About MHC | Maine Humanities Council

Mission & Vision

Mission

The Maine Humanities Council, a statewide non-profit organization, uses the humanities—literature, history, philosophy, and culture—as a tool for positive change in Maine communities. Our programs and grants encourage critical thinking and conversations across social, economic, and cultural boundaries.

Vision

Maine communities transformed by the power and pleasure of ideas.

Equity & Inclusion

The Maine Humanities Council acknowledges that the humanities often privilege some groups over others, reflect our society’s structural racism, and define the contours of humanity in exclusionary ways.

The MHC has shifted our priorities in an effort to acknowledge and address the marginalization that exists in our culture and within the humanities. It is our hope that our shifts can begin to make amends for the ways we have knowingly or unknowingly reinforced oppressive systems and exclusion.

Read full Statement on Equity & Inclusion

By the Numbers

Connecting Communities

95%

of participants feel more connected to their communities*

Supporting State Cultural Organizations

$1,198,184

total grant awards*

Engagement

95%

of participants feel inspired to learn more about a topic discussed in their program*

*Since January 2020

public humanities prize holders

The Constance H. Carlson Public Humanities Prize is awarded to a Maine resident who has connected and empowered people in Maine through the public humanities.

Maya Williams

Portland Poet Laureate

For their powerful creation of safe spaces for discussion and art, whose leadership ensure that people engage with empathy, community, and understanding. 

Myron M. Beasley, PhD

Associate Professor, Bates College

For his innovative leadership in conversations around art, his care in connecting audiences, and the breadth and depth he brings to his creative projects. 

Staff

Samaa Abdurraqib

Executive Director
she/her
Contact Samaa

Harper Batsford

Program Coordinator
he/him
Contact Harper

Genius Black

Digital Media Coordinator
he/him
Contact Genius

Karen Brown

Office Manager
she/her
Contact Karen

Diane Magras

Director of Development
she/her
Contact Diane

Marcela Peres

Operations Manager & Program Specialist
she/her
Contact Marcela

Nicole Rancourt

Program Manager
she/her
Contact Nicole

Meghan Reedy

Program Coordinator
she/her
Contact Meghan

Lizz Sinclair

Program Coordinator
she/her
Contact Lizz

Sampson Spadafore

Social Media Manager
he/him they/them
Contact Sampson

Kyle Volland

Program Coordinator
she/her
Contact Kyle

Ian Watkins

Communications Manager
he/him
Contact Ian

Board of Directors

Paul Buck

Board Chair
St. Agatha

Martha Tod Dudman

Vice Chair
Northeast Harbor

Brendon Reay

Treasurer
Blue Hill

Joseph M. Hall

Secretary
Lewiston

Lucie Estabrook

Bangor

Ayesha Hall

Saco

Tam Thanh T. Huynh

Augusta

Ryan Lolar

Portland

Camden Martin

Auburn

John P. Moore

Yarmouth

Rosalani Moore

Verona Island

Mouhamédoul Niang