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Rockefeller Foundation Mobilizes $450M+ Investments for U.S. Communities During Big Bets for America Convenings
NEW YORK, June 10 -- The Rockefeller Foundation posted the following news release:
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Rockefeller Foundation Mobilizes $450M+ Investments for U.S. Communities During Big Bets for America Convenings
* Across three Big Bets for America convenings since November 2025, more than $450 million mobilized to expand opportunity for American communities and enable a more prosperous future.
* $350 million committed today from the private, public, and philanthropic sectors during "Big Bets America: Cleveland" event with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and NBC TODAY Weather and
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, June 10 -- The Rockefeller Foundation posted the following news release:
* * *
Rockefeller Foundation Mobilizes $450M+ Investments for U.S. Communities During Big Bets for America Convenings
* Across three Big Bets for America convenings since November 2025, more than $450 million mobilized to expand opportunity for American communities and enable a more prosperous future.
* $350 million committed today from the private, public, and philanthropic sectors during "Big Bets America: Cleveland" event with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and NBC TODAY Weather andFeature Anchor Al Roker, amongst others.
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CLEVELAND, OH -- The Rockefeller Foundation today announced that more than $450 million in philanthropic, private, and public sector funding has been committed to expand opportunity for American communities nationwide during its Big Bets for America events over the past seven months. This includes more than $350 million committed in Cleveland alone to help underserved communities and people prosper across the city, state of Ohio, and beyond. Announced during The Rockefeller Foundation's third convening, Big Bets for America: Cleveland -- which brought together more than 400 leaders focused on identifying and scaling bold solutions to the country's most pressing challenges, including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, and NBC Today Weather and Feature Anchor Al Roker -- this nearly half-billion commitment reflects a shared conviction that durable progress for people, amid rapid economic and technological disruption, requires partners across all sectors willing to act at scale.
"As America marks 250 years, we have an extraordinary opportunity to reflect on what this country has accomplished when people unite around a shared purpose -- and to recommit to doing so again. The challenges facing American workers and communities are great, but so is the will to address them," said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation. "Big Bets for America is built on the belief that the right people, in the right room, focused on the right problems, can move from conversation to commitment faster than any of us could alone. What we have seen in Oklahoma City, Baltimore, and now Cleveland -- the relationships formed, the capital mobilized, the solutions identified and resourced -- proves convenings like these can spark action and change lives for those who need it most."
Betting Big on America's Future:
Big Bets for America: Cleveland was the third in the Big Bets for America convening series, launched in November 2025 in Oklahoma City and carried forward in April 2026 in Baltimore, where The Rockefeller Foundation also announced a three-year, $100 million Big Bet on Good Jobs for America. Across all three convenings, The Rockefeller Foundation has:
* Brought together 1,200 leaders spanning policy, philanthropy, the private sector, and nonprofits to surface, accelerate, and scale ambitious solutions to the country's most pressing economic challenges in communities lacking investment.
* Mobilized more than $450 million to help more people across the United States realize the American Dream for themselves and their families, including more than $350 million, alone, for expanding opportunity in Cleveland and Ohio more broadly.
* Committed nearly $105 million to: launch a Good Jobs for America strategy, which is helping distressed communities across the country connect more people to good jobs and adapt to rapid economic and technological change; strengthen education and childcare access in Maryland; and help governments build the capacity, confidence, and shared infrastructure they need to use artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly in public service.
What has defined Big Bets for America across all three cities is not just the scale of the commitments made, but the unlikely nature of the coalitions that made them possible. In Cleveland, pro sports franchise owners and workforce development nonprofits, state economic development agencies and AI entrepreneurs, philanthropic leaders and community organizers all came to the same table -- because the challenges facing American workers and families are too large and too urgent for any single sector to solve alone. The Rockefeller Foundation organized this gathering on the belief that durable progress requires partners who do not usually share a room, working problems they would not usually tackle together, and trusted to act on what they find.
Bringing Big Bets for America to Cleveland:
Cleveland carries special meaning for The Rockefeller Foundation. John D. Rockefeller launched his first business in Cleveland in 1859 and, a decade later, he co-founded Standard Oil in the city, beginning the journey that would eventually give rise to The Rockefeller Foundation.
More than 150 years later, Cleveland remains a city that rewards ingenuity, conviction, and ambition. Home to world-class institutions, including the Cleveland Clinic, Case Western Reserve University, and the Cleveland Foundation -- the first community foundation in the United States -- the city has long been a proving ground for ideas that scale. Cleveland has also made clear that it will not wait for opportunity to come to it: the city is actively investing in its neighborhoods, connecting residents to good jobs, and building the coalitions needed to drive inclusive, lasting growth. That spirit made Cleveland the natural home for Big Bets for America.
Major announcements from Big Bets for America: Cleveland include:
* Governor DeWine, Lieutenant Governor Tressel, and JobsOhio Announce $300 Million Experiential Learning Initiative to Address Talent Gaps and Bolster Career Awareness. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jim Tressel, and JobsOhio today announced the JobsOhio Experiential Learning Initiative, a $300 million initiative, 10-year effort created by JobsOhio and supported by its Board of Directors to strengthen and expand the state's pipeline of skilled technical professionals. The effort will help Ohio employers of all sizes fill specialized positions in the critical industries of advanced manufacturing, advanced aerospace and defense, automotive, energy and chemicals, financial services, food and agribusiness, healthcare, logistics and distribution, and technology. JobsOhio estimates the state will need an additional 540,000 STEM- and technically skilled individuals over the next 10 years to meet employer demand, with technicians accounting for 43% of that demand. An estimated 25,000 Ohioans are expected to benefit and advance through a technician pathway under the initiative.
* The Cleveland Foundation Announces $13 Million Commitment from the Wellman Family, KeyBank Foundation, and The Rockefeller Foundation to the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Endowment Fund. The Cleveland Foundation with the Wellman family, KeyBank Foundation, and The Rockefeller Foundation announced significant new investments in the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Endowment Fund, expanding one of Cleveland's most ambitious economic development strategies in recent years and reinforcing its long-term mission to transform vacant industrial land into opportunity. The Wellman family, KeyBank Foundation, and The Rockefeller Foundation committed $10 million, $2 million, and $1 million, respectively, to unlock a critical barrier to employment in distressed communities: the lack of nearby, job-ready sites that can attract employers offering good-paying work. With the Wellman family's contribution, the endowment fund has been named the Samuel T. Wellman Site Readiness Fund. In Cleveland, the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund is rebuilding a pipeline from disinvested neighborhoods to new job centers by making formerly idle industrial sites viable for employers that can hire locally.
* Cleveland Housing Investment Fund Receives a $10 Million Investment: Huntington Bank announced a $10 million investment into the Cleveland Housing Investment Fund (CHIF), which is led by LISC Fund Management, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of national nonprofit Local Initiatives Support Corporation. This investment will expand its capacity to finance affordable housing developments for people with modest incomes. CHIF is working to fill critical gaps in Cleveland's housing landscape, fuel economic activity in under-invested neighborhoods, and has already helped advance more than 200 affordable homes since March 2025. With Huntington's commitment, CHIF has now realized more than half of its $100 million investment goal.
* MSCHF Announces New Permanent Public Art Installation: In celebration of America's 250th anniversary, MSCHF -- an American art collective -- announced a major permanent public art installation on Cleveland's waterfront, positioning the city as a national destination for culture, tourism and placemaking. The project, which is slated to start later this summer and is set to be completed in the next 2-3 years, is a collaboration between MSCHF, the City of Cleveland, Destination Cleveland and North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation. Cleveland was chosen for this permanent civic artwork that builds on MSCHF's practice of participatory art interventions and expands this framework to re-envision public space. Funded by participants from around the country, it represents an investment in the tens of millions of dollars.
* Stemuli Launches Internship Program for Cleveland-Area Students: AI company Stemuli and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) announced a new partnership that will put Cleveland students in the founder's seat of the AI economy. Beginning this summer, students in CMSD's internship program will build, staff, and launch AI-native businesses inside Founder Tycoon, Stemuli's simulation in which players direct teams of AI agents to run companies and live with the consequences of every decision. The program will also help students build measurable AI literacy, earn portable and internationally recognized credentials, and connect classroom learning to real economic pathways that will inform and facilitate broader workforce and career-readiness goals.
* Center for Energy Workforce Development Launches Ohio Energy Workforce Consortium: The Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) -- a non-profit consortium of energy employers, their associations, labor partners, and others committed to the development of a skilled energy workforce -- announced the launch of the Ohio Energy Workforce Consortium (OHEWC), which will work to meet growing state energy hiring demands by developing energy sector talent pipelines. With this announcement OHEWC becomes the latest addition to CEWD's national network of energy industry workforce consortia, which now spans more than 20 states.
What participants at Big Bets for America: Cleveland are saying:
* Governor of Ohio Mike DeWine: "We want Ohioans to have every opportunity to live up to their full potential, and this new $300 million commitment from JobsOhio is part of Ohio's overall strategy to ensure that we have a skilled workforce that is prepared for the opportunities for the future. This program is aimed at getting people prepared for good-paying jobs and helping students combine academic learning with hands-on experience."
* First Lady of Ohio Fran DeWine: "Reading is the key to success for our kids because if they can read, they can succeed. As part of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Ohio, 64% of all kids in Ohio are receiving free books, and we've mailed 27 million books to Ohio kids since 2019. We're seeing our kindergarten readiness scores go up in Ohio, and our kids are becoming better readers, students, and people."
* Mayor of Cleveland Justin Bibb: "Cleveland has always been a city that knows how to build, innovate, and reinvent itself. What we saw through Big Bets for America was a powerful vote of confidence in our people, our neighborhoods, and our future. These commitments, from workforce development and housing to site readiness and emerging technologies, are more than just funding for projects but investments in opportunity for Clevelanders. Turning bold ideas into tangible results and ensuring that our city's momentum translates into lasting prosperity is what the Cleveland ERA is all about."
* P. Nauseef, President and CEO of JobsOhio: "This state has an incredible story of resilience, and the new JobsOhio Experiential Learning Initiative helps ensure our workforce is abundant and ready to continue powering not only Ohio's but also the nation's economy. We and our partners continue to build on strong economic momentum, and this commitment creates more opportunities that will provide our children and grandchildren long-term careers here at home while welcoming more people to become Ohioans and contribute to our future success."
* Jay Turakhia, Regional President at Huntington Bank: "At Huntington, a core part of our mission is to strengthen the communities we serve, and this $10 million investment in the Cleveland Housing Investment Fund reflects that commitment in action. By investing in the Cleveland Housing Investment Fund, we're helping close critical housing gaps, supporting economic growth in under invested neighborhoods, and expanding access to safe, affordable homes that are foundational to opportunity and long-term community vitality."
* Brad Whitehead, Managing Director of the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund: "The Rockefeller Foundation's Big Bets for America demonstrates what is possible when public, private, and philanthropic leaders align around a shared vision for opportunity. The investments announced in Cleveland reflect a commitment to tackling barriers to growth at scale -- from workforce development and housing to site readiness and innovation. Together, these efforts will strengthen neighborhoods, connect more people to good jobs, and enhance the long-term competitiveness of Cleveland, Ohio, and the nation."
* Lillian Kuri, President of the Cleveland Foundation: "There is nothing more important that we can do as a community than help grow the region. We can't help people if we don't have jobs. I'm proud that the Cleveland Foundation is one of the few community foundations that has economic development as one of its top priorities. For us, the Samuel T. Wellman Site Readiness Fund -- from Mayor Bibb's initial vision to the incredible leadership and momentum of the team at Site Readiness for Good Jobs -- it is the definition of a big bet. We had to prepare, invest, and partner in whole new ways to solve what seemed like an absolutely daunting, impossible task, and what this community has done: it's not a pilot, it's not a project, it is a solution for Cleveland."
* David Gilbert, President and CEO of Destination Cleveland: "We know that seeing is believing when it comes to changing perceptions of Cleveland. By hosting the Rockefeller Foundation's Big Bets for American convening, we were able to illustrate to out-of-town attendees the vision that is leading to generational change in Cleveland. And, through these newly formed relationships, we can expand and accelerate the growth that our region is poised to experience."
* Missy Henriksen, Executive Director of the Center for Energy Workforce Development: "More than 6% of Ohio's workforce was employed in the energy sector in 2024, and that number continues to grow as investments across the state support new opportunities. CEWD and its Ohio Energy Workforce Consortium are committed to uniting key stakeholders to improve awareness of and access to energy jobs while strengthening pathways to these high-growth, high-wage careers for more Ohioans."
* Taylor Shead, CEO of Stimuli: "Today I'm excited to announce that Founder Tycoon will launch in partnership with Cleveland Metropolitan School District this summer. Students in the district won't just be learning about AI, they will be using AI to build real businesses, to solve real world problems, and, for the first time ever, experience what it's like to create something from nothing. What I'm excited about most is that this is launching here in Cleveland, a city that defined the industrial economy now has the opportunity to prepare the next generation for the AI economy. One hundred and fifty years ago, a young man came to Cleveland and helped build the future. Our hope is that in this program, students will have the opportunity to do the exact same thing."
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About The Rockefeller Foundation
Investing $30 billion over the last 113 years to promote the well-being of humanity, The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on unlikely partnerships and innovative solutions that deliver measurable results for people in the United States and around the world. We leverage scientific breakthroughs, artificial intelligence, and new technologies to make big bets across energy, food, health, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/subscribe and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn, Instagram @rockefellerfdn, YouTube @RockefellerFdn, and LinkedIn @the-rockefeller-foundation.
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Original text here: https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/news/rockefeller-foundation-450m-investments-u-s-communities-big-bets-for-america-convenings/
Getty Presents a Story of Rediscovery, Provenance Research, and Restitution
LOS ANGELES, California, June 10 -- The J. Paul Getty Trust issued the following news release:
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Getty Presents a Story of Rediscovery, Provenance Research, and Restitution
The Getty Research Institute (GRI) presents "Lost. Found. Returned." on view June 23-Oct. 18, 2026, at the Getty Center in Los Angeles.
This exhibition traces the extraordinary history of a drawing once believed lost during World War II and now set to return to its rightful home in Dresden, Germany. Before its departure, the work will be exhibited publicly for the first time, offering visitors a rare opportunity to
... Show Full Article
LOS ANGELES, California, June 10 -- The J. Paul Getty Trust issued the following news release:
* * *
Getty Presents a Story of Rediscovery, Provenance Research, and Restitution
The Getty Research Institute (GRI) presents "Lost. Found. Returned." on view June 23-Oct. 18, 2026, at the Getty Center in Los Angeles.
This exhibition traces the extraordinary history of a drawing once believed lost during World War II and now set to return to its rightful home in Dresden, Germany. Before its departure, the work will be exhibited publicly for the first time, offering visitors a rare opportunity toexamine both the artwork and the investigative process that uncovered its history.
"Every artwork has a history, and even when that history is well-documented it is sometimes more complex than we realize," says Andrew Perchuk, Interim Director of the Getty Research Institute. "This exhibition highlights the meticulous research and investigative work required to trace an object's journey across decades and borders, while underscoring the Getty Research Institute's commitment to advancing provenance research and supporting responsible stewardship of cultural heritage."
At the center of the exhibition is "Standing Male Nude from the Back, with a Smaller Sketch" by German Symbolist artist Otto Greiner (1869-1916). Acquired in 1894 by the Print Room of the Saxon Royal Art Collections, now the Kupferstich-Kabinett, Dresden State Art Collections (SKD), the drawing was recorded as lost in the aftermath of World War II. More than a century after entering the Dresden collection, the work resurfaced in an unexpected place, at the Getty Research Institute's archive.
The case of the Greiner drawing demonstrates how historical, archival, material, forensic, and computational evidence can be brought together to reconstruct an object's history. Registered in Germany's Lost Art Database, the drawing became the subject of extensive investigation that ultimately confirmed its identity and provenance. The exhibition further illustrates how museums, archives, and research institutions can work collaboratively to address the ongoing effects of Nazi-era art looting and wartime losses.
The exhibition also draws attention to the wealth of online information that contributes to this process of discovery, such as the Getty Provenance Index, one of the world's leading resources for provenance research. By showcasing the methods and tools used to identify and return the drawing, "Lost. Found. Returned." sheds light on the growing importance of provenance studies within art history and museum practice.
According to Nancy Um, Associate Director of Research and Knowledge Creation, "Provenance research hinges on the close inspection of the artwork, in the quest for any material clues about its past, such as inscriptions, inventory numbers, or collectors' stamps. But, today, these long-held methods must be combined with exhaustive research across many resources, including expansive online databases, which collate the vast amount of information that we have at our disposal. Yet, as this exhibition shows, even if this information is available digitally, concerted effort is still needed to bring together the full biography of each lost object."
More than the story of a single artwork, "Lost. Found. Returned." is a testament to the power of research, transparency, and international collaboration. As Getty prepares to return the drawing to Dresden in November, the exhibition invites visitors to consider the enduring significance of cultural stewardship and the responsibility institutions share in preserving and restoring the histories of works of art.
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Original text here: https://www.getty.edu/news/getty-exhibition-rediscovery-provenance-research-restitution
Francesca Casadio Appointed John E. and Louise Bryson Director of the Getty Conservation Institute
LOS ANGELES, California, June 10 -- The J. Paul Getty Trust issued the following news release:
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Francesca Casadio Appointed John E. and Louise Bryson Director of the Getty Conservation Institute
The J. Paul Getty Trust has appointed Francesca Casadio as the next John E. and Louise Bryson Director of the Getty Conservation Institute. Casadio currently serves as vice president and Grainger Executive Director of Conservation and Science at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Casadio will oversee the Getty Conservation Institute, one of the four programs of the J. Paul Getty Trust. The Institute
... Show Full Article
LOS ANGELES, California, June 10 -- The J. Paul Getty Trust issued the following news release:
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Francesca Casadio Appointed John E. and Louise Bryson Director of the Getty Conservation Institute
The J. Paul Getty Trust has appointed Francesca Casadio as the next John E. and Louise Bryson Director of the Getty Conservation Institute. Casadio currently serves as vice president and Grainger Executive Director of Conservation and Science at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Casadio will oversee the Getty Conservation Institute, one of the four programs of the J. Paul Getty Trust. The Instituteleads efforts to preserve and advance cultural heritage through scientific research, field projects, education, and knowledge sharing. Through global partnerships and expertise across disciplines, the Institute addresses built heritage, collections, and heritage science, and develops open-access tools and resources for conservation professionals.
Reporting to Getty President and CEO Katherine E. Fleming, Casadio will be responsible for the Institute's strategic vision, initiating and implementing key initiatives and research to continue to improve cultural heritage conservation practice globally. She will begin at Getty in early fall 2026.
"We are thrilled to welcome Francesca to Getty to lead the Getty Conservation Institute," said Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust. "She has a vast amount of experience, including extensive international collaboration, providing a unique lens that will be invaluable as the Institute continues to shape the field of conservation."
Casadio brings over two decades of experience to the role and has been at the Art Institute of Chicago since 2003. She established their scientific research laboratory, is leading the design of the $50M Grainger Center for Conservation and Science and is a founding member and co-director of the Northwestern University/Art Institute of Chicago Center for Scientific Studies in the Arts. Casadio will also be returning to Getty, having started her career in the United States as a graduate intern in historic building preservation at the Getty Conservation Institute in 2002.
"I am proud to join Getty. With its unmatched combination of interdisciplinary research, collections and grantmaking, the Institute is uniquely positioned to demonstrate how heritage conservation is an engine of public value that benefits everyone," said Francesca Casadio. "Many people might think conservation is just something that happens before they encounter an iconic work like Van Gogh's 'Irises' or visit a landmark site with their friends or family, but conservation is what makes that encounter possible."
Casadio holds PhD and MS degrees in chemistry from the University of Milan, Italy, and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Sorbonne University in Paris in 2019.
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Original text here: https://www.getty.edu/news/francesca-casadio-appointed-john-e-and-louise-bryson-director-of-the-getty-conservation-institute
FFRF Castigates Second House Judiciary Hearing Targeting SPLC
MADISON, Wisconsin, June 10 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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FFRF castigates second House Judiciary hearing targeting SPLC
Tuesday's House Judiciary Committee hearing targeting the Southern Poverty Law Center is the latest step in a coordinated effort to intimidate organizations challenging Christian nationalism and other forms of extremism.
Testifying before the committee, Southern Poverty Law Center Interim President and CEO Bryan Fair defended the organization's 55-year record.
"For 55 years, with the support of generous donors who appreciate
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, June 10 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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FFRF castigates second House Judiciary hearing targeting SPLC
Tuesday's House Judiciary Committee hearing targeting the Southern Poverty Law Center is the latest step in a coordinated effort to intimidate organizations challenging Christian nationalism and other forms of extremism.
Testifying before the committee, Southern Poverty Law Center Interim President and CEO Bryan Fair defended the organization's 55-year record.
"For 55 years, with the support of generous donors who appreciateour work, the SPLC has fought racial terror, white supremacy and other forms of discrimination and hate, to build and defend a multiracial democracy where we can all thrive," Fair told lawmakers. "That was the goal of the Civil Rights Movement -- and it is our mission."
Fair reminded committee members that the center helped dismantle the United Klans of America through litigation and has spent decades exposing extremist organizations through research, education, policy advocacy and legal action. He also rejected claims that the organization has strayed from its mission.
"Some say we've lost our way," Fair testified. "That's false. We have never lost our north star -- a fair and just society for every person."
At the hearing, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Subcommittee Chair Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and others continued their campaign against the Southern Poverty Law Center, attacking the organization's longstanding work tracking hate groups and extremist movements.
Multiple lawmakers questioned why the center has designated organizations such as the Alliance Defending Freedom as hate groups. Fair responded that the designations are based on documented statements and activities that vilify, demean or target marginalized communities, not on an organization's religious beliefs. He emphasized that the center does not label entities based on their faith, but rather on conduct and rhetoric that it concludes promote hostility or discrimination.
Members of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, including Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin, D-Md., and Reps. Becca Balint, D-Vt., and Hank Johnson, D-Ga., forcefully pushed back against these attacks, defending the importance of independent research and documentation of extremist movements. Raskin defended the Southern Poverty Law Center's decades-long civil rights work and warned against using government power to punish organizations for their viewpoints.
"The proper response to speech you don't like is counterspeech, not government prosecution, not government censorship," Raskin said in his opening remarks."If you don't like the fact that someone's called you a hate group, then you get up and you rebut them. You denounce them."
Balint warned that the hearing was part of a broader campaign to punish organizations unwilling to show blind loyalty to President Trump. She accused Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche of transforming the Justice Department into a tool for political retribution, targeting the Southern Poverty Law Center and other groups that have resisted the administration's attacks on democratic institutions and civil rights protections.
Among the witnesses was Alveda King of the America First Policy Institute, a Christian nationalist organization closely aligned with the Trump administration. King argued that Americans with "traditional Christian values" are being unfairly targeted and criticized the center for its opposition to anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion activism. She accused the organization of mischaracterizing her advocacy and repeated claims attacking transgender healthcare and reproductive rights. Her testimony reflected a broader theme of the hearing, in which lawmakers and witnesses sought to portray criticism of Christian nationalist ideology and anti-LGBTQ extremism as discrimination against Christians themselves.
The same House committee had held an earlier hearing against the Southern Poverty Law Center on May 20. And in April, the Justice Department indicted the center over its program to track hate groups, an investigation which an earlier administration had already closed. The center's lawyers are seeking dismissal, documenting that the DOJ moved to charge without interviewing a single current employee and contends the prosecution is a political vendetta.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has a long history of documenting threats from Christian nationalists, white supremacists and other extremists. In its annual "Year in Hate and Extremism" report, it named white Christian nationalism as the key ideology that inspired the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, drawing directly on the February 2022 report that the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty co-published. The center has continued to document how Christian nationalism stokes hate through false claims of "Christian persecution" and "white genocide," and how the movement seeks to dominate American political and cultural life.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation stands firmly with the Southern Poverty Law Center. FFRF is among more than 100 civil rights organizations that have signed the Unity Pact, a commitment organized by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights under which an unjust attack on one signatory is treated as an attack on all. A prosecution built on the president's enemies list and dressed up in a congressional hearing is exactly what the pact has been made to defend against.
Despite the congressional attacks, the center today released its most recent "Year in Hate & Extremism" report, which chronicles trends in hard-right activity, exposes the players driving extremism and equips communities with data and tools to prevent radicalization. This year's report identifies 1,263 hate and antigovernment groups in operation throughout 2025 and documents how the hard-right movement rapidly consolidated power across influential institutions, including the federal government and the private tech sector. The report examines how extremist movements have targeted immigrants, LGBTQ-plus people, women, students of color and poor people, exploited cryptocurrency to sustain harassment campaigns, and intensified propaganda and recruitment efforts on college campuses.
"Attempts to punish organizations for exposing extremism are an attack on free inquiry, civil rights advocacy and democratic accountability," says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. "The Southern Poverty Law Center has spent decades documenting the dangers posed by white supremacy, Christian nationalism and other extremist movements. It should be commended for that work, not dragged before Congress because powerful politicians dislike its conclusions."
FFRF urges lawmakers to abandon these politically motivated attacks and focus instead on addressing the real threats posed by extremist movements that seek to undermine constitutional rights and secular democracy.
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With about 41,000 members, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-castigates-second-house-judiciary-hearing-targeting-splc/
[Category: Religion]
Peterson Foundation Statement on 2026 Trustees Reports
NEW YORK, June 9 -- The Peter G. Peterson Foundation posted the following news release:
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Peterson Foundation Statement on 2026 Trustees Reports
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Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, commented today following the release of the 2026 Social Security and Medicare Trustees reports:
"Today's Trustees reports make clear that we are rapidly running out of time to secure the future of Social Security and Medicare.
"If lawmakers fail to act, all Social Security recipients will face automatic, immediate benefit cuts of 22% in 2032, just six years from now. In seven
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, June 9 -- The Peter G. Peterson Foundation posted the following news release:
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Peterson Foundation Statement on 2026 Trustees Reports
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Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, commented today following the release of the 2026 Social Security and Medicare Trustees reports:
"Today's Trustees reports make clear that we are rapidly running out of time to secure the future of Social Security and Medicare.
"If lawmakers fail to act, all Social Security recipients will face automatic, immediate benefit cuts of 22% in 2032, just six years from now. In sevenyears, Medicare faces an automatic cut to providers that could lead to disruptions in care or higher costs for patients.
"Social Security and Medicare are essential programs that form the backbone of economic and retirement security for millions of Americans. For decades, Washington has ignored repeated warnings from the Trustees and allowed the trust fund depletion to tick closer and closer.
"It's important to recognize that the Senators we elect this year will be in office when Social Security becomes unable to pay out full benefits, so this must be a central campaign issue. Recent Peterson Foundation polling shows that an overwhelming 96% of voters want candidates to have a clear plan to address Social Security's finances and prevent automatic benefit cuts.
"This crisis is both highly predictable, and fully avoidable, as there are many well-known solutions available. Now is the time for responsible, bipartisan leadership to strengthen Social Security and Medicare, ensuring the stability of these programs for generations of Americans to come."
***
Original text here: https://www.pgpf.org/press/peterson-foundation-statement-on-2026-trustees-reports/
Getty Presents a Story of Rediscovery, Provenance Research, and Restitution
LOS ANGELES, California, June 9 -- The J. Paul Getty Trust issued the following news release:
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Getty Presents a Story of Rediscovery, Provenance Research, and Restitution
Exhibition recounts the journey of a drawing lost during World War II and the research that led to its return to Germany
*
The Getty Research Institute (GRI) presents "Lost. Found. Returned." on view June 23-Oct. 18, 2026, at the Getty Center in Los Angeles.
This exhibition traces the extraordinary history of a drawing once believed lost during World War II and now set to return to its rightful home in Dresden, Germany.
... Show Full Article
LOS ANGELES, California, June 9 -- The J. Paul Getty Trust issued the following news release:
* * *
Getty Presents a Story of Rediscovery, Provenance Research, and Restitution
Exhibition recounts the journey of a drawing lost during World War II and the research that led to its return to Germany
*
The Getty Research Institute (GRI) presents "Lost. Found. Returned." on view June 23-Oct. 18, 2026, at the Getty Center in Los Angeles.
This exhibition traces the extraordinary history of a drawing once believed lost during World War II and now set to return to its rightful home in Dresden, Germany.Before its departure, the work will be exhibited publicly for the first time, offering visitors a rare opportunity to examine both the artwork and the investigative process that uncovered its history.
"Every artwork has a history, and even when that history is well-documented it is sometimes more complex than we realize," says Andrew Perchuk, Interim Director of the Getty Research Institute. "This exhibition highlights the meticulous research and investigative work required to trace an object's journey across decades and borders, while underscoring the Getty Research Institute's commitment to advancing provenance research and supporting responsible stewardship of cultural heritage."
At the center of the exhibition is "Standing Male Nude from the Back, with a Smaller Sketch" by German Symbolist artist Otto Greiner (1869-1916). Acquired in 1894 by the Print Room of the Saxon Royal Art Collections, now the Kupferstich-Kabinett, Dresden State Art Collections (SKD), the drawing was recorded as lost in the aftermath of World War II. More than a century after entering the Dresden collection, the work resurfaced in an unexpected place, at the Getty Research Institute's archive.
The case of the Greiner drawing demonstrates how historical, archival, material, forensic, and computational evidence can be brought together to reconstruct an object's history. Registered in Germany's Lost Art Database, the drawing became the subject of extensive investigation that ultimately confirmed its identity and provenance. The exhibition further illustrates how museums, archives, and research institutions can work collaboratively to address the ongoing effects of Nazi-era art looting and wartime losses.
The exhibition also draws attention to the wealth of online information that contributes to this process of discovery, such as the Getty Provenance Index, one of the world's leading resources for provenance research. By showcasing the methods and tools used to identify and return the drawing, "Lost. Found. Returned." sheds light on the growing importance of provenance studies within art history and museum practice.
According to Nancy Um, Associate Director of Research and Knowledge Creation, "Provenance research hinges on the close inspection of the artwork, in the quest for any material clues about its past, such as inscriptions, inventory numbers, or collectors' stamps. But, today, these long-held methods must be combined with exhaustive research across many resources, including expansive online databases, which collate the vast amount of information that we have at our disposal. Yet, as this exhibition shows, even if this information is available digitally, concerted effort is still needed to bring together the full biography of each lost object."
More than the story of a single artwork, "Lost. Found. Returned." is a testament to the power of research, transparency, and international collaboration. As Getty prepares to return the drawing to Dresden in November, the exhibition invites visitors to consider the enduring significance of cultural stewardship and the responsibility institutions share in preserving and restoring the histories of works of art.
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Original text here: https://www.getty.edu/news/getty-exhibition-rediscovery-provenance-research-restitution/
Denver Foundation Awards $2.7M in Community Grants
DENVER, Colorado, June 9 -- The Denver Foundation issued the following news:
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The Denver Foundation awards $2.7M in community grants
Congratulations to the 70 nonprofit organizations that have been awarded a total of $2.7 million in grants during the 2026 cycle 1 of our Community Grants Program.
These incredible organizations work to advance economic opportunity, climate and environment, affordable housing, and youth well-being for people across the seven Metro Denver counties.
These organizations reflect the priority areas of our strategic framework. This was the second year in which
... Show Full Article
DENVER, Colorado, June 9 -- The Denver Foundation issued the following news:
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The Denver Foundation awards $2.7M in community grants
Congratulations to the 70 nonprofit organizations that have been awarded a total of $2.7 million in grants during the 2026 cycle 1 of our Community Grants Program.
These incredible organizations work to advance economic opportunity, climate and environment, affordable housing, and youth well-being for people across the seven Metro Denver counties.
These organizations reflect the priority areas of our strategic framework. This was the second year in whichorganizations received funding for youth mental health programs for K-12-aged children, both in the community and in schools. There were 14 organizations that received this type of funding.
A complete list of the grant recipients is below.
The grant recipients reflect the growing diversity of our region's nonprofit sector as well as the foundation's ever-deepening commitment to racial equity.
The Denver Foundation awarded these 70 grants following a thorough review of 236 proposals led by The Denver Foundation staff and members of the Advisory Committee for Community Impact, a volunteer body of more than 24 local community, business, and philanthropic leaders. The grants range from $20,000 to $50,000.
Through the Community Grants Program, we aim to support organizations working to reduce disparities and improve the lives of people living in Metro Denver who have been historically marginalized.
The program is funded by The Fund for Denver, our permanent endowment, built over generations to provide for community needs.
Grants are made through the program in two cycles per year. Applications for Cycle 2 2026 will open on Monday, June 15, 2026. To learn more about the Community Grants Program, visit The Denver Foundation's website (https://denverfoundation.org/grants/our-grants-program/).
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2026 Community Grants Program Cycle 1 Grantees
Economic Opportunity
Access Mode Inc
Ag and Food Lab
Blue Star Recyclers
CareerWise Colorado
CEDS Finance - Community Enterprise Development Services
Climb Hire Inc
Creating Occupational Destinies (COD)
Colorado Asian Pacific United - CAPU
Colorado Jobs with Justice
Construction Education Foundation of Colorado
Denver Hybrid College - AdvanceEDU
Food Bank of the Rockies
Foundation for Educational Excellence - BuildStrong Academy of Colorado
Mile High WorkShop Inc
Montessori Intergenerational Learning Communities - Early Childhood Service Corps
New Cottage Arts Inc
Prodigy Ventures Inc
Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network - RMIAN
Roots Colorado - Dirt Coffee Bar
TechNation Careers
Work Options for Women
WorkLife Partnership
Year One Inc - Mile High Youth Corps
Environment and Climate
Black Parents United Foundation - BPUF
Colorado Rising for Communities
Earthjustice
Mi Familia Vota Education Fund
Housing
Attention Inc - TGTHR
Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado
Dream Center Denver
East Colfax Community Collective
HOPE - Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement
Jeffco Housing Corporation - Foothills Regional Housing
SafeHouse Denver Inc
Together Colorado
Youth Well-being
Impact on Education - IOE
Isabella Bird Community School
Center for African American Health
Colorado Dream Foundation - Colorado LiftED Foundation
Colorado High-Country Educational Treks - Colorado Treks
Denver Children's Advocacy Center
Jewish Family Service of Colorado Inc
PlatteForum
Project PAVE Inc
Resilience1220
Second Wind Fund Inc
Struggle of Love Foundation
Vuela for Health - HECHO
QueenShipp
RISE Colorado
Upstream Education Inc
Multiple priority areas
Economic Opportunity; Environment and Climate
Groundwork Denver Inc
Economic Opportunity; Housing
Hope Communities Inc
Lower The Barrier Colorado
Mountain Resource Center Inc
NEWSED Community Development Corporation Inc - NEWSED CDC
Project Access Inc
United for a New Economy
West Community Economic Development Corporation - BuCu West
Economic Opportunity; Youth Well-being
Sheridan Rising Together for Equity
TEENS Inc
The Village Institute
United Alliance for African Community USA
Colorado Black Health Collaborative
Young African Americans for Social and Political Activism - YAASPA
Economic Opportunity; Environment and Climate; Housing
9to5 Colorado
Economic Opportunity; Housing; Youth Well-being
Denver Indian Center Inc.
Housing Colorado
Kennedi Calling
Environment and Climate; Housing
Earthlinks Inc
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Original text here: https://denverfoundation.org/2026/06/the-denver-foundation-awards-2-7m-in-community-grants/
