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OPA and PARH USA Receive Grant for Ohio Underground Railroad Whistle-Stop Poetry Tour

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OHIO POETRY ASSOCIATION INC., in conjunction with POETS AGAINST RACISM & HATE USA, Awarded the Trillium Local Activity Grant for Program Commemorating America’s 250th Anniversary

The project is one of 61 community-based projects funded through the America 250-Ohio Commission’s second round of grants, totaling $600,000


In the lead up to America’s 250th anniversary, Ohio Poetry Association Inc., in conjunction with Poets Against Racism & Hate USA, announced today that it received a Trillium Local Activity Grant from the America 250-Ohio Commission for its project titled “Ohio Underground RailroadWhistle-Stop Poetry Tour.” This series of events takes place at Underground Railroad–related sites around Ohio and features poetry readings, social justice writing workshops, and cultural programming. The purpose of the project is to acknowledge that all of us, knowingly or not, share a history of racism that has informed art and vice versa so that we may return to our homes, offices, and schools empowered to continue the pursuit of healing our past in the present through poetry as spoken and written word art. The series will conclude with a capstone celebration taking place at the Ohio History Connection in Columbus and featuring poets and docents from the tour sites and beyond, musical and dance performances, a keynote panel discussion, and exhibitor tables.

“We are honored to receive the Trillium Local Activity Grant and look forward to contributing meaningfully to the America 250-Ohio Commission initiatives,” said Holly Brians Ragusa, president of Ohio Poetry Association. “As a member of both organizations, I’m pleased with the close working relationship between OPA and Poets Against Racism & Hate USA on this endeavor. This partnership has come naturally, as poetry has always spoken truth to power and long exposed darkness through written and spoken light. Freedom seekers and light bearers along their arduous paths throughout Ohio must be remembered in order to shine forever bright on the courage that walked those steps. Poetry and social justice activism are embedded in Ohio’s history, and we welcome opportunities to share these stories as we celebrate the birth and growth of this nation.”

The Trillium Local Activity Grants offer up to $5,000 for projects with a local or community-wide impact. These projects may include exhibitions, interpretative panels, local commemorative programs or activities, local public events, educational public programs, and smaller digital and documentary media projects.

“The America 250-Ohio Commission congratulates Ohio Poetry Association, along with Poets Against Racism & Hate USA, on this grant award. Their efforts in educating the public and honoring Ohio’s illustrious history are deeply appreciated,” said Doug Preisse, co-chair of the America 250-Ohio Commission. “As we near America’s 250th anniversary, these projects will play an essential role in elevating our state’s history and bolstering our communities’ efforts to execute impactful initiatives during such a monumental celebration.”

Ohio Poetry Association was among the 61 recipients chosen from the more than 170 statewide applications during the grant program’s spring 2024 funding cycle. In total, America 250-Ohio awarded approximately $600,000 in grants to communities and organizations across Ohio as part of the commission’s second funding cycle. Combined with the approximately $400,000 in grants awarded in January 2024, the America 250-Ohio Commission grants program has worked with Ohio Humanities to distribute $1 million in grants to 84 organizations across the state. The grant program was designed to showcase the achievements, struggles, honors, innovations and significance of all people in Ohio since before its founding to the present day. Themes identified for Ohio’s commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary programming include:

●       Celebrations and Signature Events: Impacting tourism and economic development

●       Ohio Originals: Highlighting points of pride and unity

●       Engaging Youth and Lifelong Learners: Education and scholarship

●       Inclusive Statewide Engagement: Museums, arts and culture

●       Telling Ohio Stories: Highlighting stories of Ohioans past and present

For more information on the Ohio Poetry Association and Poets Against Racism & Hate USA, visit ohiopoetryassn.org and poetsagainstracism-usa.org. To learn more about the America 250-Ohio Commission’s grants program, visit America250-Ohio.org/grants/.

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About Ohio Poetry Association

The Ohio Poetry Association (OPA), chartered originally as the Verse Writers’ Guild of Ohio in 1929, is an all-volunteer-run organization with the mission to promote the art of poetry and support poets and others who appreciate poetry, while assisting both amateur and professional poets in honing their craft.

About Poets Against Racism & Hate USA

The mission of Poets Against Racism & Hate USA (PARH USA) is twofold: (a) to provide poets who write about racism, bigotry and hate opportunities to reach audiences with their poetry and (b) to use poetry to raise awareness of and change attitudes about racism, bigotry and hate.

About America 250-Ohio

In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial, which is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Each state has been encouraged to create a celebration and commemoration of this anniversary to reflect the unique character and contributions of each state to the nation over the past 250 years. Ohio is fully embracing this opportunity. The Ohio Commission for the Semiquincentennial (aka America 250-Ohio Commission or AM250-OH) was created by the Ohio legislature and launched on March 1, 2022. The charge of the AM250-OH Commission is “… to plan, encourage, develop, and coordinate the commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the United States and the impact of Ohioans on the nation’s past, present, and future” — Ohio Revised Code (149.309). More information can be found at America250-Ohio.org.

About Ohio Humanities

Ohio Humanities is a statewide nonprofit that shares stories to spark conversations and inspire ideas by hosting programs and awarding grants that support storytellers statewide, from museums to journalists to documentary filmmakers. For more information, please visit our website at OhioHumanities.org.

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