(UNDATED) – More than 20 organizations across the state have received funding to bring scholars to their cities and towns to help Hoosiers understand and talk about urban, suburban and rural differences and connections.
The talks are part of Indiana Humanities’ INseparable speakers bureau, which is designed to help communities examine many aspects of the urban, suburban and rural dynamics at play throughout history and today. The speakers bureau is one facet of a much broader statewide INseparable initiative that encourages Hoosiers to consider how they relate to each other across boundaries and what it will take to indeed be inseparable, in all the ways that matter.
“The scholars in the speakers bureau are excited to travel the state in the coming two years to have conversations with Hoosiers about the history and future of our Indiana communities,” said Keira Amstutz, president, and CEO of Indiana Humanities. “We hope that the speakers bureau is just one way we can encourage Indiana residents to come together to consider how we relate each other across urban, rural and suburban spaces.”
Twenty-three organizations were selected to host speakers on topics ranging from the ways social media is blurring urban/rural distinctions online to the myths vs. the realities of immigration in rural Indiana.
Speakers will include scholars from Indiana University, Purdue University, Valparaiso University, Wabash College, IUPUI, Ball State University, University of Indianapolis, Butler University, Trine University, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Indiana University-South Bend and more.
Selected organizations are:
- Bartholomew County Public Library, Columbus
- Brick Street Poetry Inc., Zionsville
- Carmel Clay Public Library, Carmel
- Crown Point Community Library, Crown Point
- Cumberland First Baptist Church, Indianapolis
- Danville Public Library’s Book and a Meal, Danville
- Dubois Branch Library, Dubois
- Eckhart Public Library, Auburn
- Hamilton East Public Library, Noblesville
- Hanover College, Hanover
- Hoosier Farmers Market Association, Inc., Carmel
- Ivy Tech Community College, Indianapolis
- Jasper Newton Foundation Inc., Rensselaer
- Jasper Public Library, Jasper
- Johnson County Public Library, Greenwood
- Kokomo-Howard County Public Library, Kokomo
- La Porte County Public Library, La Porte
- Lake County Public Library, Merrillville
- T.C. Steele State Historic Site, Nashville
- Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce, Terre Haute
- The Center for the Performing Arts, Carmel
- Vibrant Communities Elkhart County, Elkhart
- Wild Rose Moon, Plymouth
The talks will be scheduled over the next several months. As details are finalized, they will be available at www.indianahumanities.org/calendar.
Over the next two years, Indiana Humanities’ INseparable programming will push Hoosiers to look beyond the demographics of the urban-suburban-rural divide to consider the people behind the data. With programming that facilitates discussion, self-examination, and fresh perspectives, Indiana Humanities seeks to help residents from all settings cross boundaries and gather to explore the opportunities and challenges we share.
