Better Together: A Civic Celebration
Indianapolis Public Library
Innovation Synopsis
Better Together: Celebrating US was a family-friendly celebration that explored what it means to belong, participate, and build a more civically minded community. Through hands-on activities, storytelling, artmaking, and conversation, participants reflected on our nation's 250-year history while imagining our collective future. Participants were challenged with the following, “Together, let’s celebrate our past, strengthen our present, and imagine the next chapter of our shared civic journey.”
Hosted at the Indianapolis Public Library's Central Library, the event brought together a diverse group of community partners, including co-organizing with a local public media partner WFYI and statewide humanities leader Indiana Humanities.
Challenge/Opportunity
Better Together connected attendees through participatory learning that inspired civic participation and a deeper understanding of U.S. and local history. Storytelling, history, and artistic expression were intentionally woven throughout the event. Participants heard from storytellers including Haudenosaunee speaker Perry Ground and contributed to two art pieces—a collaborative quilt project with Akoma Ntoso Modern Quilt Guild and Making Together: In Unison, a year-long social art project using printmaking.
Better Together is made possible by many partners, including collaborations with:
- Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
- Indiana University’s Spirit & Place Festival
- Immigrant Welcome Center
- Indiana State Museum
- Indiana Historical Society
- Indiana Landmarks
- Freetown Villages
- Conner Prairie Living History Park
- Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library
- Eiteljorg Museum
These diverse partnerships encouraged attendees to connect with a broad spectrum of approaches to civic life.
Key Elements of Innovation
Attendees were challenged to complete a Civic Engagement Bucket List with 25 interactive activities designed to encourage participation in civic life. In addition to creative and storytelling activities, they could interact with partners to sign the Declaration of Independence, meet American Rabbits, enjoy mini golf inspired by local literary icon Kurt Vonnegut, create a Family Toolkit of Civic-Mindedness, test their knowledge with Trivia on Naturalization or POTUS Fact or Fiction, find connection between media literacy and civic life, and receive voter information provided by the League of Women Voters. Key moments in history were highlighted including women's suffrage in Indiana, examining primary source documents from the Indiana Historical Society, attending a lecture on Mary Bateman Clark’s work to end indentured servitude, explore local history in the library’s digital, interactive Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, and attending a screening of Ken Burns’ The American Revolution
Achieved Outcomes
Over 650 attendees visited during this single-day event. A survey was available which received a 1% response rate. 100% of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed that this program "inspired them to learn more about topics discussed." Respondents also reported feeling motivated to make community connections and use the civic bucket list to explore. Attendees shared that the event was, “...one of the best civic engagement events we've ever attended” and "...full of so many meaningful opportunities for children, adults, and families...”
The event was intended to be a singular celebration for America’s 250th, but the event was so impactful that partners are reconvening in 2027 to offer a similar experience.
