Newsroom Category: AHA News

2023 Alabama Humanities Fellows announced

BIRMINGHAM / August 16, 2023 — A pair of Alabama natives, widely acclaimed for their insights into American history and democracy, will return home this fall to be celebrated as 2023 Alabama Humanities Fellows.

On October 23, the Alabama Humanities Alliance (AHA) will honor Imani Perry, Ph.D., and David Mathews, Ph.D., at the Alabama Colloquium, presented by Regions. The highlight of the event will feature CNN anchor and Prattville native Kaitlan Collins in a wide-ranging conversation with the honorees. The conversation will explore how examining our past can offer healing and strength for Alabama’s communities today.

The Alabama Colloquium annually offers a chance to celebrate the humanities’ impact in Alabama, honor individuals who use the humanities to make our state and nation a better place to live, and raise funds to support AHA’s statewide programming.

Following the event, AHA will offer a limited-capacity listening tour of Wallace House, in Shelby County. Built in 1841, the Wallace House was once part of a 5,000-acre cotton plantation, which was worked by nearly 100 enslaved people. Today, descendants of the home’s White landowners and enslaved Black population work together to examine their shared history and create a space for mutual understanding and reconciliation.

EVENT DETAILS

Alabama Colloquium | October 23, 2023
Grand Bohemian Hotel | Birmingham | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Tickets and info: alabamahumanities.swell.gives

ABOUT THE HONOREES
Imani Perry, a Birmingham native, is a scholar of law, literature, history, and cultural studies, as well as a creative nonfiction author. In 2022, she won the National Book Award for Nonfiction for South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation.

Perry has written five other books, including Looking for Lorraine: The Radiant and Radical Life of Lorraine Hansberry, which won the 2019 PEN Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography, and May We Forever Stand: A History of the Black National Anthem, winner of the 2019 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for Nonfiction.

Perry is a professor in the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences and at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute, one of the world’s leading centers for interdisciplinary exploration. She has bachelor’s degrees from Yale in American studies and literature, along with two terminal degrees from Harvard — a J.D. and a Ph.D. in the History of American Civilization. Outside of academia, Perry is a contributing writer for The Atlantic, where she pens a weekly newsletter that frequently reckons with the past, “Unsettled Territory.”

David Mathews, a Grove Hill native, has dedicated his life to building community and promoting democracy. Mathews earned an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Alabama and a Ph.D. in history from Columbia University. Returning to UA, Mathews both taught history and made it. He served as a history professor from 1965-1980, became the youngest president of a major university when he began his UA tenure at age 33, and presided over the integration of the Crimson Tide’s football program under Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.

Mathews also served as U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare in President Gerald Ford’s administration, where he worked on restoring public confidence in government. And he spent four decades as president and CEO of the Kettering Foundation, focusing the nonprofit’s work on engaging citizens in the democratic process.

Mathews’ legacy is evidenced in Alabama at the David Mathews Center for Civic Life, which seeks to strengthen civic engagement statewide.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR
Kaitlan Collins, a Prattville native, is a journalist and anchor of CNN’s primetime show, “The Source with Kaitlan Collins.” Previously, Collins was co-anchor and chief correspondent of “CNN This Morning.” Prior to that, she served as CNN’s chief White House correspondent, based in Washington, D.C.

Collins earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and political science from the University of Alabama.

About the Alabama Humanities Alliance
Founded in 1974, the nonprofit Alabama Humanities Alliance serves as a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. AHA promotes impactful storytelling, lifelong learning and civic engagement. We provide Alabamians with opportunities to connect with our shared cultures and to see each other as fully human. Through our grantmaking, we help scholars, communities and cultural nonprofits create humanities-rich projects that are accessible to all Alabamians — from literary festivals and documentary films to museum exhibitions and research collections. Learn more at alabamahumanities.org.

Poet and storyteller Tania De’Shawn Russell joins AHA staff

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. / May 9, 2023 — Tania De’Shawn Russell has joined the staff of the Alabama Humanities Alliance, where she’ll serve as the statewide nonprofit’s outreach and social media coordinator. Russell will help expand AHA’s reach, connect more Alabamians to the humanities, and highlight how the humanities can make Alabama a smarter, kinder, more vibrant place to live.

Russell is a Birmingham native and a graduate of Berea College in Kentucky. She has extensive social media and digital marketing experience, as well as a passion for how storytelling can transform lives and restore agency to marginalized communities. As a poet and teaching artist, Russell has been featured at the Magic City Poetry Festival, Birmingham Children’s Theatre, and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. She has also served as a teaching assistant for PEN America’s Birmingham chapter, and as the artist in residence at The Flourish, Alabama.

“We all have gems of unsaid, unwritten, and sometimes undervalued stories to share,” Russell says. “No matter how silly, ordinary, or heavy, they all build different points of connection to people we may never meet. I am humbled to be a part of a community at AHA that fearlessly shares the stories so many would want us to forget. My love for storytelling continues to grow as I see the change so many of our scholars make by speaking about their firsthand experiences and latest research. I aim to ensure our entire community feels seen, supported, and valued.”

Earlier this year, the Magic City Poetry Festival named Russell its 2023 Eco-Poetry Fellow, an award that celebrates the intersections between poetry and the environment. As part of her fellowship, Russell will partner with the Birmingham Public Library to produce poetry events that uplift and enlighten the Birmingham community.

Russell’s partnership with the Birmingham Public Library isn’t new. In 2022, the Friends of the Birmingham Public Library received an Alabama Public Humanities Grant from AHA to present an event based on Russell’s first book, be gentle with black girls: addressing adultification bias and protecting black childhood. The evening included an author reading by Russell and a panel discussion centered around Black girls’ lived experiences.

“We talk a lot at AHA about how the humanities can provide context, cultivate empathy, and really help Alabamians see each other as fully human,” says Phillip Jordan, communications director at the Alabama Humanities Alliance. “Tania embodies those values to her core. She is committed to making the humanities accessible to all and to helping everyone realize that we’re all storytellers who can learn from each other. I’m thrilled that she’s joining us and will help us keep growing AHA’s diverse community of lifelong learners statewide.”

To connect with the Alabama Humanities Alliance, visit alabamahumanities.org, and join AHA’s virtual community on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

About the Alabama Humanities Alliance
Founded in 1974, the nonprofit Alabama Humanities Alliance serves as a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. AHA promotes impactful storytelling, lifelong learning, and civic engagement. We provide Alabamians with opportunities to connect with our shared cultures and to see each other as fully human. Through our grantmaking, we help scholars, communities, and cultural nonprofits create humanities-rich projects that are accessible to all Alabamians — from literary festivals and documentary films to museum exhibitions and research collections. Learn more at alabamahumanities.org.

Ed Mizzell named chair of Alabama Humanities Alliance

BIRMINGHAM / February 6, 2023 — The board of directors of the Alabama Humanities Alliance has named Ed Mizzell as its new chair. Mizzell, a longtime executive at Birmingham’s Luckie & Co., officially began his term on January 1.

Mizzell’s appointment comes as the Alabama Humanities Alliance looks toward its 50th anniversary in 2024. As a nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, AHA offers public programs and grant opportunities that support impactful storytelling, lifelong learning, and civic engagement statewide.

“It’s an honor and a joy to support the work of the Alabama Humanities Alliance,” Mizzell says. “The humanities do all those things that help us learn more about our past, explore our different cultures, and get to know our neighbors better. And AHA is all about using the humanities to uplift our state and bring Alabamians together.”

Mizzell knows Alabama well. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Auburn University and his MBA at Samford University. In 1981, he joined Luckie & Co., the Birmingham-based marketing solutions firm. Today, he serves as Luckie’s EVP managing director and as a member of its board of directors. Mizzell also recently served as project director for The Official United States Civil Rights Trail: What Happened Here Changed the World. The book, published in 2021 and supported by the Alabama Tourism Department, takes readers on a journey through some of the most important sites of the civil rights movement.

“We’re so fortunate to have Ed’s leadership and experience,” says Chuck Holmes, executive director of the Alabama Humanities Alliance. “His enthusiasm for our work is infectious and his guidance will be crucial as we approach our 50th anniversary next year.”

Grantmaking has been a constant for AHA during its first half-century. Each year, the organization offers a variety of public humanities grants that help fund everything from literary festivals and special exhibits to documentaries, oral history projects, and more. In 2022, AHA awarded more than $300,000 in funding statewide.

The Alabama Humanities Alliance also regularly brings traveling Smithsonian exhibitions to the state. Beginning this fall, Crossroads will appear in five Alabama towns, exploring how rural America — and rural Alabama — has transformed over the past century.

Also, this fall, AHA will present its annual Alabama Colloquium, a public event honoring its newest Alabama Humanities Fellows — individuals who use the humanities to make Alabama a smarter, kinder, more vibrant place to live. In 2022, AHA honored Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, and the late Rep. John Lewis.

Among its other work, AHA offers ongoing teacher workshops and teacher scholarships; produces podcast series on democracy and history; and offers a Road Scholars speakers bureau that includes more than 30 scholar-storytellers who speak in communities across the state.

AHA’s board leadership now includes:

Chair Ed Mizzell, of Birmingham, EVP managing director of Luckie & Co.
Vice Chair Dorothy W. Huston, Ph.D., of Huntsville; founder and CEO of Technology Management Training and past vice president at Alabama A&M University.
Secretary Mark D. Nelson, Ph.D., of Tuscaloosa; past dean of the College of Communication & Information Sciences at the University of Alabama.
Treasurer Chandra Brown Stewart, of Mobile; executive director of Lifelines Counseling Services and co-founder of the Society of Clotilda.
Immediate Past Chair Joe Aistrup, Ph.D., of Auburn; political science professor at Auburn University and past dean of Auburn’s College of Liberal Arts.
Executive Committee, At-Large Robert McGhee, of Atmore; vice chair of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Tribal Council.
Executive Committee, At-Large Brett Shaffer, of Birmingham; head of community relations at Regions Bank.

Snider named Alabama History Day coordinator

December 7, 2022 / Birmingham, Ala. — Idrissa N. Snider, Ph.D., has joined the Alabama Humanities Alliance as program coordinator for Alabama History Day, one of the statewide nonprofit’s cornerstone programs.

Alabama History Day, a state-level affiliate of National History Day, gives middle school and high school students a creative and dynamic way to engage with history. Students learn to do primary research and then become authors, filmmakers, web developers, playwrights, and artists to creatively present their findings. History Day also serves as a dynamic project-learning tool for Alabama educators and as a source of camaraderie for classrooms and schools.

“Serving in this capacity is a privilege and an honor,” Snider says, “because I know firsthand how important it is for the youth in our state to learn about their history and the history of others. What makes the History Day program vital to our community is that it encourages students and educators alike to explore the world around them in creative and meaningful ways.”

Snider is a writer, educator, communicator and DEI trainer. She earned her doctoral degree at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich., and a Master of Arts degree from UAB in Communications Management. She received her bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University in Film and Journalism. Snider has more than 20 years of experience of working with youth and advocacy groups.

Her scholarly interests focus on rhetorical criticism and womanist studies, and she has taught several African American studies and communications-themed courses at colleges throughout the state, including UAB. Snider also served as a visiting assistant professor at Samford University.

“This is an important hire for us because History Day is far more than a single day,” says Chuck Holmes, executive director of the Alabama Humanities Alliance. “It is a yearlong process that helps teachers and mentors bring history to life for students, and teaches our young people how to be effective researchers and storytellers.

“With her experience and expertise, Idrissa will extend the reach of History Day across the state and build relationships to broaden and diversify participation in this vital program.”

Registration is now open for Alabama History Day 2023, set for March 3, 2023, at Auburn University at Montgomery. This year’s theme is “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.” Individual and group winners in each contest category will be eligible to advance to National History Day next June in Washington, D.C., and College Park, Maryland.

To learn more about Alabama History Day, visit alabamahumanities.org/alabama-history-day.