[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 9, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E315]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING CONNECTICUT HUMANITIES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 9, 2024

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the 
longstanding organization, Connecticut Humanities. Connecticut 
Humanities is a nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the 
Humanities, which strengthens the country's identity through extending 
grants to humanities-focused institutions that serve the American 
public. Libraries, historical societies, and museums are just some of 
the various recipients of these grants. CT Humanities extends residents 
extensive access to learning materials that divulge the deep roots of 
Connecticut culture and history.
  For the past fifty years, CT Humanities has championed literature, 
arts, and history across the state. Cultural institutions throughout 
the state have been both empowered to thrive and extended crucial 
lifelines by the organization's passionate and helpful staff and its 
programming that has been carefully curated to meet the needs of 
Connecticut's humanities community. Throughout the COVID-19 public 
health crisis, CT Humanities worked resolutely to ensure that cultural 
organizations were connected to relief efforts, such as funding from 
the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act. In my district, the 
nonprofit, New London Landmarks, which works to preserve the buildings, 
neighborhoods and parks that embody the City's history, used this vital 
financial assistance to maintain access for the community to interact 
with rich art and history while responsibly navigating the pandemic. 
Countless similar organizations in every corner of Connecticut were 
buoyed by CT Humanities throughout this devastating time and are still 
standing today because of its steadfast support. As a History major 
during my college days at Tufts University, I particularly appreciate 
CT Humanities dedicated work to tell our state's incredible history 
through our schools, symposiums, and social media. Its ``This Day in 
Connecticut History'' social media campaign is a service I greatly 
enjoy.
  Looking beyond its capable and rapid response to organizations in the 
throes of crisis since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, CT 
Humanities has spent decades tirelessly stewarding the nonprofit 
cultural sector and inviting Connecticut's communities to take part in 
its abundant offerings. Between July 2019 and December 2022, CT 
Humanities hosted over 7.3 million visitors through in-person, virtual, 
and PreK-12 education visits. Moreover, CT Humanities supports 56,000 
jobs within the Connecticut cultural sector. Through its work we are 
reminded of not only the cultural and historical necessity of a robust 
humanities network, but also of the immense economic value. Access to 
culture is a necessary component in creating vibrant, exciting 
communities to both live and work in, and CT Humanities has worked 
since its inception to ensure that cultural institutions have a place 
in the economic conversation. Throughout the years CT Humanities has 
supported humanities organizations in all 169 Connecticut towns, 
playing an indispensable role in the preservation and prosperity of our 
state's history and culture.
  For the past fifty years, Connecticut residents have experienced 
Connecticut Humanities dedication to connecting people and ideas. 
Citizens not only gain exposure to the experiences of others, but also 
see themselves and their own histories reflected in these programs. In 
turn, residents of Connecticut feel empowered and inclined to 
participate and invest in our communities, preserving this sense of 
shared identity and connecting us to cultural stories from Connecticut 
and beyond. Access to these cultural resources allows us to walk in 
others' footsteps, gaining an empathy and sense of history that is 
crucial to the success of our democracy. Thanks to Connecticut 
Humanities, diverse cultural education in our state is thriving and 
continues to break new ground, building upon Connecticut's storied 
cultural identity to encourage curiosity and understanding for all.

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