and register for free at the link in our bio or at ilhumanities.org/history.
#APeoplesSalon #ILHumanities #DoingHistory #IL250
Join our sister council, Missouri Humanities as they welcome New York Times Bestselling Author Denise Kiernan to St. Louis on June 30th for our 2026 “Story of US” Keynote event. Kiernan is the author of "The Girls of Atomic City" and "The Last Castle."
Join as she discusses her upcoming book, "Obstinate Daughters," about the writers, renegades, enslaved women, soldiers, and community leaders who ignited the fight for America’s independence. Doors open at 5PM with a cash bar, resource tables, and books available for purchase. The program will begin at 6PM, which will include an opportunity for audience Q&A, followed by a book signing with the author.
Ticket Link: /events/detail/denise-kiernan
✨ Envisioning Justice Grant Opportunity ✨
We’re supporting arts and humanities based projects that deepen public understanding of mass incarceration and its impact on communities across Illinois.
👥 Individuals and organizations are encouraged to submit a Letter of Intent by June 12, 2026.
🔗 Click the link in our bio to check eligibility and learn more.
#ILHumanities #EnvisioningJustice #GrantOpportunity
⏰ Only 3 days left! ⏰
Submissions for this year’s Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Awards close in just three days!
Illinois Humanities is honored to celebrate 10 years as the steward of these historic awards, first launched in 1969 by former Illinois Poet Laureate, Gwendolyn Brooks, acclaimed poet, author, and the first Black Pulitzer Prize winner.
Educators and guardians: our free online resources are ready to help students polish their work and submit with confidence.
⏳ Deadline is almost here, submit before it’s too late! Visit the link in our bio to learn more and apply today.
#ILHumanities #GBYPA
