Mass Humanities Announces 2025 Funding Opportunities

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NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — Mass Humanities has announced its 2025 funding opportunities through its Expand Massachusetts Stories (EMS) initiative.
 
This year, the EMS initiative features:
  • Promises of the Revolution: Organizations are invited to explore how people, past and present, responded to the promises of the American Revolution in preparation for the country's 250th anniversary in 2026.
  • Story Forward: Organizations that have received funding from Mass Humanities in the past can advance their storytelling to reach new audiences or build on previous work.
Reading Frederick Douglass Together grants are currently open, with applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.
 
Application materials for EMS grants are available on the Mass Humanities website. Letters of Inquiry are due June 9.
 
Mass Humanities has set aside $600,000 to fund projects in the Promises of the Revolution track.
 
Mass Humanities launched the EMS initiative in 2021 with the support of Mass Cultural Council and the Barr Foundation.
 
In 2024, Mass Humanities awarded $1.2 million in EMS grants to 64 cultural nonprofit organizations.
 
Eligibility requirements and grant guidelines can be viewed on the Mass Humanities grants website.
 
 
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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
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