Sharing Global Learning Throughout Indiana and Around the World

This year the Global Center was once again busy sharing our love of global learning with the wider Indiana community. From sharing resources at conferences for educators to hosting in-person trainings and webinars, we were quite busy in 2025! 

A primary focus of our global learning activities across the state is ongoing support for our talented K-12 colleagues. In January, February, and June our colleague Vesna Dimitrieska ran Dual Language Immersion Workshops for a total of 151 teachers across the state. This summer, along with Leana McClain from the school of education, the Global Center once again supported Global Literacy Invitations, a program that supports and encourages teachers’ global approach when reading picture books with stories from other countries and cultures to their students. Participants remarked: “I think this is a fantastic program with a lot to offer” and “Presenters/hosts are always extremely knowledgeable and make sure learning is relevant to participants.” 

In June, we also ran our annual Global Deliberations Collaborative Summer Institute at the Ferguson International Center. The GDC is a professional development project that equips P-16 educators with the skills they need to promote open and respectful dialogue about difficult topics with their students.  One teacher remarked: “It is always great - I love how they bring in subject matter experts with recent scholarship.” Another mentioned: “I always appreciate what I gain as a professional educator from the program - resources, collaborative experiences, and opportunities to pursue further collaboration.” We are continuing GDC this spring as a virtual series. If you are a teacher, learn more about our ongoing projects for teacher training at: accessglobal.indiana.edu.   

With IU and community partners, we were able to provide not only training but unique opportunities for educators. Ten exceptional teachers from Indiana and across the U.S. received scholarships to take part in a once in a lifetime 3-week study tour through Central Asia, in partnership with Global Exploration for Educators Organization (GEEO), IU’s Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center and the IU Byrnes Institute (REEI).  

In January Global Center staff traveled with our colleagues from the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and other IU Area Studies Centers to Washington, Indiana for an International Night at the Washington Carnegie Public Library.  We shared information about world maps and perceptions of country sizes with community members of all ages. We also collaborated with our fellow Area Studies Centers by co-sponsoring “Great Decisions” a series of IU Faculty lectures and discussions on world affairs which took place from October to June at Bloomington’s Meadowood Retirement Community.

In the fall we began a monthly Global Storytime series at Morgenstern Books throughout the fall semester where families heard stories read by native speakers of Yoruba, Akan, Russian, and Ukrainian who shared about the culture of daily life in their home countries. Our volunteerstorytellers led activities to make a “shekere” (musical shakers), name pots, and hanging lanterns. Local families attended with children of all ages and were able to ask questions, dance to world music, and learn something new about cultural traditions in Nigeria, Ghana, and Ukraine. 

Many of our activities were focused directly on impacting global learning for K-12 aged students in Monroe County. This spring and summer we participated in five internationally themed festivals for children, teaching about maps and mask culture around the world at the Project School, Brown County Public Library, Fairview Elementary, Highland Park, and of course, at the annual Lotus Blossom’s Event. We also supported high school seniors and their teachers from across Indiana to attend the Indiana Council of World Affairs’ annual Academic World Quest at the University of Indianapolis in February.  

By engaging community members of all ages, supporting educators at every stage, and creating meaningful opportunities for learning both inside and beyond the classroom, the Global Center strengthened its impact statewide in 2025. This work lays a strong foundation for ongoing collaboration and innovation as we continue connecting local communities to global perspectives.