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Nevada Humanities’ ‘Why It Matters’ series explores how we participate in civil society

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Remember when civic engagement used to be “boring”? These days, you can’t turn on the news without being reminded why politics, governance and civil society are so vitally important to our lives, to our very survival.

Yet at the same time, the idea of “getting involved” can seem overwhelming. Where to start? Here’s one way: Engage with engagement through Nevada Humanities’ Why It Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation series.

“The origins of [Why It Matters] were really rooted in our desire at Nevada Humanities to have conversations about current events,” says Executive Director of Nevada Humanities Christina Barr. “We saw a need in our state to have these conversations—to not only talk about the bigger issues of our nation, but to also [ask] how they affect Nevada. What is our own history of Nevada? How does that help shape our understanding of who we are and the unique positions of our state?”

For the program, Nevada Humanities tapped into a national initiative and scored a $50,000 grant from the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

“We were really thrilled with that wonderful confluence of our ideas and the funding coming together to help make this happen,” Barr says.

Why It Matters kicked off in the fall and runs through April, with a mix of ongoing events and one-off discussions. The next discussion features young Nevada politicians (see sidebar). Past discussions include: “The Past, Present and Future of Voting in the United States”; “Native American Voting Rights in Nevada”; “Re-enfranchised Voters in Nevada”; and “White Supremacy and the Threat to Democracy.”

While the ideal scenario would be to host these events in person, Barr says online salon discussions also have their advantages. The vast geographic expanse between Las Vegas, Reno and rural Nevada no longer divides—all can attend. “It has really opened up our ability to serve the state in these really meaningful ways,” Barr says of the pandemic-inspired online format.

Time is also no longer a limiting factor. Just because you missed an event, doesn’t mean you’ve missed your chance. Simply head over to NevadaHumanities.org to view the archive of past Why It Matters offerings.

To RSVP for future events or watch past ones, visit nevadahumanities.org or call 702-800-4670.

Upcoming Events

While it’s easy to watch any of the past discussions online, there’s still something special about watching it live. Catch the next two discussions this month: “Native American Voting Rights in Nevada” (March 18, 4 p.m.) and “Where We Stand With Diversity in Business” (March 23, 4 p.m.). They’re free. Simply register at nevadahumanities.org/the-salon-popup-salons/tag/Why+it+Matters.

Voting Matters

The events of the past several months have certainly illustrated the power of voting—and voting access. Nevada Humanities’ ongoing online series Nevada Voices: The First Time I Voted invites Nevadans of all walks of life to share essays, memories, anecdotes and videos surrounding their debut voting experiences. So far, contributors include artist Eunkang Koh; queer rights activist Prism Zephyr, casino manager-turned-writer Don Hall; Washoe County Librarian Joan Dalusung; and UNR student Tran Zen Belila Torres. Visit nevadahumanities.org/nevada-voices to read the essays—and perhaps contribute your own.

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