Over the course of this series, we’ve explored the research and recommendations of the “Making History Matter Report.” In this final installment, we’ll discuss how to put the report’s findings into practice with a little help from two leaders in our field: Jennifer Ortiz, Director at the Utah Division of State History, and Steve Murray, Director at the Alabama Department of Archives & History. Then AASLH’s John Marks walks us through the Reframing History Toolkit and addresses some FAQs about the report.

Like history, the term civics has been pulled into recent political debates. So in this episode, we’re examining the role history museums and organizations can play in the new civics. How can we help our communities find meaning, a sense of belonging, and the tools they need to make their world a better place? To help answer that question, we’re joined by Eric Liu, CEO of Citizen University; Melanie Adams, Director of the Anacostia Community Museum; and Caroline Klibanoff, Managing Director of Made By Us.

Many people–particularly those from dominant groups–tend to treat history centered on white men as the “neutral,” depoliticized history. Everything else is considered extra or optional, and our attempts to tell a fuller story of American history are often met with backlash. In this episode, we explore a research-backed framework for engaging audiences in inclusive history (without the backsplash) through specific, place-based, solutions-focused examples. Our guests on this episode are Niya Bates, Susan Ferentinos, and Estevan Rael-Galvez.