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. Wild Rose Moon in Plymouth will host an event at 7 p.m. on September 26th.
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.
Other 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
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.
