America at 250
America is celebrating its semiquincentennial in 2026. As we look forward to this anniversary, Indiana Humanities has gathered resources to support conversations in your community.
Program Details
Facilitation Training
Indiana Humanities will present a two-day training on May 9-10, 2024 for staff, board members, volunteers, and program partners of Indiana libraries of all types (public, academic, school, and correctional facility). These trainings will help people involved with libraries strengthen their skills in leading conversations about vital issues and ideas across differences, beliefs, and backgrounds. Using the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence as a jumping off point, participants will learn about facilitation and reflective conversation, practice new skills and techniques, and learn to design and facilitate conversations that allow people and groups to learn more about themselves and others.
To apply, please fill out this form no later than April 5, 2024. We will notify you of your acceptance into the training cohort at least 3 weeks before the training. Space is limited. If selected to participate, Indiana Humanities will provide travel reimbursement and lodging. During the two-day training, Indiana Humanities will also provide breakfast and lunch to participants. Library Education Units (LEUs) will be provided.
The training will be held at in Indianapolis in Indiana Humanities’ offices at 1500 N. Delaware St., Indianapolis, IN 46202.
If you have questions about the training or any accessibility needs, please email Sam Opsahl, Program Associate, at sopsahl@indianahumanities.org.
This project is presented in partnership with the Indiana State Library. These trainings are supported by funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Sciences’s IMLS 250 project in partnership with the Federation of State Humanities Councils. Training will be provided by Oregon Humanities.
250 Meeting Series
As part of a year-long collaboration, Indiana Humanities and the Local History Services department of the Indiana Historical Society will be offering a series of conversations to help prepare Hoosier public historians, librarians, educators, and others for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. This series will be divided into two types of programs: Virtual Brown Bags and In Your Neighborhoods.
With Virtual Brown Bags, attendees will utilize their lunch breaks to listen in on moderated Zoom panels. Each conversation will cover a guiding pillar from the AASLH Making History at 250 Field Guide and ask how Hoosiers can utilize that guidance in their work leading up to 2026.
At In Your Neighborhood events, in-person visits to local historical organizations sites will encourage conversations about how engaging with the 250th can create meaningful programming in your community. While there, you will also be invited to tour the site and learn from our host museum.
February 22 at 11:30 am – Virtual Brown Bag: Doing History
Panel featured Kisha Tandy (Indiana State Museum), Nicole Poletika (Indiana Historical Bureau), and Stephanie Rowe (National Council on Public History)
March 13 at 11:30 am – In Your Neighborhood: Tippecanoe County Historical Association (RSVP for the event at localhistoryservices@indianahistory.org)
SAVE THE DATE
Mark your calendar for these in-person meetings (virtual meeting dates will be added soon):
- May 30: Marshall County Regional In-Person Meeting
- July 11: Wayne County Regional In-Person Meeting
- Sept. 19: Marion County Regional In-Person Meeting
- Oct. 23: Dubois County Regional In-Person Meeting
Interested in signing up for a Brown Bag conversation or an In Your Neighborhood event in your community? You can RSVP for an event at localhistoryservices@indianahistory.org.
Any questions? Email Sam Opsahl from Indiana Humanities at sopsahl@indianahumanities.org.
Request for 250th Materials
To encourage 250th anniversary programming that addresses the full sweep of our nation’s history and is relevant to present concerns, the American Association for State and Local History has developed Making History at 250: The Field Guide for the Semiquincentennial, a resource with guiding themes to help the history community prepare for 2026. Supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities and created with the help of dozens of leading scholars, museum professionals, and public historians, these themes can provide cohesiveness to a multi-faceted, grassroots commemoration and entry-points for organizations all over the United States.
Do you need a physical copy of the AASLH’s Making History at 250 Field Guide? Fill out the form to receive a copies of the guide mailed to you free-of-charge, while supplies last.
You can also download the full guide in English and Spanish by visiting AASLH’s website.
Partners
- Indiana Humanities
- Indiana Historical Society
- Indiana State Library
Questions
Contact Sam Opsahl, Program Associate:
sopsahl@indianahumanities.org | 317.616.3641