Strengthening Democracy in Action

Community-Engaged Alliance has been selected as one of 10 nonprofit organizations across Indiana to receive funding through a $750,000 investment from Glick Philanthropies focused on strengthening democracy across the state. Glick Philanthropies is a family of charitable initiatives dedicated to building community and creating opportunity that empower every person to reach their full potential.

While part of a broader statewide effort, this support will help advance one of CEA’s most promising initiatives, Chronicling the Crossroads, a civic storytelling fellowship designed to engage students in the everyday practice of democracy.

Practicing Democracy, Not Just Learning About It

Democracy is not built through theory alone. It is shaped through participation by listening, questioning, collaborating, and contributing to a shared understanding of community life.

Research continues to show that young people often feel disconnected from traditional forms of civic engagement. National studies point to declining engagement with local news and limited confidence in participating in civic processes. At the same time, participation increases when civic life is experienced locally, where issues feel tangible, and voices can make a difference.

Chronicling the Crossroads was created in response to this gap.

A New Model for Civic Engagement

At its core, Chronicling the Crossroads invites students to step into the role of civic storytellers, documenting lived experiences, amplifying community voices, and contributing to the public record.

The program brings together students from CEA member campuses across Indiana in a cohort-based experience that combines:

• Storytelling and oral history - Students partner with community members to capture first-person narratives that reflect local experiences and perspectives.
• Civic reporting - Through training with Free Press Indiana’s Documenters initiative, students learn to document public meetings and contribute to accessible civic information.
• Public storytelling - Student work is shared through a Facing Project anthology designed to spark dialogue and deepen understanding across communities.

Grounded in principles of democratic participation, asset-based community engagement, and community-based research, the program positions storytelling not just as communication, but as a critical component of democratic life.

From Pilot to Statewide Vision

The program began as a pilot in Indianapolis, where students from the University of Indianapolis and Ivy Tech Community College explored journalism, interviewed community members, and produced capstone presentations on their topic.

What emerged was more than a learning experience. Students developed stronger civic confidence, a deeper understanding of their role in community life, and a belief that their voices could contribute meaningfully to public discourse.

Building on that success, CEA is now scaling Chronicling the Crossroads into a statewide model that connects students, educators, journalists, and community members in a shared effort to strengthen civic infrastructure across Indiana.

Why This Work Matters

Strong communities depend on informed and engaged citizens. They also depend on stories. Stories help people understand one another, surface shared challenges, and imagine solutions together.

By investing in programs like Chronicling the Crossroads, this initiative supports more than engagement. It supports the development of the next generation of civic leaders, individuals prepared to listen, participate, and contribute to the communities they call home.

Since 2022, Glick Philanthropies has directed more than $2.6 million to support democracy-related initiatives in Indiana.

“In order to play a meaningful role in helping Hoosiers feel safe, informed, and civically connected during the 2026 election season and beyond, we know the nonpartisan nonprofits driving this work need support now,” said Hannah Riffle, portfolio manager of Glick Philanthropies’ healthy democracy focus area. “While we’ll look to voter turnout as a barometer of impact, our long-term goal is to help people become more engaged in their communities and feel empowered to take action in partnership with organizations like Community-Engaged Alliance.”

CEA is proud to be part of this effort and grateful for the opportunity to continue building connections that strengthen communities across Indiana.

About Glick Philanthropies

Glick Philanthropies is an Indianapolis-based family of charitable initiatives dedicated to building community and creating opportunity that empowers every person to reach their full potential. Glick Philanthropies includes Glick Family Foundation, Glick Housing Foundation, the Glick Fund at Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), and the Glick Fund at Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis (JFGI). Since 1982, we have awarded more than $346 million to charitable causes in Central Indiana and communities where the Glick Company operates. For more information about Glick Philanthropies, visit glickphilanthropies.org.