A Day of Advocacy: Our Visit to Humanities on the Hill
March 27, 2025
by Kelly Murray, Engagement & Media Relations Manager
Each year, during the first week of March, state humanities councils from all over the country attend Humanities on the Hill in Washington, D.C. The three-day event serves as an opportunity for humanities councils to meet with their state legislators and advocate for federal funding support for the National Endowment for the Humanities, which in turn, provides funding to the state humanities councils. This year, Delaware Humanities traveled to the Hill on Wednesday, March 5th for a day of advocacy.
With a little more than 100 miles of railroad separating Wilmington, Delaware and Washington, D.C., we upheld the long-standing Delaware tradition of commuting to Capitol Hill by train. On an overcast March morning, Executive Director Michele Anstine, Board Member Abby Fischer and I boarded an Amtrak Acela from the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Train Station and zoomed down to Union Station in D.C.
Upon arriving, we were met with less than favorable weather conditions – wind, rain, and grey skies – but that didn’t deter us from arriving to our first appointment at the Hart Senate Office Building. Sun visibility may have been low, but spirits were high. After a security check entering the Russell Senate Office Building, walking through several hallways, and a few elevator rides, we made it to our first meeting with the office of Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester.
The Senator’s office was incredibly warm and welcoming. We spent our time speaking about our current humanities programs and grantmaking efforts in Delaware and the ways we’re connecting with Delawareans through new media – including our newly launched blog and our upcoming podcast “People and Planet”.
When our meeting wrapped up, we decided to break for lunch and head back out to the U.S. Capitol campus. As we walked through the halls, among the stately offices of the U.S. Senators, we noticed the building was abuzz with all kinds of advocacy groups including other humanities councils, health organizations, and retired veterans donning their decorated service uniforms. It was clear to see that advocacy in America is alive and well.
After a blustery photo-op at the U.S. Capitol building and a hearty lunch at a nearby restaurant, we surveyed the rest of our day. With several hours until our next appointment, we decided to continue exploring the Hill. Our next stop: the Library of Congress. We stepped inside the Library’s breathtaking Thomas Jefferson Building and walked into the inaugural exhibition at the David M. Rubenstein Treasures Gallery on the second floor. There we got to see several artifacts curated from pivotal eras throughout U.S. history. My personal favorite was the display of Lincoln’s personal items – eyeglasses, a pocketknife, and a watch fob – all of which were in his pocket on the night of his assassination 160 years ago.
Before we knew it, it was time to return for our last appointment of the day with the office of Senator Chris Coons. We trekked back to the Russell Senate Office Building, passed through the security check once again, and this time skipped the elevators since the Senator’s office was only a short walk down the hallway.
Walking into Senator Coons’ office felt much like walking through Delaware itself – shelves of memorabilia, photographs, and beautiful landscape paintings by local Delaware artists adorned its walls. Our visit with the Senator’s office was another positive experience as we discussed in detail our humanities efforts and highlighted our literacy program, Prime Time Family Reading which was due to start its Spring 2025 session that same week.
With our last meeting completed, we then walked to the Rayburn House Office Building to close out the day with a Congressional Reception hosted by the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Held in a beautiful reception room, the Congressional Reception included testimonies by a military veteran-turned-poet, a social studies teacher, and appearances by four members of Congress: Representative Mike Carey (R-OH) via video, Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Representative Mike Simpson (R-ID), and Representative Dina Titus (D-NV) each of whom acknowledged the value of the humanities. It was a wonderful way to finish our visit to Humanities on the Hill alongside our colleagues from humanities councils around the country and to hear firsthand the support expressed by our members of Congress.
As we boarded the train back to Wilmington, we reflected on the events of the day and the value of Humanities on the Hill. Despite the wind and rain, a bit of bad weather couldn’t keep us from enjoying a day of carrying out our civic duties on the Hill. At Delaware Humanities, we’re grateful for the opportunity each year to visit our state legislators and advocate for the humanities in Delaware.
To learn more about Delaware Humanities’ advocacy efforts and ways to get involved, click here.