Description

The Luce Foundation was the first investor in the Humanities Truck. Responding to an open-ended inquiry from the then-dean of arts and sciences at American University, we quickly identified the Humanities Truck as a project with great potential. Historian Dan Kerr envisioned a mobile humanities lab that would facilitate community-engaged research in Washington, DC by students and faculty. Early projects focused on DC’s oldest homeless shelter, gentrification in downtown neighborhoods, and day laborers. The bright red truck quickly became a common sight on the streets of the District—at block parties and street fairs—along with students and faculty conducting oral histories, arranging pop-up exhibitions, etc.
But the truck, over time, has become so much more. It is now a vehicle—literally and figuratively—for communities and the organizations that support them to reflect on their experiences and to imagine their futures. As Professor Kerr has written, “ We don’t know what needs to be done, and we do not have the resources to address the overwhelming needs of district residents. But we do know how to ask questions, and we are committed to asking those who are experiencing severe inequities what they think needs to be done. We seek to involve those that we work with in the intellectual labor that is needed to envision themselves as historical actors, as they craft strategies and build movements.”
After Luce’s initial grant, the Mellon Foundation contributed additional funding to expand the Truck’s operations. The Truck has now been active for four years, continuing during the pandemic to serve the community by helping to distribute food and monetary assistance to those in need. As Luce’s initial grant comes to an end, American University seeks bridge funding to continue the work for two more years. Combined with the remaining Mellon funds, a $100,000 grant will permit AU to hire graduate fellows, support a community liaison, provide summer funding for students and faculty to operate the truck, and more. Over the grant period, the Truck expects to organize two dozen exhibitions, a dozen public forums, six performances, and more than 100 interviews and oral histories.
Mellon is considering matching Luce’s bridge funding, enabling the Truck to operate at full capacity through 2024. Professor Kerr hopes that continued support from Mellon and Luce will give AU the time it needs to fund the Truck after 2024. AU currently provides the project office space, tuition remission for graduate fellows, and $10,000 per year to cover insurance, gas, and maintenance.
The Humanities Truck is a model for community-university collaborations and exemplifies an approach to humanistic work that is meaningful and engaged. It is the bright future—or at least A bright future—for the academic humanities, in which humanistic inquiry is essential and thriving.