Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana, 47304-2402

Last updated on January 11, 2026

Grant awarded by

Library of Congress

Region

Midwest

Organization Type

College/University

Congressional District(s)

5

Fiscal Year Of First Grant

FY 2026 [10/01/25 - 09/30/26]

Contributing Organization(s)

Indiana Historical Society, Ball State Universiy Library

Organization description

The Center for Economic and Civic Learning (CECL) at Ball State University is a university-based center that advances civic learning, democratic engagement, and historically grounded inquiry through research, educator professional development, student leadership programs, and statewide partnerships. CECL works at the intersection of K–12 civic education and higher education civic engagement, with particular emphasis on strengthening civic knowledge, democratic dispositions, and community participation in historically underserved settings. In recent years, CECL has expanded its role as a statewide civic infrastructure hub—supporting large-scale teacher learning initiatives, developing civic learning programming for schools and communities, and elevating Ball State’s campus-wide civic engagement through initiatives such as Cardinals Vote! and the Democracy Fellows program. CECL also convenes educators, scholars, and civic leaders through major public events (e.g., the annual Civic Learning Symposium) and contributes to policy-relevant work that strengthens civic participation and democratic practice in Indiana.

Project description

With Compassion Toward One Another: Preparing for the Challenge of Civic Unity for America250 Through the Legacy of Kennedy and King, April 4th, 1968 is a Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) professional learning initiative that equips Indiana middle and high school educators to teach civic unity, ethical leadership, and historical memory through rich primary-source inquiry. Anchored in Robert F. Kennedy’s April 4, 1968 speech at Ball State University and his impromptu remarks in Indianapolis following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the project integrates Library of Congress resources with Ball State archival collections and partner archives to support inquiry-based lesson design aligned with TPS instructional practices. The project’s core experience is an immersive multi-day Summer Institute combining archival research, site-based civic memory learning (including Indianapolis’ Landmark for Peace), and structured training in TPS inquiry design and primary source analysis, culminating in classroom-ready instructional materials. The project emphasizes strong citation/copyright practice, teacher capacity-building, and sustained implementation support, positioning teachers to translate historical study into civic learning that is especially relevant to America250 and the demands of democratic life amid polarization.

TPS project focus

Curriculum
Rubrics
Teaching Materials
Workshops

Content focus

Civics
History

Audience

Administrators
Students
Teacher candidates/Student teachers
University faculty

Level(s)

6 - 8
9 - 12
Adult learning
Undergraduate

Population focus

African Americans
Low income