[ ; ] Jim Leach, chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, will visit Indiana as part of the American Civility Tour, a 50-state tour he launched in November 2009, shortly after starting his four-year term as NEH chairman. The Indiana Humanities Council is presenting a panel discussion and dialogue with Chairman Leach at IMA with a panel of local educational and cultural leaders.

[ ; ] Tradición, Comida, Diversión y más … Ballet Folclórico Santa María; Mariachi Sol Jalisciense; Banda de Música Marian University; Banda de Guerra. Be there at 9:15 for “El grito de Dolores”

When: Wednesday September 15, 5:00-10:00 p.m.
Where: Garfield Park 2345 Pagoda Drive

[ ; ] The symposium is designed to bring together legislators, elected and appointed leaders, lobbyists, and leaders from the civic, religious, corporate, labor, education, law and health sectors. The purpose of the symposium is to discuss issues that impact Indiana, with the overall objective of providing relevant and workable solutions and strategies. This year’s theme is “Education as a Continuum.” The Keynote will address the topic “Education as a Continuum: P-20.”

[ ; ] Says the Swing State Project, “That grinding sound you hear is old-school Republican Dan Coats shifting gears, trying to fit into the Tea Party template. Having won the Republican Senate nomination in Indiana probably with big help from the split among teabagger votes between Marlin Stutzman and John Hostettler, he’s now working on outreach to that set, trying to keep the focus on financial issues.” Part of this strategy seems to be to emphasize his hardline stance on Iran and Islam in America. Hear how this plays with the segment of the Indy Jewish community that shares those anxieties, but perhaps is also anxious about the right-wing populism of the Tea-baggers.

[ ; ] Jeff Zeleny is a White House correspondent for The New York Times, covering President Obama and the administration. He has traveled with Mr. Obama across the United States and the world, including reporting from Cairo in June 2009, when the president delivered his first major address to the Muslim world.

When: Tuesday October 12, 7:00 [...]

[ ; ] Iftaars are the post-sundown meals celebrated by Muslims in the month of Ramadan, when they fast while the sun is up. Thomas Jefferson was the first US President recorded to celebrate an Iftaar, with the Tunisian ambassador. Mitch Daniels was the first Indiana Governor to celebrate Iftaar. This year’s, his sixth, is a sign of the Muslim Hoosiers’ self-confidence as valuable members of society and their presence in politics.