Humanities DC

Big moments deserve bold ideas, as does our city.

Today, we’re excited to share a bold idea of our own: the DC History Center and HumanitiesDC have entered into an agreement to merge and become a new organization.

Together, we are creating a unified nonprofit dedicated to preserving the District's history, celebrating its culture, funding the humanities, and helping Washingtonians better understand our city and one another.

All of the programs, grants, collections, events, publications, and community partnerships that have defined both organizations are coming with us—serving as the foundation for our stronger, more connected future.

Read our full announcement here: https://dchistory.org/news-and-insights/a-new-chapter-for-dc-history-center-and-humanitiesdc/

Learn more at https://dchistory.org/merge/

Follow along for updates and ways to help shape this next chapter. Thank you for standing with us at this exciting beginning. 🎉

Every DC story deserves to be heard, including yours! That's why we're launching the hometown DC: Oral History Shorts on Instagram and YouTube.

We’re excited to highlight even more stories from across the DC community through this mini social media series featuring 1-3 minute oral history clips. Whether you're a lifelong Washingtonian or a relative newcomer, we want to hear your favorite DC memory, a neighborhood moment, or what makes this city feel like home to you.

Record and submit your oral history short via TheirStory for a chance to be featured! https://theirstory.io/DCOralHistoryCollaborative/hometown-dc-stories-in-motion/s/dqURn_ba21/solo

hometown DC is a joint project of HumanitiesDC, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, DC History Center, and DC Public Library. Learn more about this project at hometown.dchistory.org.

Thank you to the 60+ guests who joined us at the Anacostia Community Museum for Step Into the Story: hometown DC On Stage! 🎤🎭✨

John Johnson and the Verbal Gymnastics cast had the crowd dancing, laughing, and eager to share their DC stories throughout the entire event. Using their signature Playback Theater method, the cast highlighted stories shared by hometown DC narrators Ernestine Byrd Hamilton, Edward Underwood, and Babatunde Oloyede—plus memories shared live by our amazing audience.

As part of the hometown DC initiative, this event was held in partnership with other key partners, including DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, DC History Center and DC Public Library.

Missed the show or interested in experiencing even more hometown DC excitement?

- Save the date for our next collaboration with Verbal Gymnastics at the hometown DC closing event on Wednesday, September 16 at the MLK Library. Stay tuned for more details.

- Explore all the featured oral history clips here: https://www.hometown.dchistory.org/explore-stories

- Check out the 16 interactive neighborhood exhibits currently on view at eight DC Public Library locations through September 12!

A community-driven public history project, hometown DC seeks to showcase the voices, stories, and lived experiences of District residents through oral history interviews, outdoor installations at eight DC Public Library locations, and free public events.

Learn more at hometown.dchistory.org.

This project is part of the DC250 and By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 initiatives.

By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

Photos by Cindy Centeno

Check out some highlights from our hometown DC opening reception at the DC History Center!

We were thrilled to see contributors like hometown DC oral history narrator Flor Rivas, photographer Farrah Skeiky, and oral historian Kristy L. coming together to celebrate the exhibit preview with friends and family.

We can’t believe we’re already one month in! A huge thank you to everyone who made this project possible, including our dedicated oral historians, hometown DC narrators, research team, exhibit designer, project photographers, and many more.

hometown DC is a joint project of HumanitiesDC, the , , and . This project is part of the DC250 and By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 initiatives.

Find a neighborhood installation at a participating DC Public Library near you this summer. 🔗 Visit hometown.dchistory.org (link in bio) to learn more.



Featured artists like Denise Wright got to see a preview of their works featured beside archived oral history excerpts from the DC Oral History Collaborative collection housed within the People’s Archive at the DC Public Library.

Denise Wright’s photograph, The Spectator (2005), is part of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities’ Art Bank Collection.

hometown DC oral history narrators celebrated the project launch alongside friends and family.

📸 Credit Cindy Centeno

Guests were invited to listen to the featured oral history playlists in a pop up Listening Lounge.

You can listen to each ward’s playlist at hometown.dchistory.org/explore-stories.

📸 Credit Cindy Centeno

hometown DC oral history narrators celebrated and shared their stories with other reception attendees.

📸 Credit Cindy Centeno

Executive Director of the DC History Center, Laura Brower Hagood, welcomed guests to the reception and thanked project partners and supporters including hometown DC’s lead sponsor Washington Gas.

📸 Credit Cindy Centeno

Executive Director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Aaron Myers, addressed a full room. His powerful remarks underscored the importance of collaborative public history projects like hometown DC.

📸 Cr

Congratulations to our Cycle II grantees! During this cycle, 18 grants were awarded under the categories of DC Oral History Collaborative - Continuing Oral History Projects, DC Oral History Collaborative - Beyond the Archives, and General Operating Support.

Through these Community Grants we will support ongoing oral history interviewing projects, the exploration of existing oral history collections, and the general operations of 10 small humanities-focused nonprofits.

Stay tuned for information about events, projects, and more from our grantees!
View the full list of HumanitiesDC's 2026 Grantees (59 total): https://humanitiesdc.org/about-our-grantmaking/ -grantees

Congratulations to our Community Journalism Program (CJP) participants whose articles were recently published by local news outlets! 🎉

Through CJP, DC residents learn the foundational skills of journalism and write a story that is pitched to local media outlets over the course of 14-weeks with support and mentorship from local, practicing journalists. ✍ 📰 �

Stay tuned for more published CJP articles and our 2026 Curious Minds Zine, also featuring their work, coming soon!

This first set of featured articles includes: �
"Trail Rangers bike the extra mile to tend the D.C.'s trail system" by Sarah Loftus
https://51st.news/dc-bike-trail-rangers-waba/

"Is Democratic Socialism Finally Going Mainstream" by Shedrick Pelt https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/787875/is-democratic-socialism-finally-going-mainstream/

"Beloved Community Incubator Strengthens a Cooperative Economy in D.C." by Rebecca John
https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/787669/beloved-community-incubator-strengthens-a-cooperative-economy-in-d-c/

"How 'beautification' threatens DC's treasured skate spots" by William (Phresh Ingredient) Clarke IV
https://medium.com/seventhirty-dc/beautification-puts-dc-s-treasured-skate-spots-at-risk-skaters-say-city-run-skate-parks-can-t-44398cd0a186

Please note, participants selected their own article topics. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect those of HumanitiesDC, our partnering organizations, or our funders.

Get ready for an afternoon full of movement, music, and live storytelling at Step Into the Story: hometown DC On Stage is this Saturday, July 11, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at the Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Place SE).

We’re teaming up with Verbal Gymnastics Theater Company to bring recorded memories to life. Join the cast for a free, high energy performance of select hometown DC oral histories using their signature Playback Theater method.

Bring your friends to celebrate what makes DC home!
🎟️ Admission is FREE, but space is limited.
👉 RSVP secure your seat today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/step-into-the-story-hometown-dc-on-stage-tickets-1990981462149?aff=oddtdtcreator

hometown DC is a joint project of HumanitiesDC, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, DC History Center, and DC Public Library. This project is part of the DC250 and By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 initiatives. Learn more at hometown.dchistory.org/.

…
By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

Step Into the Story: hometown DC On Stage Hometown stories performed live by John Johnson & Verbal Gymnastics.