We’re enriching rural communities with the study of the humanities.
Set sail through the rough intersection between humanities and rural areas with Homer and the Odyssey Scholars. We aim to make the humanities accessible to rural students and build leadership in the humanities.
Homer Humanities is a nonprofit organization dedicated to exposing more students to art, philosophy, language, literature, and history. These five disciplines make up the humanities - the study of human thought, culture, and expression. The Odyssey Scholars is a pilot program that will build student leadership in the humanities in rural areas by providing near-peer mentorship, leadership training, and resources to students who are interested in launching their own clubs or projects based around the humanities. We also help develop and expand existing humanities clubs.
Students will work with mentors to develop their project or club. Some examples of clubs that fall within the humanities are bands, choirs, orchestras, art clubs, creative writing clubs, Dungeons and Dragons, book clubs, philosophy clubs, Model United Nations, Speech and Debate, and student journalism. Examples of potential projects include setting up lending libraries, creating a music festival, and organizing a food drive.
A Roman “club” meeting of sorts.
Increase access to humanities enrichment and extracurriculars in rural areas: Odyssey Scholars will build programs that engage other students and their entire community in the humanities. They will also learn to build programs that are sustainable and will continue once the Scholars have moved on to other endeavors. We think students know best what will interest other students, and this approach will increase all students' extracurricular opportunities in the humanities.
Build student leadership: Through mentorship, support, and training, the Odyssey Program will build students’ leadership and self-confidence. Our program will help students build something that is meaningful to themselves and their communities. It will develop students’ communication, time management, and problem solving skills. The Odyssey Scholars program will create life-long leaders.
We heavily encourage students in rural areas to engage with the Odyssey Scholars’ programs. Everything we offer is completely free, and we are able to jumpstart your clubs and leadership aspirations to new heights. Students in grades 6-12 are eligible to become Odyssey Scholars.