The National Endowment for the Humanities supports programs that encourage participants to try on new perspectives, express their ideas, and think critically about their experiences and those of others. Through local and national initiatives, the NEH encourages Americans to engage in dialogue about regional issues as well as those of national importance.
The NEH supports dialogue programs in every state that help individuals and communities engage thoughtfully with challenging issues. Local organizations know best how to serve their communities. Whether for a rural community hoping to support veterans and families, an indigenous community building bridges among its youth, or a state seeking to better understand and support a new immigrant population, the NEH funds programs that encourage thoughtful dialogues of local importance.
NEH-funded initiatives encourage critical reflection on enduring questions. Every year, Americans across the nation participate in dialogues that address questions of national concern. These include programs for veterans and vulnerable youth that use literature and film as a springboard for critical reflection and discussion.
By supporting programming and infrastructure endowments at humanities institutions, the NEH creates community hubs. From Alaska to New Hampshire, museums, libraries, and historical societies are places where Americans engage with and respond to new ideas—where they learn more about each other and themselves—though exhibitions, lectures with Q&As, and other programming. Download as a printable PDF.