Events2020 Annual MeetingYour AAR staff continues to work toward holding the Annual Meeting in Boston, Nov. 21-24, 2020. We are aware of the uncertainty and contradictory projections related to the COVID-19 pandemic and with health and safety as a priority, we will continue monitoring the guidance of governments and health experts as we plan and make decisions. Should any changes need to be made related to the 2020 Annual Meeting, we will promptly notify you. 2020 Regional MeetingsOpen Registration: All remaining regional meetings for 2020 have been canceled |
AdvocacyAdvocating for the HumanitiesThe American Academy of Religion is a member of the National Humanities Alliance (NHA), a coalition of organizations that advocates for federal funding for humanities research, teaching, programming, and preservation and access. The AAR has been a member of the NHA since 1983 and a sponsor of its Humanities Advocacy Day since 2001. NHA monitors and cultivates support for the following agencies and programs:
Sign Up to Join the Campaign for Humanities Funding
About the National Humanities Alliance
NHA brings the United States humanities community together as whole to champion effectively the importance of the humanities in Washington, D.C., and in communities around the country. NHA Staff Advocates for the Humanities on Behalf of Its MembersThe staff of the National Humanities Alliance works year-round to leverage relationships in the executive and legislative branches of the federal government to promote policies that advance humanities research, programming, preservation, and teaching. Much of their work focuses specifically on Congressional appropriators to ensure adequate funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Department of Education’s foreign language and international education programs, and various other funding streams that support the work of humanities scholars and professionals around the country. NHA Staff Facilitates Direct AdvocacyIt is essential that Members of Congress also hear directly from their constituents. NHA facilitates this process in the following ways: Annual Meeting and Humanities Advocacy Day
Action Alerts When a high volume of constituent letters promises to sway Congressional opinions on a pressing legislative issue, NHA issues action alerts to its members, to its large mailing list of advocates, and on social media. Action alerts make it very simple to write e-mails to, tweet at, or post on the Facebook walls of Members of Congress. NHA ensures that the Members receive a well-reasoned letter that makes the case for humanities programs and funding. Year-Round Advocacy
More information on NHA’s activities and benefits to members can be found here. |
On the first day of this two-day event, participants connect with a growing network of humanities leaders from around the country and highlight best practices for communicating the value of humanities research, education, programming, and preservation to Members of Congress. On the second day—Humanities Advocacy Day—participants visit members of Congressional delegations from their state to discuss the impact of their work and make the case for federal support for the humanities. NHA provide these advocates with key briefing materials targeted to particular states and districts. These visits, and follow-up correspondences, build essential relationships with congressional offices.
NHA facilitates year round advocacy, offering its members tips on how and when to engage district offices. NHA also schedules Hill meetings for its members year round—whenever they visit D.C.—and provides resources to maximize the efficacy of those meetings.