(December 17, 2024) The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center (MWHC) is among 90 Maryland nonprofit organizations across 21 counties and Baltimore City that received grant funding for general operations from Maryland Humanities’ Marilyn Hatza Memorial SHINE (Strengthening the Humanities Investment in Nonprofits for Equity) program.
“Operational funds are critical to nonprofits,” says Diana M. Bailey, MWHC Executive Director. “When we are confident that we are prepared to meet our infrastructure, rent/utilities, and other critical operational expenses, we can focus more on our core mission of recognizing the achievements of Maryland’s women.”
View MWHC’s 2024 Annual Report
In the past year, MWHC produced free online and/or in-person programs that included: Memories, Stories and Found Objects from the Woman’s Industrial Exchange; A Conversation with Shabnam Samuel, founder of The Panchgani Writer’s Retreat in India; Fascinating Women Buried in Baltimore’s Historic Cemeteries; Lucille Clifton Legacy and The Clifton House; Women Rising: Stories of Strength, Courage and Resistance; Women with Wings; Tea with Maryland Suffragists & Activists; Become a Citizen Researcher
In addition, MWHC collaborated with community partners to produce other virtual events: SHE Matters: An Update on the ERA (and how you can help) with Maryland Equal Rights Action Network; Porch Talks about Harford County Suffragists with Liriodendron Mansion, Bel Air; Empowering Our Freedoms, Protecting Us All: The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) & You with Maryland NOW; Evolution of Media in the Riot Grrrl Movement: Fanzines & Social Media Activism with Maryland Humanities
Ms. Bailey adds that “Maryland Humanities has been an important partner for the MWHC and has supported several past programs that celebrated Maryland’s women. This grant is invaluable to our ability to “add HERStory to history to tell OURstory.”
See the full list of grantees and learn more about SHINE Grants https://www.mdhumanities.org/grants/awarded-grants
Previously known as SHINE Grant Program, Maryland Humanities renamed it the Marilyn Hatza SHINE Grant Program in honor of Maryland Humanities’ late Director of Grants and Community Engagement, Marilyn Hatza.
“Marylyn Hatza was central to the creation of this program, and much of Maryland Humanities’ other racial equity work,” says Lindsey Baker, Executive Director at Maryland Humanities. “I am excited to award nearly twice as many SHINE Grants as our original round. The number of first-time applicants honors Marilyn’s legacy well.”
Maryland Humanities SHINE GRANT has been financed in part with state funds from the Maryland Historic Trust, an agency of the Maryland Department of Planning which is an instrumentality of the State of Maryland. However, project contents or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Maryland Historical Trust or the Maryland Department of Planning.
