The Utah Humanities Council Student Advisory Council
Want to Make a Difference?
Yes, I want to make a difference. The Utah Humanities Council is looking for you! We need a small group of young people (who are currently sophomores or juniors in high school) to advise our board and staff on programs and activities that would appeal to people your age (15-18). We are looking for ideas on how you’d like to get engaged with others to explore ideas, issues, and topics of interest to you through the humanities. This would be a student-led group, and you would influence its direction and outcomes.
What are “the humanities”? They’re realms of thought that help us understand what it means to be human, beings with ideas, concerns, and passions. When we talk about what is the most ethical way to treat immigrants in our community, we’re doing the humanities . When we talk about how hip hop has influenced the way music has evolved in the 21st century, we’re doing the humanities. When we share with others what a poem in a poetry slam says to us, we’re doing the humanities. When we interview elderly people about what Salt Lake City was like during the Roaring Twenties, we’re doing the humanities. In other words, the humanities explore ideas, values, history, traditions, opinions. They talk about what things mean, why they’re important to us, and how they came to be.
What isn’t the humanities? Pure mathematics and science. A ballet. A symphony. BUT, if one were to talk about what influenced Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, that would be the humanities. If one were to talk about the history of ballet or how Beethoven influenced composers of 20th century music, that would be the humanities.
Am I already doing the humanities? We imagine you are. When you try to decide how to live your life, which actions are right and which are wrong, you are doing the humanities. When you try to understand why your parents think the way they do, what influenced them and why you think differently, you’re doing the humanities. When you hear the story of a student from Ecuador or Mexico, and you want to understand why this person thinks as he or she does, you’re doing the humanities.
What would I do on the Student Advisory Council? You would participate! Members would brainstorm together about programs UHC might offer that would appeal to young people your age. We’re especially looking for ways that use technologies, such as social media, the internet, and videos, to reach young audiences here in Salt Lake City and in communities around the state.
You would also help us understand how to explain to young people what we do so that they would understand our relevance to their lives. Most of all, we’re looking for your perspective. UHC’s Board and Staff are all “old”—all over 30---and we need young ideas, fresh opinions, to help us know how to develop an audience for the humanities among the next generation, YOUR generation.
The group would be self-directed and would elect its Chair, Co-Chair, and Secretary and meet four to six times during the school year. Ground rules for the group would be to be respectful and inclusive of everyone there.
What kinds of students are you looking for? First of all, we’re seeking students highly motivated to serve UHC in the way we’ve described, students who like working with others and who want to give to their communities. Leadership experience is a plus. Interest in the school community and the community outside of school is desirable. Students with the time to give to the Council (both for meetings and thinking about UHC between meetings) is important. Students need to be sophomores or juniors in high school. Most of all, we’re looking for students with ideas!
The Council sounds interesting, but a significant time commitment. What would I get out of participating? Fun, we hope, getting to know others your age with similar interests but maybe very dissimilar backgrounds. Satisfaction that you’re making a difference and influencing a statewide organization. Experience learning how to turn raw ideas into workable projects. And, last but not least, an impressive community engagement to add to your resume that may be useful to you when you apply to college or a job after high school.
O.K., I’m interested and I think I qualify. How do I apply? It’s easy: complete the online application here, or download the pdf here, complete it and mail to: Utah Humanities Council c/o Jean Cheney, 202 West 300 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84103. The deadline for the application is April 1. We will inform you of our selection by May 1.