PA Humanities Executive Director Laurie Zierer speaks at their recent event at the Pittston Memorial Library.
Submitted Photo
I retired as program director of the Wyoming County Cultural Center at the Dietrich Theater six years ago, but I was so pleased when Erica asked me to attend a special PA Humanities event at the Pittston Memorial Library, a gathering of so many nonprofit cultural organizations in NEPA. The PA Humanities has helped so many cultural organizations in the commonwealth and is now trying to navigate through challenging waters with their federal funding being severely cut. The gathering reminded me of how important the PA Humanities has been to us since the very beginning of our history as a cultural center in 2002.
It would take several pages to tell you about the various programs and events that we brought to our little corner of NEPA — all because of PA Humanities support. Our very first PA Humanities grant was called Wider Horizons Through Film, the grant that enabled us to bring in eight foreign and independent films, followed by discussions led by teachers at local universities and colleges. The success of the series let us have the courage to begin two film festivals a year, adding two more, one for each season, when Erica and Ronnie came up with the idea. Now we show over 80 foreign and independent films a year, in addition to showings of blockbuster films.
It was in 2003 that the PA Humanities was reaching out to rural communities in Pennsylvania and one of their board members came to the Dietrich to see how the PA Humanities could be of help. She happened to be the Library Director of Williamsport’s James V. Brown Library, and told us of a county-wide program they called Lycoming County Reads, choosing a book each year and including discussions at libraries. Free books were funded by the PA Humanities as well as funding for discussion leaders. This idea led to our Wyoming County Reads: One County, One Book, One Movie, a program with discussions at Tunkhannock Public Library and movies at the Dietrich Theater.
In the 23 years that the Wyoming County Cultural Center at the Dietrich Theater has had the support of the PA Humanities, we have brought in countless speakers from their Commonwealth Speakers series who spoke on topics, including Lattimer Massacre history, Alive to the Call (women’s history), Music Heritage, Civil War Era Music and the Beatles. Our Children’s Theater series, plays of culturally diverse stories was sponsored by the PA Humanities. We have also benefited from a PA Humanities CARES grant during the pandemic, and more recently, a PA Humanities Wingspan grant to fund a strategic planning process to help the Dietrich’s sustainability into the future.
It was this amazing history with the PA Humanities that made our recent meeting at the Pittston Memorial Library so very special. Laurie Zierer, Executive Director of PA Humanities, reminded us that we nonprofits might find ways to get through these challenging times, but it is time for those who can to step up with support. The PA Humanities has been so vital to us, and it needs support as well as nonprofits like the Dietrich.
The humanities are so important to our daily lives. The humanities include our history, art, music, theater, literature and so much more. They help us understand each other and our place in the world. Erica shares, “PA Humanities has helped us bring many wonderful programs and events to our rural area. It was so renewing to meet with so many of our PA Humanities friends and other neighboring non-profits that have helped us grow as a cultural center.” As for me, it was an evening of reliving history seeing friends, including Erika Funke, an early supporter at WVIA, and Sondra Myers of the University of Scranton’s Schemel Forum, and Kimberly Crafton who helped us find directors of our first After School Players. Thank you, all of you at the PA Humanities for your support and affirmation through the years.
I must end with two special events, one that is a first-time event at the Dietrich and one that is in its 23rd year – the SAYS ME Podcast Live on Sunday, Aug. 3, with a Meet and Greet from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and a Live Event from 5 to 6:30 p.m. It is for ages 16 and up. Go to www.dietrichtheater.com for information.
The Gathering of Singer/Songwriters will be on Sunday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m., when Lorne Clarke and Tom Flannery return with their original songs, accompanied by two more singer/songwiters. Lorne’s songs celebrate family and the beauty of our environment. Tom’s songs remind us of inequities and atrocities, but he always surprises us, too. This is a free evening, a chance to sit back and enjoy masters of song and story.
There is so much going on at the Dietrich. And next year we will celebrate our 25th Anniversary. Get ready for it, because we have a history of getting through hard times, especially with your support.
Hoping to see you soon and often at the Dietrich!
