Why I Started Humanitas Media

By Tracy Aanenson, President

During my husband’s final days of life, he looked at me with tears in his eyes and thanked me for protecting his dignity. It had been three long years of struggle; I was his exhausted caretaker during that time. But because of my deep love for him, I had tried to show him respect, kindness, compassion, and empathy. I had focused on advocating and attempting to give him the right to speak and make his own decisions. That simple, yet profound, expression of deep gratitude stirred something within me. It made me ponder what dignity truly means in our lives.

As the years have passed, I have found myself increasingly immersed in reflection, grappling with the noise and confusion of the world around me. The persistent pain of injustice and the burdensome weight of intolerance began to seep into my consciousness, casting a shadow over my heart. Each day’s news felt like a relentless deluge of despair, while the frenetic pace of my life left scant room for authentic reflection or meaningful connection. I observed a disconcerting transformation: the conversations swirling around me seemed to lose their richness and depth, as if the art of listening was becoming a relic of the past, overshadowed by a culture where so many were merely biding their time, eager only for their turn to speak.

It pained me to witness what I once felt was vibrant compassion in our world beginning to wither away. I yearned for those sacred moments of genuine connection, those heartfelt exchanges where empathy flourished and souls touched. In my world, which was racing headlong toward an uncertain future, I came to understand the profound necessity of pausing and truly hearing one another. Every individual deserved to feel seen, valued, and honored. These moments of connection became a balm for my weary spirit.

In my heart, I now believe we can find our way back to kindness, compassion, and the profound beauty of human connection. It is within these sacred spaces of understanding that life reveals its greatest treasures, reminding us of our shared humanity and the delicate threads that weave us all together. Let us rekindle the art of listening, for it is through genuine engagement with one another that we can create a world filled with warmth, understanding, and the deep richness of our collective experience.

I hold a deep conviction that every person in this world deserves to be heard, seen, and valued. My journey has taken me alongside countless individuals and communities striving for equity and justice, standing with them as they find the courage to raise their voices. Every person has the right to live with dignity and share their stories. I have been fortunate to witness firsthand the incredible power those stories hold—not just to change perceptions, but to transform entire systems.

This belief is what inspired the creation of Humanitas Media.

I founded this organization because I genuinely believe that sharing our stories, with empathy and intention, can forge connections and ignite transformation. At Humanitas Media, our mission is to elevate underrepresented voices and champion human dignity. Through heartfelt and impactful storytelling, we strive to spark meaningful conversations, deepen our understanding of one another, and inspire authentic change.

This work resonates deeply within me, rooted in years of listening, mentoring, advocating, and pondering: How can we harness the power of narrative to bring us closer together—and to the truth?

At Humanitas Media, we stand firm in our belief that stories have the power to confront injustice, build bridges, and illuminate our shared humanity. I am incredibly proud to lead an organization that places compassion at the heart of its mission, and I am grateful to everyone who chooses to walk this path with us.

Thank you for being here with us. I eagerly look forward to continuing this journey together, hand in hand, heart to heart!

 

 

 

Tracy Aanenson, PhD is the founder and president of Humanitas Media, bringing over four decades of experience in higher education, management, philanthropy, and nonprofit leadership. She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and communications.