Our Impact
In 2021, Illinois Humanities organized or facilitated 228 free programs that reached more than 13,000 participants across Illinois and beyond. We awarded 320 grants to support public humanities programs across the state and provided free education programs and college-credit-bearing courses in the humanities to over 120 adults and high school students.
Read our 2021 Impact Report to learn why the humanities matter, what humanities organizations in Illinois have been able to accomplish throughout the pandemic, and how Illinois Humanities’ programs thrived and continued to provide free and transformative humanities experiences for all Illinoisans.
Map Represents
13,100 participants served in 82 counties through grants and public programming.
120 income eligible adults and high school students were provided free education programs and college-credit courses in the humanities.
320 grants awarded for public humanities programs across Illinois.
$1.4M in COVID-relief funding.
Who We Are
Board
Staff
EDI Committee
Committee Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee is to guide and support IH in its efforts to integrate the ideals of EDI into its daily work, workplace culture, and relationships with our partners statewide. We strive for equitable representation and access to opportunities with regard to our staff, our communities, and the people and organizations we serve. We aim to examine and recognize Illinois Humanities’ role in perpetuating historical trauma, and we commit to dismantling systems of oppression.
Committee Members
Jane Beachy
Artistic Director
jane.beachy@ilhumanities.org
(312) 422-5587
Madeline Cruz
Administrative Coordinator
madeline.cruz@ilhumanities.org
(312) 422-5580
Karen Loda
Development Manager
karen.loda@ilhumanities.org
(312) 374-1556
Zerline Thompson
Programs and Grants Coordinator
zerline.thompson@ilhumanities.org
(312) 422-5580
Tyreece Williams
Program Manager, Envisioning Justice
tyreece.williams@ilhumanities.org
(312) 374-1565
Jenn Yoo
Senior Manager of Program Evaluation and Impact
jennifer.yoo@ilhumanities.org
(312) 422-5585
Land Acknowledgement
At Illinois Humanities we respectfully acknowledge that the land on which our main office is located is made up of the territories and lands of the people of Potawatomi, Ojibwe, and Odawa Nations as well as many other tribes who have called this land home including Miami, Ho-Chunk, and Menominee Nations. These Nations were forcefully removed from their traditional territories, however, these lands continue to carry the stories, resilience, and tenacity of these Nations. Despite the federal and local government-enforced policies of genocide of American Indians, Chicago is home to the third largest urban Indian population representing more than 100 different Tribal Nations.
We also recognize that land acknowledgment statements are most meaningful when coupled with a commitment to programs and actions that support Indigenous rights and cultural equity. We acknowledge that Illinois Humanities is just starting this journey and that we have more work to do, but we are committed to supporting and building sustained relationships with Indigenous organizations throughout Illinois and encourage you to support these organizations and efforts as well. In the Chicagoland-area, these organizations include American Indian Center, Trickster Cultural Center, American Indian Health Services, and Center for Native Futures.