North Carolina Conversations Summer-Fall 2008.pdf

CouncilBoardand StaffThe Millennial VoiceJennifer McCollumFor the past year, the NorthCarolina Humanities Council hashad the pleasure of employing twostudents from the University of NorthCarolina at Greensboro, BriannaBruce and Leda Wilkins Johnson.Originally from American Fork, UT,Johnson graduated in 2006 fromBrigham Young University with aB.A. in classical civilization and aminor in art history. She is now aMaster’s candidate at UNCG studyingpublic history with an emphasis inmuseum studies. At the Council shehas worked extensively with HarlinGradin, Associate Director andDirector of Community Development,in analyzing and evaluating the grantapplication process. She and ProgramAssociate and MoMS CoordinatorDarrell Stover are currently developing“North Carolina Roadwork,”a “We the People” initiative thatwill bring together diverse people ofvarying generations.Brianna Bruce, from Brooklyn, NY, iscompleting a B.A. in communicationsstudies with a minor in history atUNCG. She assists Associate Directorand Director of the Teachers InstituteLynn Wright-Kernodle in planningand organizing the Institute seminarsthat occur year-round. Bruce findsthese projects especially gratifyingbecause she can witness her workbenefiting North Carolina’s publiceducators.Johnson and Bruce represent anupsurge in the so-called MillennialGeneration’s interest in the humanities.Both women believe that today’syounger set is engaged in the humanities.Bruce says that the humanitiesare certainly “relevant” and importantto people in their 20s and 30s.She recalls, “Reading provided mewith a way to expand my imaginationin an active way, helped me developcritical thinking skills, and encouragedme to think more broadly.”“Nothing,” Johnson says, “liesoutside the realm of the humanities.They provide a medium forthe stories of all generations tobe heard.” But she also observes:“Perhaps we should broaden ourdefinition of the term ‘humanities’to include not only what it once wasbut also what it has become.”Brianna Bruce and Leda Wilkins Johnson. Photo by Donovan McKnight.