Democracy in Dialogue Virtual Exchange
The State Historical Museum of Iowa is working alongside the Smithsonian Institute as part of their Democracy in Dialogue program. This virtual exchange is a unique cultural storytelling project that brings together educators and students from diverse communities to engage in discovery, dialogue and reflection.
Participant Eligibility
The Democracy in Dialogue program is open for all active middle and high school students in the state of Iowa. Participants can be from any community, large or small, urban or rural. All students will receive a certificate from the Smithsonian Institute and participation may be eligible for silver cord hours.
Interested in participating? Please fill out and complete the registration form. Deadline to apply is 4 p.m. on Friday, September 3, 2026.
Time Requirement
Participants will be required to attend all three 30 minute virtual meetings over Zoom. Each meeting will require some additional time outside of the 30 minutes. At most, students may expect at least one hour of additional individual work each week during the program.
Program Schedule
Over the course of eight weeks beginning with the optional Kick-off program on Saturday, September 12, students from across Iowa will virtually connect with students from Dayton, Ohio to find, discover, and share lesser known stories from their local communities. The partnership will culminate in a final project connecting both communities through shared ideals and interests through a curated playlist and listening party.
Optional Learning Field Trips
Throughout the virtual program, optional in-person learning excursions will be offered to participants. This includes a kick-off event at the State Historical Museum of Iowa, field trips to local cultural sites, and a listening party to celebrate the final project. This program is not only a wonderful way to connect with another community, but also explore the history of Iowa.
Questions
All questions regarding this program should be sent to [email protected]