August 2023 Save the Date: 75th Anniversary Gala on October 3, 2025!

Dunlap’s Download

A message from Charles Dunlap, Indiana Bar Foundation President & CEO

Even though the summer isn't yet behind us (especially with the hot and humid Indiana weather lately), it's going by quickly. One of the highlights of my summers is the opportunity to interact with teachers and students at the many conferences and workshops the Indiana Bar Foundation (Foundation) is involved with. The 2023 version of my "summer civics tour" included traveling to Philadelphia in July for a multi-state civics teacher training called "Civics That Empowers All Students" (read more in the Civic Education section of the newsletter); to Bloomington in June for the Foundation's five-day We the People training. Also, in June, I was among those invited to teach 55 young adults at the Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship in West Lafayette. These events provided tremendous opportunities to interact with people from Indiana, the United States, and internationally to talk about civics!

My "summer civics tour" continued recently in Saint Paul, Minnesota, at the Minnesota Humanities Center and their 3rd Way Civics (3WC) Summer Institute. The 3WC program helps students act as collaborative and productive citizens, equipped and motivated to recognize common interests, formulate common values, and devise common strategies for working across differences of experience and perspective. The 3WC institute was an intensive three-day conference focused on a teaching pedagogy designed as a one-semester college course. In many ways, it's an extension of the We the People program at the college level.

I am incredibly fortunate to be involved with many innovative and dynamic civic education opportunities, including those I have highlighted. The Foundation is proud to offer so many options to our amazing Hoosier educators with additional knowledge and tools to help their students learn, grow, and develop their civic minds. I've had a great summer, and I hope you have too.

-Chuck

Help Desk Provides Additional Level of Assistance for Eviction and Housing Issues

Indiana Legal Help has launched a new help desk for Hoosiers with questions about eviction and other housing issues. Legal Navigators are available Monday through Friday to provide legal information and connect individuals to free resources such as eviction clinics or legal aid providers. Hoosiers can access the Indiana Legal Help Desk in the Housing legal topics section on indianalegalhelp.org or at any of the 150 legal help kiosks available around the state. Housing questions can also be sent to the help desk through email at ilh@inbarfoundation.org or text (317) 548-0350. This program is made possible through the support of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.

Holder and Phelps and Fara Scholarship Winners Announced

The Foundation recently awarded two scholarships to IU McKinney School of Law students. Joseph Barnett received the Hon. Cale J. Holder Scholarship. "Because of this scholarship, I can focus more on those tough classes rather than worrying about how to pay for them," was Joseph's response to receiving the scholarship. Timara Turman, the Phelps and Fara Scholarship recipient said, "I am so grateful. I can purchase Bar prep and better prepare myself for the Bar and my future legal career," said Timara. These scholarships are made possible thanks to generous donors who have supported the Phelps and Fara Family Law Fund and the Hon. Cale J. Holder Scholarship held at the Foundation. Please consider donating so the Foundation can continue to assist students like Joseph and Timara.

The Foundation has announced $3.6 M in grants to 13 statewide organizations for 2023. Read more here.

Save the Date for the Foundation's Fall Professional Development

Join the Indiana Bar Foundation Wednesday, September 27, at the Indiana Statehouse for a 'behind the curtain' venture into the Indiana Court of Appeals. The Foundation is excited to bring this opportunity to gain content knowledge on the judicial branch and the appellate processes from a first-hand perspective to Hoosier educators. Please Visit the Foundation’s Professional Development page for additional information. Please register here on or before September 22.

(Pictured: Foundation Director of Civic Education Tim Kalgreen presenting at a recent Foundation professional development event)

Mock Trial Teachers Encouraged to Attend Upcoming Workshops

The Foundation is excited to offer the Mock Trial Law School workshop to teachers interested in starting mock trial or making their team better. To achieve this, we will be offering both a beginner and advanced workshop.

For the Beginner Workshop, the Foundation will provide you with everything needed to start an amazing mock trial program at your school. We will cover everything from the basics to attending your first competition.

For the Advanced Workshop, the Foundation will provide the tools to make your amazing program even better. Staff will bring in legal professionals to assist in developing ways to take the difficult aspects of the mock trial competition and translate them to your high school team.

Please join us for these workshops!

Beginner Workshops

• Evansville: September 7 at the Evansville Bar Association (Evansville)
• Lake County: Oct 5 at the Lake County Bar Association (Merrillville)
• Indianapolis: Oct 11 at the Indiana Bar Foundation Office (Indianapolis)

Advanced Workshop

• Indianapolis: Oct 12th at Indiana Bar Foundation Office (Indianapolis) 

Registration coming soon!

Indiana High School Students Encouraged to Apply for the United States Senate Youth Program with $10,000 College Scholarships

The Foundation is accepting applications for the United States Senate Youth Program! Two Hoosier students will be selected to represent Indiana as Delegates during Washington Week 2024 where they will experience national government in action and meet Senators, Justices, and leaders throughout government. Delegates will receive a $10,000 scholarship provided by the Hearst Foundation. Additional information about the program and application process can be found on the Foundation’s USSYP Page. The application closes at midnight September 15.  

Educators Learn How to Teach Civics to Reach Underserved 4th-8th Graders

Eleven Indiana teachers and three Foundation staff traveled to Philadelphia this month for the Civics that Empowers All Students (CEAS) professional development project. A joint venture between Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia, the project is one of the many free Foundation professional development programs offered throughout the year.

(Pictured: Indiana educators and Foundation staff in Philadelphia)

Foundation Offers Variety of Sponsorship Opportunities

The Foundation is always seeking new support for our flagship civic education programs and robust civil legal assistance programs and events. Your organization can sponsor these mission-driven programs and events, including the October 26 Civil Legal Assistance Conference. The Foundation has a variety of sponsorship opportunities for the new fiscal year, complete with corresponding benefits at varied levels. To learn more about how to become involved, please contact Kim Berry, Director of Development.

Interns Provide Valuable Assistance While Gaining Professional Experience

The Foundation had the opportunity to work with two outstanding summer interns. Coledon Johnson (L) and Maggie Davis (R) brought their own flare to seamlessly adapt to the variety of demands placed in front of them during the busy Foundation summer. “Beyond my day-to-day tasks, my internship also provided valuable learning experiences," said Coledon. "I attended a thought-provoking lecture at IU O'Neil School, delving into the historical complexities of the First Amendment. This deepened my understanding of constitutional law and its impact on civil liberties,” added Coledon.

For Maggie, her work with Indiana Legal Help (ILH) stood out as a source of immense fulfillment. “Working collaboratively with the ILH team to create social media posts allowed me to witness the real-world impact of social media advocacy,” said Maggie. “I am deeply grateful for this invaluable opportunity and will carry the lessons learned as I continue with my education and future," added Maggie. The Foundation wishes Coledon and Maggie continued success. A reminder, the deadline for Summer 2024 internship applications is March 29, 2024. Please visit the Foundation's website for additional information.

New staff and expanding programs reflect the Foundation's continued growth. We are proud of our team and want to introduce them to you! Please take a moment to Get to Know Foundation Finance & IOLTA Manager Michael Tranovich.