OCTC NEH MINI-GRANTS OFFERED

by Bernie Hale

Owensboro, KY (08/14/2019) — Owensboro Community & Technical College is pleased to announce a new annual NEH Mini-Grant available through OCTC's Humanities Department and Common Reading program.

Funding will be granted in any amount, up to $2,000. These funds may be granted to one or more agencies in a given academic year.

The OCTC NEH Mini-Grant is made possible in conjunction with the OCTC NEH Endowment (initiated in 2011 with an NEH Challenge Grant and completed in 2017). The grant serves to promote and support the humanities at OCTC with programs such as the Common Reading program, the Global Studies program, as well as many others.

"We are excited to be able to offer this opportunity to community partners. The purpose of the mini-grant component is to support complementary programs throughout the OCTC service area" added Kaye Brown, co-chair of OCTC's Common Reading program.

The initial mini grant application is available online or by email request and has few restrictions, but it is favorable to include a connection to the current Common Reading theme and increase the outreach deeper in the community. Successful applicants will be required to submit a short mid-point progress report, a short summative report, and provide results from an evaluation of the project, templates of reports are provided on the website.The online form and templates can be found at https://owensboro.kctcs.edu/about/student-life/common-reading/neh-application.aspxor email kaye.brown@kctcs.edufor a hard copy.

Ideally, funding must be used within the indicated time frame to coincide with the OCTC programming/theme, but longer valuable projects related to literacy will also receive consideration.

OCTC's fall 2019 Common Reading selection: The novel We Are Called To Rise by Laura McBride. Beyond the broader themes of literacy and the importance of reading and the humanities, some related themes particular to this book might include: the nature of humanity, kindness, and forgiveness; PTSD and veterans issues; law enforcement policies; immigrant support and rights; child abuse and neglect and support systems; domestic violence; turning tragedy to triumph; and more.

OCTC's spring 2020 book has yet to be announced; however, our focus for the semester, among varied themes, will be Kentucky history and culture. Our Common Reading program often features books about, or set-in, Kentucky or by Kentucky-based authors.

The OCTC NEH Mini-Grant Committee will review all applications by September 30, 2019; all applicants will be notified by October 20, 2019.

Follow OCTC Common Reading's Facebook page for programming and event updates: https://www.facebook.com/octc.commonread/.