Large Grant

This grant supports a yearlong initiative that will explore American democracy through exhibitions, public programs and innovative community connections. The centerpiece of this project is the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibition, American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith. This project will spark discussions relevant to the presidential election year, a census year, the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment and the 60th anniversary of the Woolworth Sit-Ins. Using local, state and national histories we will explore questions like: What is democracy? Who votes and how?

This grant supports an outdoor living exhibit to tell the story of North Carolina through plants crucial to its development. UNCC's Center for the Study of the New South and Botanical Gardens will interpret North Carolina's diverse cultures through a historical garden trail, illustrating how plants speak universally. Crops were brought here by many cultures and have incredible stories to tell. Visitors will learn through technology how plants were used in different communities, with experts hosting events to encourage intergenerational conversation.

This grant supports a series of popular education workshops, for the migant community participants will share, explore, and learn from one another’s migration experiences. People’s stories are expressions of their lives. By making connections to others’ stories, we come closer to understanding how they experience the world and increase our capacity for empathy. For decades, migrants and refugees to NC have helped to build our roads, grow our food, and care for our elders, but their stories and humanity remain invisible to many residents.

This grant supports "Beyond Bricks and Mortar" a multifaceted project which shares a missing piece in the history of African American communities in Greenville that were displaced in the 1960's and 1970's. Through oral history and photo documentation, online and traveling exhibitions, community training workshops, and accompanying community symposium this project places developments in Greenville within the context of race relations and urban renewal in North Carolina.

This grant supports the "North Carolina Narrative Healthcare Symposium: Medicine Beyond Medication" a symposium and training for healthcare practitioners to address the role of stories-telling and listening in healthcare. Studies in National Institute of Health and Journal of American Medical Association have demonstrated the value of Narrative Medicine in increasing empathy, reducing ethical violations, preventing burn-out, and increasing diagnostic accuracy in clinical practice.

This grant supports the Bull City 150 project’s mission to invite Durhamites to reckon with the racial and economic injustices of the past 150 years, and commit to building a more equitable future. The project presents original historical research through public exhibitions, where visitors can explore their shared history together, in public. Bull City 150’s exhibitions allow visitors to delve into Durham’s history through first-hand encounters with images, archival documents, sound recordings, maps, data visualizations, and hands-on interactives.

This grant supports the museum's "New South for the New Southerner" cultural series which allows new North Carolinians in the Piedmont region learn about our state. The program is geared for adults interested in the history and culture of the Piedmont region in general and the city of Charlotte in particular. The program will feature guest speakers drawn from academia, publishing, media and the arts. Informal in nature, each program may also feature music, food and drink, short films, interviews, panel discussions and audience participation. 

This Large grant supports the Greensboro Literary Organization's project "Immigration Stories." Their fall 2018 series of events address immigration and refugee issues in America, but specifically as they impact and affect the local community, as part of the organization's year-round Greensboro Bound (GB) programming. The project responds directly to contemporary immigration issues by providing attendees with opportunities to interact with and engage in a series of moderated panel discussions and public readings with scholars, writers, and community leaders.

This project brings together the voices of service members and their families to audiences through an interactive touring exhibit of “care packages,” letters to viewers and monologues from their stories. These materials are created during workshops and individual interviews. Funds from NCHC will partially cover the costs of workshops with student veterans in the fall of 2016 creating and touring an exhibit in 2017. Exhibit will tour to 10 locations in North Carolina.

This project provides an in-depth exploration of the human experience of the invisible war wounds from the voice and perspective of veterans. The project includes: 1) writing and photography workshops for 10 veterans, 2) individual collaborative self-portrait photo session for each veteran, 3) exhibit of writing and photography at The Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover, 4) opening reception with readings, 5) panel discussion.