Better Together: Celebrating US, was a family-friendly celebration exploring what it means to belong, participate, and build community—together. Through hands-on activities, storytelling, artmaking, and conversation, library patrons were able to reflect on our nation’s history and imagine our collective future.
The event provided experiences to deepen civic engagement and learn about what makes US and our communities thrive. Everyone was able to share civic reflections, test citizenship knowledge, and build bridges — literally and figuratively — through collaborative art, quilt, and design activities that envisioned a connected, civically engaged community.
The day also included screenings and thematic discussions around new PBS’ THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, an exhibit about women’s suffrage, Revolutionary War trivia mini golf, collaborative art pieces, viewings of WFYI local productions about civics and democracy, Indigenous storytelling, local history presentations, and bilingual story times. There was a beautiful American rabbit, whose history helps us reflect on what it means to be called “American.” This interactive program invited everyone — from children to adults — to discover their role in shaping the story of “us.”
Hosted at Indianapolis Public Library’s Central Library on January 31 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the event was presented by WFYI and Indiana Humanities with the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site, Conner Prairie, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Freetown Village, Immigrant Welcome Center, Indiana Historical Society, Indiana Landmarks’ Black Heritage Preservation Project, Indianapolis Public Library, Indiana State Museum, Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, League of Women Voters, Spirit and Place – Indiana University Indianapolis and Storytelling Arts of Indiana.
The members of Akoma Ntoso Modern Quilt Guild and Conner Prairie: Indiana’s Living History Museum, shared a space together in the rear of the Center for Black Literature and Culture to discuss the history, importance, and collaborative nature of quilting.
