Dr. Rod A. Risley Thank you for visiting the Mississippi Humanities Council website. Please take time to explore these pages and learn how the MHC supports and funds programs celebrating literature, history, music, the arts and initiatives to fulfill our mission of “teaching us about our past, helping us understand the present, and providing insight for the future.” Mississippi’s contribution to the humanities is beyond measure. Our state has given the world such literary giants as William Faulkner, Eudora Welty and Richard Wright; international opera soprano Leontyne Price; acclaimed artists Walter Anderson and Theora Hamblett; Oscar and Tony winners actors Morgan Freeman and James Earl Jones; and popular culture icons Elvis Presley and Jim Henson – the list is endless. Equally important are the contributions of everyone who reveres and cherishes the study of our human experience. As Chair of the MHC, I am privileged to work with the dedicated staff and the volunteer members of the Council, whose efforts make possible many opportunities to learn, be enlightened and entertained. Be sure to check our events calendar listing of current and future programs and exhibits. This website also includes information concerning available grants and the application process, and ways to support the humanities through involvement with the MHC. We applaud your interest and welcome your participation. As our mission states, “The humanities belong to everyone.”	Dr. Rod A. Risley Chair, MS Humanities Council