Mass Humanities Announces 2022 Grants Calendar

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NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — Four new funding opportunities from Mass Humanities seek to respond to the challenges facing the people of Massachusetts. 
 
Part of a new three-year strategic plan, the foundation's 2022 grants calendar prioritizes support for projects and local organizations serving historically marginalized communities. 
 
"The people of Massachusetts continue to turn to the humanities in this time of ongoing crises," said Brian Boyles, Executive Director of Mass Humanities. "In this unsteady world, we know that our museums, libraries, and cultural centers need options and flexibility from funders. We believe these grants will create more opportunities for people to engage with the past, share their own stories, and confront injustice."  
 
Mass Humanities offers four ways for nonprofits and tribal entities to seek funding in 2022: 
 
Expand Massachusetts Stories Grants: Up to $20,000 for projects that seek, share, and/or interpret stories of Massachusetts, using the humanities to improve our shared understanding of the Bay State.
 
Staffing the Humanities Grants: $7000-$20,000 grants to small museums, humanities, and community cultural organizations to increase staffing to grow, create, or bring back humanities programs.
 
Reading Frederick Douglass Together Grants: Up to $1200 for communities to host shared public readings of Frederick Douglass's speech on the meaning of the 4th of July.
 
Bridge Street Sponsorships: Up to $1500 for history centers, societies, and historic sites to host online or hybrid programs during the 2022 calendar year.
 
The grants are made possible through support from Mass Cultural Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and individual donors. 
 
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Housing Secretary Applauds County's Collaborative Housing Efforts

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass.—State leadership recognized the collaborative spirit that drives Berkshire County to address hard-hitting issues with a multi-faceted approach.
 
On Thursday, Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus visited Pittsfield Housing Authority (PHA) and Berkshire Community Action Council's central office.  
 
His overarching observation? The collaborative spirit that surrounds nonprofit providers, state, federal, and local government.
 
"It's not about turf, it's not about fiefdom, it's about who you're trying to serve and the difference you're trying to make with your targeted population," he said, adding that there is still a lot of work to do and they will need that state's help with funding and technical assistance.
 
PHA owns and administers public housing for over 200 families and more than 400 individual tenants.  Augustus walked through Columbia Arms, which houses elders and disabled community members through income-based rental apartments.
 
Earlier this year, Tina Danzy was hired as the executive director.  During a private meeting, she and other PHA representatives discussed the city's aging housing stock, CARES Act funding increases, and community coordinators' positive impact.
 
Augustus explained that both the housing authority and state are enthused about community coordinators, which track issues and assist with developing programs and events.  
 
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