By Mike Templeton

The Trump Administration has quickly enacted numerous policy changes which cut funding to offices all through the federal government, many of which will drastically impact services to people all over the country, and in our own community. This is a time to become focused and to take action. Beginning with what is closest and most immediate, the Trump Administration is planning to severely cut grants and funding from the budget for the National Endowment for the Humanities. Our own Kith and Kin Story Gathering Project is a recipient of this funding through Ohio Humanities.

The Trump Administration has cut funding to the National Endowment to the Humanities, the nation’s main source of funding for public research in the disciplines of American History and American Literature. The New York Times reported that the President would be redirecting a large percentage of these funds toward the construction of what he has called the “National Garden of American Heroes.” The President’s statement on this issue was that “Our nation is witnessing a merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values and indoctrinate our children.” What this means is that the President intends to eradicate funding for research and educational programs in American history and culture while erecting a sculpture garden designed to commemorate American history and culture. These kinds of cuts to the NEH are directed by the President’s newly appointed “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) led by Elon Musk. The cancelling of the NEH budget will mean the loss of previously approved grants to some 1200 organizations or people whose work has already begun, including our own.

It is important to understand exactly what the National Endowment for the Humanities does for the country. The grants funded by the NEH support museums, literary festivals, historic preservation, and historic research on topics of national and local importance. The NEH is one of the most prominent forms of funding for historical and cultural work all over the United States. It provides essential support for community projects that benefit schools, libraries, and historic preservation projects in areas that have no other source of funding for these kinds of things. In short, the NEH supports the preservation and furthering of American culture. Many of the very things that President Trump hopes to commemorate in his sculpture garden are known primarily because of the work done around the country that was funded at least in part by the NEH.

In greater Cincinnati, Trump’s funding cuts to the NEH could lead to the cancellation of Cincinnati’s Books by the Banks, among other things. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the funding cuts will cause losses to “nearly 20 other groups in or near Cincinnati that get NEH grants directly from the federal agency or via a group called Ohio Humanities.” Ohio Humanities administers grants to programs and groups all over the State of Ohio. In addition to the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition, organizations in greater Cincinnati that will be directly impacted by these cuts, according to the Enquirer, include the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Voyageur Media Group, Findlay Market, the Robert O’Neal Multicultural Center Arts Center’s work to renovate the Regal Theater in the West End, the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Cincinnati Art Museum, Fotofocus, and Books By the Banks.

These are all crucial community projects for community development, cultural literacy, and historic preservation. These kinds of losses for local small non-profit organizations are devastating and may well end of the work they do for our neighborhoods and for the people of Cincinnati.

Across the river, Kentucky Humanities is facing the same crisis due to the funding cuts from Trump and DOGE. Again, to give you a sense of what has come directly from Kentucky Humanities, The Kentucky Lantern reported that Kentucky Humanities, in 2022 alone, was responsible for assisting “libraries, historical societies, artisan centers, radio stations, community centers and cultural institutions in navigating a disaster like what we are experiencing right now, an historic flood.” When Kentucky Humanities received funding from the NEH, they “poured every dime back into places that were devastated by flood waters because it is our mission to help Kentucky communities thrive.” Kentucky Humanities is not some abstract agency that funds works and projects beyond the average Kentuckian. They are funding the kinds of things that build Kentucky communities from the inside. Kentucky history, culture, and arts are directly funded by Kentucky Humanities which receives its funds from the NEH which is currently on the chopping block by President Trump.

No one in the United States voted for these actions on the part of President Trump and Doge. Since people in our area and all over the country are going to be directly impacted, Ohio Humanities has provided the following suggestions for how to respond so that we can stop these funding cuts:

1. Share your story on social media. Share the importance of the Urban Appalachian Kith and Kin project and other programs you have been involved in, what they meant, and the impact they have had. Sound the alarm bells by telling people this is an existential crisis. Pull whatever language you want from this webpage, and tag us @OhioHumanities when you share so we can amplify your story. This work is worth fighting for, and we’re asking you to fight with us.

2. Call your Congressional representatives. Greg Landsman is the member of the United States House of Representatives that represents greater Cincinnati. His contact information can be found at this link: https://landsman.house.gov/contact. Senator Bernie Moreno represents greater Cincinnati in the United States Senate. Contact information can be found at this link: https://www.moreno.senate.gov/. If you are elsewhere, you can find yours here: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member. This link provides suggestions of what you might say: https://www.statehumanities.org/action-alert-neh-targeted-by-doge/. If you are familiar with our Kith and Kin Story Gathering Project, you many also mention the value of UACC’s Ohio Humanities funded work.

3. Donate to the Ohio Humanities. Every dollar matters, and every dollar shows government leaders how important this work is to you.

We encourage you to take action and follow the suggestions listed above from Ohio Humanities. If you doubt the effectiveness of such a campaign, we invite you to consider this funding update from our Kith and Kin partner, the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library, which begins, “Thanks to your advocacy, the Ohio House removed a provision in the state budget bill that would have resulted in a drastic cut to your Library’s funding.”  The article goes on to warn that the budget process is far from over, and asks us to continue to spread word of our support to family and friends.

As one of the groups that is supported by funds that come from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition is facing the same problem as arts, culture, historical projects, libraries and groups all over greater Cincinnati and the country. The stories of the Appalachian people’s struggles and accomplishments is worth knowing. Please help make sure it continues to be heard.

Michael Templeton is a writer, and independent scholar. He is the author of The Chief of Birds: A Memoir published with Erratum Press and Impossible to Believe, published by Iff Books. He is also the author of Collected Apoems, forthcoming from LJMcD Communications and the awaiting of awaiting: a novella, with Nut Hole Publishing. Check out his profile in UACC’s Cultural Directory. He has published numerous articles and essays on contemporary culture and works of creative non-fiction as well as experimental works and poetry. He lives in West Milton, Ohio with his wife who is an artist.