Issue 9 | October 2022

I recently participated in a presentation about the critical role of attorneys in civic education. The event was presented on behalf of the Historical Society of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and hosted by the Indianapolis office of the Taft law firm. I highlighted the Foundation’s commitment to advancing civic education in Indiana and the various programs, partnerships, and initiatives the Foundation is working on this year. Event guests also heard from Bill Moreau, the co-founder of the Indiana Citizen Education Foundation, and Libby Cierzniak, President of the Historical Society for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Bill and Libby shared exciting new civic education initiatives that attorneys are leading. The Historical Society shared that after a successful fundraising campaign, a new Federal Court Learning Center will be opening later this year at the Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Indianapolis. The new center will host students from around Indiana and provide educational opportunities about the critical role that our federal judicial branch plays in our system of government. In addition, Indiana Citizen highlighted its efforts to promote the importance of voting through a new educational campaign. The initiative demonstrates through historical examples why voting is such a crucial activity for all Hoosiers. I encourage you to view a 3-minute video to educate Hoosiers that every vote counts based on historical events surrounding the Ku Klux Klan’s rise to political power in Indiana in the 1920s by narrow vote margins. I also encourage you to join the ranks of “first responder attorneys” who are taking action to address the critical need to expand and improve civic education opportunities in Indiana. One easy way to become involved is to volunteer to judge one of our upcoming We the People competitions. 

I look forward to seeing you at one of our many civic education events around the state!

-Chuck

The Indiana Bar Foundation welcomes new board member Jimmie L. McMillian. He is the Senior Corporate Counsel and Chief Diversity Officer for Penske entertainment, which includes the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, NTT IndyCar Series, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Productions. McMillian was the 2021 IndyBar President and was formerly the chair of the IndyBar’s Bar Leader Series Steering Committee for Class XVI of the leadership development program and is a longtime lecturer for the IndyBar Review, the association’s bar prep course. Previously a partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, he assumed the role of senior corporate counsel for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and its related entities, including Clabber Girl, IndyCar and IMS Productions and served as a law clerk for Indiana Supreme Court Justice Frank Sullivan from 2002 to 2004. 

After a successful inaugural year that included $50,000 in support, the Mock Trial Diversity Initiative (MTDI) is entering its second program year. Additional partners are encouraged to join in supporting the MTDI. Information about the program is available here. Contact Director of Development Kim Berry with any questions. Programmatic questions can be shared with Tim Kalgreen.

October 19 is the date for the Keystone Society Reception at the Indiana Historical Society. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the exhibit "Documents That Shaped America," underwritten in part by the Foundation. For additional information on the reception or how you can become a Keystone Society member, please contact Director of Development Kim Berry. 

Applications are open for the Indiana Bar Foundation Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP). LRAP provides a forgivable loan to help offset student loan costs for law school graduates who enter into a professional career with a qualifying Indiana civil legal aid program. Visit our website to apply. Applications will be accepted through November 4.

LRAP is made possible thanks to the generosity of donors who have established and supported the Hon. Richard M. Givan Loan Repayment Assistance Fund and the Hon. J. Terrence and Peggy Cody Loan Repayment Assistance Fund, both endowed funds at the Indiana Bar Foundation.To support these funds, please click here.

The Indiana Bar Foundation and the Coalition for Court Access invite you to register here to attend the annual Indiana Civil Legal Assistance conference on Friday, October 28, at the Ivy Tech Conference Center in Indianapolis. 

The conference will offer five CLE credits and include breakfast, lunch and a reception at 5 p.m. The morning plenary session will include remarks from Indiana Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Slaughter, and Jimmie McMillian, Senior Corporate Counsel and Chief Diversity Officer for Penske entertainment, which includes the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, NTT IndyCar Series, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway Productions. The CLE session tracks include family, re-entry, housing, health and benefits, consumer, and practice and profession.

This conference is intended for civil legal assistance providers, pro bono lawyers, paralegals, law students, academics, members of the judiciary, and other professionals who assist in the delivery of civil legal assistance to low- and modest means Hoosiers. Please contact the Foundation's Marilyn Smith with any questions.

We the People Judges and Volunteers Needed

The Foundation and our participating schools are bringing We the People back in person fully for the first time since the pandemic began. Regional and state competition judges are needed to bring this engaging program alive for the students. Regional competitions are going to be held in early November around the state. The state competition will be in early December in Indianapolis. Visit this link to see the dates/locations and judge. In addition to the judging role, we need volunteer facilitators at the events. Visit this link for dates/locations to be a volunteer facilitator.

Foundation Outreach Continues

Indiana Bar Foundation Director of Civic Education Tim Kalgreen (pictured) and Civic Education Program Manager Joseph O'Connor traveled to Fort Wayne last month to lead a day-long introduction to Mock Trial held at the Allen County Bar Association offices. Kalgreen and O'Connor also visited We the People classes in the area to show the Foundation's support for the participating teachers and schools. Thank you to the Allen County Bar Association for your hospitality. Also, thank you to Sara Warfield at Homestead High School and Norm Meintel at Heritage Jr/Sr High School for opening your classrooms to us.

Join the Foundation at Upcoming Events

Join Tim Kalgreen at the Indiana State Literacy Association Conference on Saturday, October 8, at Noblesville High School. Tim will be speaking about  "Enhancing Literacy Through Interdisciplinary Programs: We the People and Mock Trial." Program information and registration is available here.

On October 14, Tim Kalgreen will be presenting at the Indiana Council for the Social Studies Conference (ICSS). He will discuss the upcoming middle school civics class and the support the Indiana Bar Foundation is providing for educators who will be teaching this class next school year. Learn more and register to join the ICSS Conference here.

The Foundation's Tim Kalgreen and St. Richard's Episcopal School English Language Arts and History teacher and We the People sponsor Andrea Neal (pictured) were among those attending the "Off the Record" panel discussion sponsored by the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site last month. Neal served as a panelist for the program. Foundation President & CEO Charles Dunlap also attended the event.

Congratulations to Foundation Board member Hon. James Sweeney, U.S. District Court Judge for the Southern District of Indiana, on being named the 2022 recipient of the "Man for All Seasons" award. This recognition is given to an individual whose life and work exemplifies the ideals of Saint Thomas More, an English lawyer, social philosopher, author, and statesman, who maintained his religious principles to the point of martyrdom by King Henry VIII. Judge Sweeney will receive the honor tomorrow evening (Oct. 4).

Indiana Bar Foundation Director of Grant Programs, Abbie Bush, has completed the prestigious Mutz Institute. Bush was among 23 individuals representing foundations, corporations, and social impact organizations. The John Mutz Philanthropic Leadership Institute identifies and develops transformational philanthropic leaders in Indiana. This cohort-based program provides a continuing education training experience that prepares future leaders for board and executive roles at foundations and corporations serving communities across Indiana.

The Indiana Bar Foundation congratulates Development Specialist Megan Clarke on her recent marriage to Indianapolis attorney Matt Richter.