O’Bannon Institute fundraising dinner sold out, Friday event to feature discussions with experts on the topics of food culture, and leadership

Ivy Tech Community College’s Bloomington campus is hosting its 11^th annual O’Bannon Institute for Community Service on April 23 through April 25. The fundraising dinner on Thursday, April 24 with General Colin Powell, USA (ret.) is sold out, but seats are still available for Institute events on Friday, April 25.

On Friday, April 25, a full day of panel discussions, workshops, and closing conversation will focus on this year’s theme, Cultivating Leadership: Food for Thought. Panels will address becoming locally involved and the politics surrounding food supply.

*Educational workshops are new this year to the Institute and will cover topics such as informed consumers, canning, gardening 101, and backyard beekeeping. Workshops will take place during lunch, which is being served as a “sack lunch” at this year’s Institute.

The day will close with a final conversation with Chancellor Emeritus and Deputy Mayor of Bloomington, John R. Whikehart, and Bob Zaltsberg, Editor, The Herald-Times. Zaltsberg will talk with Whikehart about his own philosophy and modeling of leadership and civic involvement.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and light refreshments will be available. Opening remarks and the Institute kick-off by Former Indiana First Lady, Judy O’Bannon, begin at 9 a.m.

Each year as part of the Institute, Ivy Tech students, faculty, and staff participate in a Day of Service in the communities we serve. The Day of Service is Thursday, April 24, preceding the fundraising dinner with General Colin Powell, USA (ret.).

To kick off the signature event, Ivy Tech will host its annual Excellence in Civic Engagement awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 23 to recognize faculty, staff and community partners for excellence in volunteerism.

Friday event schedule (panel members and moderators TBA):

Registration: 8:30 a.m. (Light refreshments)

Welcome Remarks: 9 a.m.

Institute Kick-Off (Former Indiana First Lady Judy O’Bannon): 9:30 a.m.

Panel One: Do Something Personally, Do Something Locally: 10:15 a.m.

Workshops and Lunch: 11:15 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Panel Two: The Politics of Food: 1:15 p.m.

Closing Conversation (Chancellor Emeritus John R. Whikehart and The Herald-Times Editor Bob Zaltsberg): 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

The Institute takes place on Ivy Tech-Bloomington’s main campus at the Connie and Steve Ferguson Academic Building in the Hoosier Times Student Commons. Ivy Tech-Bloomington is located at 200 Daniels Way on the west side.

Admission for panel discussions, educational workshops, and closing conversation is with two canned goods or a free-will monetary donation at the door for Hoosier Hills Food Bank. Morning refreshments and a sack lunch are included in the day, but reservations are required to attend. To make a reservation, log onto http://obannon.ivytech.edu/speakers, contact Tina Phelps at (812) 330-6001, or tphelps@ivytech.edu.

*Workshop topics subject to change.

About the O’Bannon Institute for Community Service

The O’Bannon Institute for Community Service (http://obannon.ivytech.edu) was launched 11 years ago by Ivy Tech’s Bloomington campus as an annual opportunity for the community to come together to discuss topics related to nonprofits, education and political and civic service. Previous speakers at the Institute have included former U.S. Senators, Pulitzer prize-winning authors, Governors, political advisers and columnists, and Laura W. Bush, former First Lady of the United States.