Midwest Literary Project

The Midwest Literary Project is a humanities initiative funded by Missouri Humanities and rooted in the communities of Northeast Missouri. Designed as a year-long series of six themed conversations, both online and in-person, the project invites participants to reflect on how place shapes identity, storytelling, and the American experience.

Supported by Missouri Humanities, this project aligns with the 2026 Signature Series theme, The Story of US, which honors the power of place and identity in the American experience. 

At a time when conversations about identity, history, and community are more important than ever, this project creates space for meaningful dialogue grounded in regional experience.

• Highlights Missouri's literary and cultural legacy
• Elevates rural voices and perspectives
• Connects academic insight with community engagement
• Contributes to the national conversation around America 250

Each conversation is designed as a shared experience, one that begins before we gather, comes to life in community, and continues well beyond the event itself. Whether you engage with one stage or all three, you'll find multiple ways to explore the ideas, connect with others, and reflect on the role of place, story, and identity in the Midwest.

Each conversation unfolds in three stages:

> Online Humanities Content

Before each in-person event, we'll share recorded faculty lectures, roundtable discussions, primary historical documents, and curated examples of Midwestern literature, music, and visual art. This content is publicly accessible, whether you're joining us from Canton, Missouri or anywhere else, you're welcome to engage.

> In-Person Community Events

Each topic comes to life through community gatherings hosted at Culver-Stockton College and at partner sites across Northeast Missouri, including museums, libraries, art councils, and cultural organizations. These events may include facilitated discussions, film screenings, performances, and workshops -- always centered on face-to-face conversation.

> Podcast & Written Reflections

After each event, we'll release a podcast episode or written reflection that captures the big ideas from our conversations alongside the voices of community participants and partners. These are freely available and designed to extend the reach of each topic well beyond the room.