Resources

The following information may be useful to libraries that are planning to submit an application for American Creed: Community Conversations.

Program formats

In addition to offering at least one scholar-led screening and discussion event featuring the American Creed documentary, applicant libraries must plan two additional programs that explore the themes and humanities questions featured in the film. Eligible program formats include:

Partner with your local high school and participate in American Creed: Writing Our Future
Additional writing, poetry, or journaling workshops (see the National Writing Project for resources)
Partner with an educator in the Facing History and Ourselves network to engage students in viewing and discussion
Program or co-present an activity related to civic entrepreneur Eric Liu:
- Sworn-Again Ceremony
- Civic Saturday
- The Joy of Voting
- A discussion inspired by the Aspen Institute’s Better Arguments Project
Organize a "Vet-Together" inspired by Tegan Griffith's segment in American Creed
Panel discussions with community leaders (e.g., elected officials, nonprofit Board members, civic and religious leaders, business owners)
Oral history projects (see StoryCorps @ Your Library for an oral history program planning and implementation guide)
Local history "digitization days" or small exhibits of local artifacts
Lectures presented by faculty from area colleges and universities
Digital media projects (e.g., short documentaries, online exhibitions, blog posts), especially student-led
Living Room Conversation programs, using the American Creed: Community Conversation Guide to plan and implement events
Reading and discussion programs, particularly One Book, One Community reads that feature titles included on the American Creed reading list, compiled by David Kennedy and Citizen Film's team of humanities advisers
Additional thematically-related screening events or online activities inviting discussion of related content, such as films or film excerpts included on the expanded American Creed viewing list (see Film Screening 101 for planning tips)

Community partners

American Creed: Community Conversations applicants must work with at least one community partner on their program series. Partnerships can assume many forms: co-presenters, financial partners, organizations that will donate goods or services, marketing and outreach efforts, and volunteers.

A partnership is successful if both partners gain something from the relationship. Identify groups that you have worked with in the past and ones that you would like to work with in the future. Share your project plans with potential partners and see if your goals resonate with their mission, interests, or intentions for community outreach.

ALA and Citizen Film especially encourage local partnerships with PBS member stations and/or National Writing Project sites. Additional partner organizations may include the following.

Local high schools
Area churches, synagogues and other religious organizations
Arts and humanities organizations (historical societies, museums, cultural centers)
Book clubs
Chambers of Commerce
Community centers
Community colleges
Councils on Aging/AARP groups
Ethnic associations
Fraternal organizations
Literacy organizations
Local businesses
Local chapters of national organizations (ADL, ACLU, LWV, ZONTA, ROTARY)
Professional associations
Public libraries in neighboring communities, library systems
Senior organizations
Service organizations (AmeriCorps, etc.)
Universities
Veterans organizations
Writers groups and poetry guilds

Other resources

American Creed Website

At the official website for the American Creed documentary, you may view the film, read about the cast, access resources for educators and students, and explore other opportunities for involvement.

PBS member stations

Citizen Film's flagship partner and co-producer for American Creed is WTTW (Chicago, IL). The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) supported the launch of the documentary as a PBS Special across the PBS network. Additionally, ten PBS member stations received CPB public engagement grants. The American Creed PBS program is being re-launched with brand new additional stories in November 2018, and the co-producers anticipate rebroadcasts on local stations throughout 2018-2019. 154 PBS WORLD Channel Carriers across the US will rebroadcast American Creed in primetime on November 25, 2018. Additionally, local stations are sometimes able to time rebroadcasts so that local public events and broadcasts can be cross-promoted. Once your event is confirmed, we will reach out to your local PBS station to see if they are interested in contacting you to discuss programming and promotional partnerships.

ProgrammingLibrarian.org

A project of the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office, Programming Librarian is the premier online resource for all things related to presenting cultural and community programs for all types and sizes of libraries.

State and local humanities councils

Your state humanities council may be helpful in connecting your library with an eligible public humanities practitioner to moderate your viewing and discussion programs. Some councils may also have opportunities for additional programming support. The Federation of State Humanities Councils can help you get in touch.