Story: Lisa Sollie
The University of West Alabama’s department of Communications and Creative Arts in the College of Liberal Arts has been awarded a competitive media grant from the Alabama Humanities Alliance, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The grant will support the production of Sumter Social, a podcast dedicated to sharing the rich stories and culture of Sumter County, Alabama, and the broader Black Belt region. This marks the first time the department has received a grant from AHA.
Amanda Gilliland, a communications and creative arts instructor at UWA who applied for the grant, will be host of Sumter Social and says she feels a deep connection to the region. “It’s the stories of the people in Sumter County and the Black Belt that made me fall in love with this area,” Gilliland says. “Our history is one of Alabama’s best kept secrets, and I believe it’s time we share it.”
Sumter Social will highlight stories that connect the county’s communities, offering a platform for community engagement and appreciation of Sumter County’s heritage. The first episode aired on YouTube in April and is available on audio platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Instagram, and Facebook.
“We’re honored to support cultural organizations that make Alabama a richer, smarter, and more vibrant place to live and learn,” says Chuck Holmes, executive director of AHA. “Our grant recipients are community cornerstones and creative storytellers who explore what it means to be human. They help us better understand ourselves, our neighbors, and the wider world around us.”
About the Alabama Humanities Alliance
The Alabama Humanities Alliance is a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Their mission is to foster learning, understanding and appreciation of Alabama’s people, communities and cultures. The ultimate goal: To use the humanities to bring Alabamians together and make our state a better place to live. Alabama Humanities Alliance grants include support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by grant recipients in this release or podcast do not necessarily represent those of the Alabama Humanities Alliance or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by subject or interviewees of the podcast do not necessarily represent those of the University of West Alabama.