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

95%

of participants feel more connected to their communities*

$1,198,184

total grant awards*

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

Executive Director
she/her
Contact Samaa

Director of Development
she/her
Contact Diane

Office Manager
she/her
Contact Karen

Operations Manager & Program Specialist
she/her
Contact Marcela

Program Manager
she/her
Contact Nicole

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

Program Coordinator: Grants & Partnerships
she/her
Contact Lizz

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

Program Coordinator: Implementation & Logistics
she/her
Contact Kyle

Communications Manager
he/him
Contact Ian

Board of Directors

Greg Fahy

Board Chair
Hallowell

Luis Millones

Vice Chair
Portland

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 Tod 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

Rosalani Moore

Verona Island

Amie Parker

Buckfield

Lise Pelletier

Fort Kent

Iva Sussman

Houlton

Latest News

Oct 02, 2023
2024 Constance H. Carlson Public Humanities PrizeAccepting nominations October 1…
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Sep 21, 2023
Over $11,000 supporting six projects across MaineLiteracy Volunteers of KennebecIntergenerational…
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Sep 20, 2023
Announcing Jaed Coffin as Recommending Author for Read ME 2024Coffin’s…
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Jul 18, 2023
Over $6,000 supporting seven projects across maineFranco-American Heritage CenterBooks and…
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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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