September is Ethnic Festival Month!

The glorious weather of September means more ethnic festivals than there's time to attend!

Some of those on the calendar are:

Oktoberfest sponsored by the German-American Klub, on Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis: 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 September

Little Italy Festival in Clinton: 4, 5, 6, 7 September

Kenya Festival at Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis: 5 September

Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Carmel: 11-12 September

Chinese Festival in Military Park, Indianapolis: 12 September

French Market at St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, Indianapolis: 12 September

Scottish Festival at Bartholomew County Fairgrounds, Columbus: 12-13 September

Andersontown Powwow in Athletic Park, Anderson: 12-13 September

Irish Fest in Military Park, Indianapolis: 18-20 September

(Hispanic) Fiesta on the American Legion Mall, Indianapolis: 19 September

Scottish Highlander Festival in Trafalgar: 26-27 September

There are more details on these (and many other events) at the Nationalities Council's calendar: click here. (And, don't forget that Indy's International Festival is coming up in November!)

.

The Mahler Project - Germanic Creative Expression

Butler University, the American Pianists Association, the German Consulate, Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis Opera, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Max Kade Center at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis and WFYI have organized a series of events throughout 2009–2010 to honor the 150th anniversary of the birth of composer Gustav Mahler (7 July 1860), commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall (9 November 2009) and celebrate Germanic creative expression. You can see the whole schedule here.

First up, at 7:30 p.m. 10 September, is a presentation on "The Two Gustavs: Mahler, Klimt, and Vienna's Golden Decade, 1897-1907" by Alessandra Comini in the Eidson-Duckwall Recital Hall on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. It is open to the public at no charge.

Awarded the Grand Decoration of Honor by the Republic of Austria for contributions to Germanic culture, and voted "outstanding professor" 19 times by her students at Columbia and Southern Methodist Universities, Comini has published eight books in the fields of art history and musical iconography, concentrating on 19th and 20th century Vienna. Her publications range from Egon Schiele's Portraits (nominated for a National Book Award) to The Changing Image of Beethoven: A Study in Mythmaking.

This lecture focuses on the hurdles and prickly reception imperial Vienna afforded the works of its leading composer and painter and explores the interlocking history of both men with the aspiring composer Alma Schindler Mahler.

.

Purdue President to Talk About Things International

Purdue University President France Córdova will speak Tuesday (1 September) to the Rotary Club of Evansville, reports Inside INdiana Business. She will focus on the university's international influence and future initiatives.

.

World Fest Across the Ohio River

Indiana residents always join the more than 100,000 visitors to Kentucky's annual celebration of world heritage. WorldFest 2009 is set for 4-5 September at the Belvedere alongside the Ohio River in downtown Louisville (which is, of course, right across from the Hoosier state). Flamenco, Middle Eastern, Bolivian and Caribbean bands are promised, along with more than 30 booths in an international bazaar offering plenty of shopping for handmade styles and keepsakes from all across the globe. At the end of the festivities, a naturalization ceremony welcomes about 300 new American citizens, followed by a parade that represents more than 50 countries.

(Don't forget that Indiana's International Festival is coming up in November!)

.

Foreign Language Opportunity for First-Graders

A Valparaiso University program that introduces first-grade children to German language and culture is being offered for the 10th consecutive year.

Valpo’s “Kinder lernen Deutsch” program, sponsored by the Kade-Duesenberg German House and Cultural Center, emphasizes learning German through fun and games. Classes begin 21 September, with weekly one-hour sessions taught by undergraduate German and elementary education students at Valpo. Dr. Sarah Glenn DeMaris, professor of foreign languages and literatures and director of the German House, supervises the program.

Children who begin taking German in the first-grade program can continue for two additional years in “Kinder lernen Deutsch.” Fourth and fifth-grade children then have the option of continuing their German or starting a new language through the “Bridges to World Languages” program, another after-school program taught by Valpo students and offered by the Valparaiso Community Schools.

Registration of first-grade children begins today (25 August) on a first-come, first-served basis until the class is full. To register a child, call 219:548-1569 on weekdays between 1 and 5 p.m. The registration fee for the full 22 sessions is $60, and is due on the first day of class. Sessions begin at 4 p.m. on Mondays, with a total of 22 sessions in the program, which concludes 19 April 2010.

Global Gifts Expands to Bloomington

Indianapolis-based not-for-profit fair trade store Global Gifts is expanding to Bloomington, reports Inside INdiana Business.

The store is expected to open tomorrow (25 August) at 122 North Walnut Street, Bloomington, with grand opening celebrations scheduled from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 11 and 12 September. The grand opening will include in-store activities, free fair trade coffee and chocolate samples, live music and a ten percent discount on all merchandise. Global Gifts features handcrafted items from 35 different countries.

.

French Market in Indianapolis

The 20th annual "French Market takes place from noon to 10 p.m. 12 September at St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, 4217 Central Avenue, Indianapolis.

The menu of French specialties includes: Tarte Flambé, Quiche, French Onion Soup, Escargot, Oysters, French Bread and herb butter, Cheese, fruit, pate, Rotisserie Chicken, BBQ ribs, Crawfish Etouffée, Tenderloin tips in wine sauce, French pastries and desserts. Entertainment features the Stardusters, Mojo Gumbo, David Ackerman, Living Proof and the Indy Jazz Fest Band.

Admission is free. (Note: this event has traditionally been held on the second Saturday after Labor Day; the date has changed this year to the first Saturday after Labor Day.)

.

Indianapolis Greek Festival Moves to Carmel

The 36th annual Indianapolis Greek Festival will be held 11 and 12 September at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 3500 West 106th Street, Carmel.

Among the Greek specialties served at the fest are souvlaki (pork or chicken kebabs), saganaki (flaming Kasseri cheese), dolmades (grape leaves stuffed with seasoned ground beef and rice), loukoumades (honey puffs), koulourakia (butter cookies sprinkled with sesame seeds) and -- of course -- baklava.

Entertainment includes the IKARI Band and the Holy Trinity Hellenic Dance Troupes.

Advance sale ticket books are $15 each, and include $15 in food coupons plus gate admission. (Admission is $5 at the gate, kids under 12 get in free.)

.

Indianapolis Prize Deliberations Begin

Nominations are now closed for the 2010 Indianapolis Prize, so the nominating committee (which narrows the field to six) and the jury (which selects the winner) are set to get to work.

Members of the nominating committee are:

•Devra G. Kleiman, Ph.D., zoologist and consultant on conservation projects worldwide who serves as Adjunct Professor for the Department of Biology at the University of Maryland and as Senior Scientist Emeritus for the Smithsonian Institution.

•Robert Lacy, Ph.D., population geneticist in the Conservation Biology department of the Chicago Zoological Society and faculty member on the Committee on Evolutionary Biology at the University of Chicago.

•Georgina Mace, Ph.D., director of the National Environment Research Council Centre for Population (Imperial College London); Fellow of the Royal Society; and former director of Science at the Zoological Society of London.

•James Murtaugh, program director of The Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg Foundation since 1991 and former curator at two of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s facilities - the Central Park Zoo and the Wildlife Survival Center on St. Catherine’s Island, Georgia.

•George Rabb, Ph.D., president emeritus of the Chicago Zoological Society; a spokesman on wildlife conservation issues worldwide; and former director (1976-2003) of the Brookfield Zoo.

•George B. Schaller, Ph.D., senior conservationist of the Wildlife Conservation Society and recipient of the 2008 Indianapolis Prize; a field biologist who studies wildlife throughout Africa, Asia and South America.

•Beth Cate, associate general counsel of Indiana University, where she also serves as adjunct faculty in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and a member of the Indianapolis Zoo Board of Trustees.

•Myrta J. Pulliam, director of special projects for the Indianapolis Star; past president of the Board of Trustees for the Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc.; chair of the Indianapolis Prize; writer, reporter and editor, who also serves as a jury member.

•Jan C. Ramer, DVM, associate veterinarian at the Indianapolis Zoo and affiliated with the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine, Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians, and the Association of Avian Veterinarians.

•Denise L. Solso, active in community affairs, including the Indianapolis Zoo and Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Southwestern Art.

Members of the jury are:

•David Ehrenfeld, M.D., Ph.D., professor of biology at Rutgers Cook College; founding editor of Conservation Biology, and author of a number of books.

•John Flicker, Ph.D., president of the National Audubon Society, who has overseen the addition of more than two dozen Audubon Centers, including 10 in urban areas.

•David W. Macdonald, who heads the wildlife conservation research unit at Oxford University.

•Carter S. Roberts, president of the World Wildlife Fund.

•John W. Terborgh, Ph.D., research professor and co-director of the Center for Tropical Conservation at Duke University.

•Jeff Trandahl, executive director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

•William W. Chin, M.D., vice president of discovery research and clinical investigation at Eli Lilly and Company; a molecular endocrinologist and author/co-author of more than 270 papers, chapters and books.

•Christel DeHaan, philanthropist, founder of Christel House International and the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation; President and CEO of CD Enterprises, who is also an honorary chair of the 2010 prize.

•Paul Grayson, deputy director and senior vice president of science and conservation programs at the Indianapolis Zoo.

•Myrta J. Pulliam, who also serves as a nominating committee member.

The third biennial $100,000 Indianapolis Prize will be awarded in September 2010. It is the largest individual monetary award for animal conservation in the world. The Indianapolis Prize was initiated by the Indianapolis Zoo as a significant component of its mission to empower people and communities, both locally and globally, to advance animal conservation. It was first awarded in 2006 to Dr. George Archibald, the co-founder of the International Crane Foundation. In 2008, the Indianapolis Prize went to Dr. George Schaller, a field biologist and vice president of science and exploration for the World Conservation Society.

The Eli Lilly and Company Foundation has provided funding for the Indianapolis Prize since 2006.

The Honorary Chairs for the 2010 Indianapolis Prize are:

Cristal DeHaan (who also serves on the prize jury), actor Harrison Ford, writer Carl Hiaasen, Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R.-Ind.), businessman Roger W. Sant and Bren Simon, businesswoman and civic activist.

.

Wayne County Chamber Leader to Visit China

The president of the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce will join a national delegation to China, reports Inside INdiana Business. Dennis Andrews will travel with representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Association on a thirteen day mission to Beijing, Shanghai and other cities. The goal of the trip will be to establish business relationships and exchange information with Chinese business leaders.

.

"Our Agenda is Now on the World's Agenda"

A conference on "World Poverty, World Trade" subtitled "A Critical Phenomenology of World Trade Regulation: Our Agenda is Now on the World's Agenda", will be held 18 and 19 September in the Ballroom of the Walb Student Union at Indiana University-Purdue University in Fort Wayne.

The conference schedule includes presentations on Bolivia, Algeria, China, Mexico, Sudanas and India as well as examinations of the role of the World Trade Organization. In addition to faculty from the IPFW campus, speakers are coming from as diverse places as Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and the AFL-CIO.

The international conference is being organized by the IPFW Institute for Human Rights and is co-sponsored by the IPFW Philosophy Department, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Office of Research and External Support, the Doemer School of Business and Management, IPFW Student Government, and the City of Fort Wayne. For information contact Professor Clark Butler, Department of Philosophy, 260:481-6364.

.

Golfing for Kenyan Elephants

A golf outing and dinner is planned for 22 August at the Trophy Club in Lebanon benefitting the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi, Kenya. It's hosted by U.S. Friends of the trust and chaired by Janice Smith, a Master of Social Work student at the Indiana University School of Social Work at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis. Smith serves as the director of donor relations for the U.S. Friends as well as being a full-time MSW student.

U.S. Friends is an American-based nonprofit dedicated to providing financial and technical support to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a Kenyan wildlife conservation organization. The organization has worked for more than 40 years to rescue, rehabilitate and reintroduce orphaned elephants, rhinos and virtually all wildlife.

According to the School of Social Work, Smith’s interest in the animal preservation organization came about in 2003 after traveling to Kenya with her husband, Stephen Smith, and son Nick, to visit Marty and Sue Moore of the Moore Foundation. The Moores were teaching at the Staerhe School in Nairobi at the time and the Smiths were supporting a student at the school.

They were introduced to Daphne Sheldrick, who founded the Sheldrick Trust in honor of her late husband, the conservationist and naturalist, David Sheldrick. He was the founder warden of Tsavo East National Park in Kenya from 1948 until the mid-1970s.

At the time, the wildlife trust had no official U.S. link and the Smiths decided to try bring awareness in this country of conservation of wildlife issues that should be important to everyone. Upon returning home to Indianapolis, Stephen, an attorney with the law firm of Krieg DeVault, formed U.S. Friends as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization in 2004.

The golf outing in Lebanon will be the U.S. Friends' first Indiana fundraiser. For more information, e-mail or call 248:390-8568.

.

Global Design Thailand Service Learning Project

A group of six students from Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis traveled to Thailand this summer for a service-learning project led by Jan Cowan, Associate Professor in the Architectural Technology Program in the Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, and assisted by Timothy Diemer, the school's director of international services, who has wide experience in Thailand.

The IUPUI group's current project is the design for renovation of a traditional canal-side market, reports the IUPUI News Center.

Five of the IUPUI students represent the school's Design and Communication Technology Department: Amy Clifford, Mary Jensen, Stephanie Richard, Chris Savoy and Yodit Weldu. A sixth student, Steve Lingg, comes to the group from the school's program in Computer Graphics Technology and serves as the group's multimedia specialist.

Rajamangala University of Technology in Thanyaburi [RMUTT] is the partner institution in Thailand. The protocol for cooperation between IUPUI and RMUTT was established when a general agreement for cooperation was signed in 2005.

The 2009 Thai project is an activity of Global Design Studio, an international network of students who apply their skills in architecture, interior design, and related fields in service to communities in need. Jan Cowan and his colleague Cluny Way created Global Design Studio in 2004 as a platform for international service-learning projects. In addition to the 2009 Thailand project, Global Design Studio has existing or recent projects in Indonesia, New Orleans, Canada, Hawaii, and Indiana.

.

International Festival to be 19-22 November in Indianapolis

Center on Global Legal Profession

A new center at Indiana University Bloomington will develop research and training materials to assist current and future attorneys in their understanding of international legal systems. The launch of the Center on the Global Legal Profession, based in the Indiana University Maurer School of Law in Bloomington, was announced Saturday (8 August) in New Delhi, India. The venue was a conference on how globalization is affecting the practice of law and legal education co-sponsored by the IU Maurer School of Law and the Jindal Global Law School.

.

Immigrant Integration in American Cities

The National League of Cities’ Municipal Action for Immigrant Integration project is launching a new series of policy reports on immigrant integration efforts undertaken in cities and towns across the United States.

The first report in the series, Municipal Innovations in Immigrant Integration, focuses on the Indianapolis model, 2000-2007. NLC staff members Ricardo Gambetta, manager for the Immigrant Integration and Inclusive Communities programs; Aida Ashouri, Municipal Action for Immigrant Integration intern; and Jamie Durana, program associate for the Inclusive Communities program, will present the report. Special guest speaker, former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, will provide opening remarks.

The policy report release will be from 6-7 p.m. 25 August, with a reception to immediately follow, at the Marriott East Hotel and Conference Center, 7202 East 21st Street, Indianapolis. Copies of the report will be available. If you plan to attend, send an email by 21 August.

Municipal Action for Immigrant Integration is a new NLC project focused on promoting civic engagement and naturalization among immigrant communities in cities throughout the United States. In addition, the project will establish a knowledge-sharing network across different cities and organizations. MAII aims to be a resource for municipal officials and community-based organizations who seek assistance in addressing immigrant integration challenges in their communities.

.

2009 Evening with The Mercy Foundation

The sixth annual "Evening with the Mercy Foundation" benefits health missions in the United States and Nigeria. It'll be held from 5:30 to 10 p.m. 28 August in Conseco Fieldhouse, 125 South Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis.

Founder and CEO of Mercy Foundation is Dr. Mercy Obeime, a native of Nigeria, who is medical director of the Saint Francis Neighborhood Health Center at Garfield Park, Indianapolis.

Tickets are $50 per person ($200 for patrons); cocktail or African attire recommended. The event is sponsored by St. Francis Hospital, Marion County Health Department, WISH-TV, Clarian Health, DSC Dermatology, Advantage Health, Indiana Minority Health Coalition and Pacers Sports and Entertainment. Jim Morris, Pacers President, is honorary chair.

.

ESL Program in Indy's Pike Township Expands

When school begins Tuesday (11 August) in Marion County's Pike Township, "Students who don't speak English fluently will get a language boost," writes Gretchen Becker in The Indianapolis Star's NorthIndy section on 8 August 2009. The district will be using the "Newcomer's Program" to target students with low English language skills. Several Pike teachers involved in the program are multi-lingual, including Mieke Kendrick-Lambrecht, a native of Belgium, who speaks English, Spanish, German, French, Dutch and Finnish. Last year, 17% of the district's students (some 1,854) were non-native speakers of English.

.

DePauw Grads Head Abroad on Grants

Amanda J. Gebert, a 2008 graduate of DePauw University, will spend the coming academic year on a teaching assistantship in France as a result of receiving an international graduate study and research grant from the French government and the Institute of International Education, reports the DePauw news bureau.

Gebert becomes the seventh member of the DePauw community to receive an award through the Fulbright application process since spring. Anne M. Schaufele, a 2007 graduate of the University, will conduct research in El Salvador. Four May 2009 graduates of the University also received Fulbright grants: Jessica V. Strong, will conduct research in Germany on "The Effects of Music on Individuals with Dementia and Depression"; Ross A. Robinson will spend the next academic year in Germany teaching English to young people.

Lauren A. Wendling plans to travel to South Korea through an English Teaching Assistantship. Todd J. Schmid will spend a year conducting research in Paraguay as a result of receiving an international graduate study and research grant. Rebecca L. Upton, associate professor of sociology and anthropology and director of conflict studies at DePauw, will conduct research at the HIV/AIDS Centre at the University of Botswana in Gaborone, Botswana.

.

Evansville Zoo Boosted by Amazonia Exhibit

Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Garden in Evansville has experienced record attendance this year thanks to the $13 million Amazonia rain forest exhibit, reports Inside INdiana Business. The zoo says 180,857 people visited the zoo in 2008 compared to 140,019 in 2007. So far this year attendance is on a record pace, with more than 129,000 visitors.

.

This Weekend: "All of Evansville is German"

A variety of German food, beer, music and fun will once again be the highlights of Volksfest, which takes place 6-8 August at the Germania Maennerchor, 916 Fulton, Evansville.

The organizers note, "The Volksfest is considered by many to be the one weekend a year where all of Evansville is German. At its peak, close to 14,000 people come to take part in the festival, which spills out of the Maennerchor building to a large outdoor beer garden that's partially covered."

Plate lunches and dinners will be served for $8 per person. Admission is free before 5 p.m., $4 after. Patrons entering after 2 p.m. must be at least 21 years of age.

.

Purdue, Lilly Partner For Russian Pharmaceutical Training

Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Company and a Purdue Research Park firm were part of a partnership that provided training to the Russian agency that is equivalent to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, reports Inside INdiana Business. Lilly and the Chao Center for Industrial Pharmacy & Contract Manufacturing conducted sessions with health policy-makers from Rozdravnadzor, which is the inspection agency for medicines and medical supplies within Russia's Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development. Russian officials are also expected to participate in training at manufacturing simulation facilities in Indiana.

Taiwan: Gateway to Asia