Constitutional republics must be nourished to stay viable. As school board elections offer a microcosm of democracy, what does IPS board history teach us about the democratic process and what citizens can do to nurture their own sense of civic empowerment?

Once regulated to the May Primary, Indianapolis school board elections are now large and expensive early November events. Debate from a plurality of perspectives is needed for a healthy democracy and a vigorous public education system. So is an understanding of local history. In the early 1920s, little to no competition existed in school board races which were ostensibly run by the Citizens School Committee. This is the era that deeply segregated and segmented Indianapolis’s public schools into a caste system. As recent media stories have shown, modern school board elections are being inundated with outside money – and agendas – that threaten to shape public schools in ways the community may not want. Using primary sources and recent news articles, attendees will be divided into working groups to compare and contrast the past to the present in an effort to plan for the future. Visual arts, poetry, and music will further help attendees appreciate the challenges democracy faces while inspiring them to stay engaged and active.

Questions? Contact 317-998-1339 or johnharrisloflin@yahoo.com.

Audience Notes: Doors open at 6pm for guests to interact with the exhibits. Programming begins at 7pm.

Event Partners: Charles E. Loflin & Virginia P. Vornehm-Loflin Center on IPS History, the Black & Latino Policy Institute, Virgil and Sheila Boyd, Wyse Ra, Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Brown, and artists Dr. Monday, Clyde Gaw, and Clockwork Janz.

Event Registration: Registration requested by Nov. 9. Walk-ins welcome!