Gloria Rie
It has been some time since my last message. I am happy to report that The Humanitarium is alive and well and beginning to respond to the 21st Century by paying careful attention to its web site and keeping you updated on current happenings. The Humanitarium will be moving its office at the beginning of the summer to the Robert H. Williams Cultural Center, 644 Georgetown Street, Lexington, KY 40508.
Last spring we produced and widely distributed the 6th biannual edition of the Diversity Directory in partnership with the local Human Rights Commission.
This was done both in hard copy as well as electronically. The Directory provides information on more than 100 non-profit organizations whose missions promote diversity, multiculturalism and inclusion and honor the rich heritage of our Bluegrass Region. You can find the latest Directory by clicking on the “Diversity Directory” icon.
As President, I am very proud to announce a meaningful partnership with Marjorie Guyon, nationally acclaimed artist who lives and works in Lexington. In 2010 and 2011 the partnership will concentrate on two projects, “Small Blessings” and “Nation of Nations”. (www.marjorieguyon.com). Marjorie has become the newest member of the Humanitarium’s board.
In ”Small Blessings”, reproductions from the artist’s Illumina Project (marjorieguyon.com/recent_illumina.html) will place art into facilities for underserved populations –homeless shelters, clothing distribution facilities, rehabilitation and recovery centers and safe-houses for abused women and children.
“Nation of Nations” is Marjorie’s series of ten works that collectively comprise the melting pot that is America. The Humanitarium will work alongside Marjorie to create and distribute reproduced images of Nation of Nations to act as a visual educational tool in local schools as well as around the country; these images, catalysts to stimulate thought and discussion, will be used to teach principles of democracy, immigration and issues of individual and group identity. Thus the Humanitarium is expanding on the work it began when it brought the teaching curriculum, Facing History and Ourselves, into this region’s schools several years ago.
Another step forward for The Humanitarium is in becoming part of the GoodGiving.net family of non-profits. Sponsored by the Blue Grass Community Foundation, this site provides a comprehensive profile of each organization as well as links to financial information about each organization. Bravo for increased transparency!
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