Utah Humanities

About Us Utah Humanities is an independent non-profit dedicated to improving communities through the humanities. Image courtesy of Utah Humanities. Who We Are and What We Do Utah Humanities is an independent non-profit established in 1975. With a small, dedicated staff and volunteer board of directors, we offer public humanities programs across the state that involve thousands of people and organizations. To do our work, we partner with organizations that want to improve their communities through the humanities. Our partnerships span Utah and focus on literature, heritage, education, conversations, and local humanities ideas. Our Mission We strengthen Utah communities by cultivating connections, deepening understanding, and exploring our complex human experience. Theory of Change Statement We believe that through our partnerships, we create a Utah where mutual respect is prevalent, difference is celebrated, diverse perspectives are welcomed, and civic dialogue is rooted in curiosity. Values Collaboration Collaboration is the heart of what we do. We strive to support and uplift one another and actively seek meaningful connections within our organization and with our partners. By amplifying the work of our partners and investing in their long-term success, we create ripple effects that strengthen communities throughout Utah. Thoughtful We put great care into our work and aim to bring consideration and empathy into all that we do. We recognize we do not always have the answers, but are eager to listen deeply and carefully explore new questions. We provide space for varied perspectives, nuanced conversations, and divergent beliefs. Professionalism We hold expertise in our fields and bring a high level of professionalism into everything we do. We approach our work with honesty and transparency, and adhere to best H-1 practices that result in tangible outcomes. We strive for excellence and seek to partner with organizations, scholars, and tradition-bearers who are experts in their communities. Community-Centered We are mindful of the many and varied geographic, demographic, ideological, and ever-changing communities of Utah. This means our work begins with a community-first mindset, offering perspectives and resources relevant to each community, and continually challenging ourselves to broaden our reach. Catalyst The humanities are a powerful catalyst for positive change. We gather communities together to understand and honor their differences, consider new perspectives, and transform ideas into action. Diversity and Inclusion We cultivate spaces where all voices are represented and feel welcome. We see great power in connecting across identities, geographies, values, cultures, political leanings, ideologies, races, religions, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to learn from and amplify diverse and marginalized voices. We encourage our partners to broaden their reach within and beyond their communities.