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

Joseph Jackson

2022 Constance H. Carlson Public Humanities Prize

Carol Dana

2022 Constance H. Carlson Public Humanities Prize

Wendy Allen

2022 MHC Facilitator Prize

Literacy Volunteers of Franklin & Somerset County

2022 MHC Partner Prize

Staff

Samaa Abdurraqib

Executive Director
she/her
 Contact Samaa

Diane Magras

Director of Development
she/her
 Contact Diane

Karen Myrick

Office Manager
she/her
 Contact Karen

Marcela Peres

Operations Manager & Program Specialist
she/her
 Contact Marcela

Nicole Rancourt

Program Manager
she/her
 Contact Nicole

Meghan Reedy

Program Coordinator: Narrative & Content Development
she/her
 Contact Meghan

Lizz Sinclair

Program Coordinator: Grants & Partnerships
she/her
 Contact Lizz

Sampson Spadafore

Program Coordinator: Communications and Content Creation
he/him they/them
 Contact Sampson

Kyle Volland

Program Coordinator: Implementation & Logistics
she/her
 Contact Kyle

Ian Watkins

Communications Manager
he/him
 Contact Ian

Board of Directors

Greg Fahy

Board Chair
Hallowell

Melody Fitch

Pittston
Hallowell

Ted Kelleher

Treasurer
South Portland

Julie Sheehan

Secretary
Auburn

Lawrence Boyle

Biddeford

Paul Buck

St. Agatha

Reid Byers

Portland

Joe Conforti

Portland

Jean Deighan

Bangor

Martha Todd Dudman

Northeast Harbor

Joseph M. Hall

Lewiston

Tam Thanh T. Huynh

Augusta

Mazie Hough

Orono

Margery Irvine

Brooklin

Georges Budagu Makoko

Portland

Larissa Malone

Portland

Luis Millones

Portland

Lise Pelletier

Fort Kent

Iva Sussman

Houlton

Latest News

All News
May 15, 2023

Spring 2023 Mini Grant Awards

Over $15,000 supporting 10 projects across MainePortland Parks ConservancyUnderstanding the…
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Apr 10, 2023

2023 Major Grant Awards

Over $96,000 supporting 14 projects across MaineMaine State LibraryJason Reynolds…
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Mar 17, 2023

Samma Abdurraqib Meet and Greet

Join us for a community reception at Lewiston Public Library
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Mar 13, 2023

Read ME 2023 Books

Announcing the Featured Books for Summer 2023!Recommending Author Colin Woodard…
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Support MHC

Your gift will increase connections, agency, and engagement throughout Maine and help provide the facilitators, speakers, and books needed to create all of our programming.

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