Uplifting Durham Through Empathy and Understanding

Credit: Celeste Holtzmann

Enhanced Humanities Programming Provides Opportunity for Growth

Celeste Holtzmann, humanities and adult programming coordinator at Durham County Library, believes in the power of humanities. She heard once that “the humanities gives us the unique chance to challenge the things we think we know,” and her goal is to bring that idea to life. The Durham Library Foundation provides $60,000 in funding to achieve these aspirations.

As humanities coordinator, it’s Holtzmann’s job to shape how Durham perceives the humanities. To do this, she develops programs within the humanities that are interesting and relevant to the members of the Durham community. These programs align with the vision of the Library: inspiring lives and transforming Durham.

The Library’s humanities program is known to bring nationally-recognized authors and world-class scholars to Durham through events that focus on music, art, local history, and fully funded by the Durham Library Foundation.

Library staff and DLF Board believe that humanities programs offer us an opportunity to connect to our “authentic selves,” the theme for 2024-25, through experiencing a spectrum of human experiences. Three major events featuring Dr. Cornel West, Billy Collings and Bakari Sellers are under consideration for 2024-25 as well as mid-size presentations highlighting Afrofuturist Fest, Haitian Women Filmmakers, and a panel on “Authentic Self” & “Race: Are We So Different?” Check back on this site for a full schedule of events and registration information.

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