***Due to reductions in federal grant funds for Academic Year 2025-26, this program is currently on pause and we are not accepting applications at this time.***
The Indiana Language Roadmap initiative offers competitive grants (up to $1,000) annually to support community projects throughout Indiana that align with the priorities of its strategic plan. You can learn more about past community projects below.
Contact with any questions.
Applications: Currently paused
Project period of performance: to be determined
This funding is available to support community initiatives that align with the priorities of the Indiana Language Roadmap strategic plan.
Project organizer’s name
Project organizer’s affiliation
Such as the Kokomo Chamber of Commerce, or LUNA Language Services, or Jay School Corporation.
Project organizer’s email
This will be our primary method of contact with you, so please make sure it is an email address you use regularly.
Project title
Amount of funding requested
$1,000 maximum
Additional project collaborators
Please include names and affiliations. If you would like any of your collaborators to also receive emails about the project’s status directly from us, you may also include them here.
Description of project
300 words or less. Please describe the main goals and activities of your proposed project.
Intended audience for project
Who will benefit from this project? Please indicate the type of audience (such as K-12 students; community members; or local businesses) as well as the geographic scope of the audience (such as the state of Indiana, the town of Terre Haute, or the counties of X, Y, and Z).
Main outcomes/deliverables from the project
Project timeline
You can upload your timeline in the following formats: Microsoft word document, Microsoft excel sheet, or adobe pdf.
How will you measure success?
Ex. My project will be a success if it reaches 300 students, which can be determined through attendance records.
How does your project support one or more of the Indiana Language Roadmap's priorities?
Please refer to one or more of the specific priorities and their objectives as described in the plan. Check the details of the Indiana Language Roadmap Strategic Plan. For example, "My project addresses Roadmap Priority 4.1 to promote Indiana's global identity by holding a poster competition and printing the winning poster to hang in community venues."
Budget
The overall amount requested in your budget should match the amount of funding requested that you said previously in the application. You are welcome to indicate any additional funding that will support your planned project, such as in-kind support or additional funding (Please note if you are still applying for this funding). Upload your budget using a file format such as Microsoft Word document, Microsoft Excel sheet, or Adobe PDF.
ILR grants have helped provide funding for communities outside of the traditional corridor of engagement between Bloomington and Indianapolis which is certainly a great thing
Mr. Colin Renk, The International Center (Indianapolis), Vice President of Client and Partner Services
About the project:
The Community Interpreter® Course project received a $1000 grant for the implementation of a 40-hour nationally accredited interpreter program to equip bilingual individuals with professional interpretation skills for healthcare, education, and social services. In addition to the interpreters trained, organizational training for around 200 stakeholders at agencies like the County Health Department was also provided. This program has helped to strengthen the state’s multilingual workforce and promote the value of language skills and interpretation as a professional career path.
Contact:
The Language Access Lab, Irene Paxia
Geographic scope:
Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana areas
About the project:
The Global Scholar Certificate (GSC) Program at the Ball State University Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities, received a grant of $950 for their annual International Fest, in which GSC participants were paired with international students to present a country and culture. The grant funded globally-themed T-shirts, improved the quality of presentations, and increased the number of countries represented at the International Fest.
Contact:
Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities at Ball State University, Huey Shi Chew
Geographic scope:
Muncie Area
About the project:
Amani Family Services is a private local mental health nonprofit organization devoted entiredly to serving refugee and immigrant families. They received a grant of $1000 to assist them in increasing visibility and accessibility and sharing resources with community members, including the hosting of 9 community outreach events.
Contact:
Amani Family Services, Rui Gui
Geographic scope:
Allen County
About the project:
The Alyssum Montessori School received a grant of $750 to prepare their 6th grade students to attend the Montessori Model United Nations Conference (MMUN) in New York (March 11-15, 2025). The students learned what the UN is and how it operates. They also learned how to prepare opening speeches, position papers, and UN resolutions. They participated in the World Health Organization debates, representing Guinea and Tonga, on the topics of “Pandemic Preparedness” and “Universal Health Care.”
Contact:
Alyssum Montessori School, Sara Gensic
Geographic scope:
Fort Wayne
About the project:
The Global Languages Mural Project received funding to support an event which included both a student talent show and a student and community co-designed mural for display on the University of Indianapolis campus. $400 was offered to cover art supply materials and an artist commission fee for this end-of-semester event.
Contact:
University of Indianapolis: Department of Global Languages and Cross-Cultural Studies Chair, Ana Maria Ferreira
Geographic scope:
Indianapolis
About the project:
The International Center Fesitval Fund received a grant of $1000 to support and promote the activities of organizations in the greater Indianapolis area that enrich life by celebrating cultural diversity and expression and showcasing the growing number of nationalities represented in Central Indiana. Sponsored events included the Indy Chinese New Year Gala, an Italian Film Festival, a Migration-Immigration Conference, and a Taiwanese Percussion Show.
Contact:
The International Center, Samantha Gutierrez
Geographic Scope:
Indianapolis
About the project:
Indiana University's Center for Language Technology received a grant of $1000 to introduce secondary school teachers to the IU World Language Festival (WLF) Virtual Academy as a professional development resource. They successfully incentivized teachers to develop global learning into lesson plans, to incorporate the WLF Virtual Academy materials in their teaching, and to inspire them to make use of the Open Education Resources IU offers.
Contact:
IU Center for Language Technology, Xiaojing Kou
Geographic scope:
Those interested in world languages and cultures across Indiana the U.S.
About the project:
The Japanese Language Learning Support Group received a grant of $1000 to create curriculum for Japanese language and social studies courses to support hertiage speakers and integrate cultural experiences into language learning in the classroom.
Contact:
Ball State University Japanese Language Study Support Group, Reiko Habuto Ileleji
Geographic scope:
Muncie
About the project:
Ivy Tech Community College received a grant of $1000 to support and expand virtual exchanges between institutitions via the publication of a new book: "The Guide to COIL Virtual Exchange" which provides resources and detailed maps for faculty, adminstreators, and institutions interested in using technology to bring classrooms together from across the world for shared global learning.
Contact:
Ivy Tech Community College, Gerald Maki
Geographic scope:
Indianapolis and across the world
About the project:
The Ukrainian Society of Indiana received a grant to fund books for community members to come together and discuss stories written by Ukrainian authors written in Ukrainian to promote better cultural understanding between Indiana locals and incoming refugees arriving to the U.S. from Ukraine.
Contact:
Ukrainian Society of Indiana President, Svitlana Ramer
Geographic scope:
Greater Indianapolis Area
About the project:
Logansport Community School Corporation (LCSC) received funding to initiate positive interactions and collaborations by organizing a "Multicultural Festival;" a platform and a multicultural educational chance not only for LCSC but also for the entire Logansport citizens to have a chance to get to know different cultures. It is essential that we identify and highlight the accomplishments of people from different cultural backgrounds that resemble our citizens, which will make the immigrants feel supported, welcomed, and respected.
Contact:
Chinese teacher at Logansport High School, Yi-Chun LeFaure
Geographic scope:
Logansport
About the project:
The Modern Languages program at Indiana University Southeast received $700 to provide stipends for students majoring in French, German or Spanish who will complete a local international engagement experience (IEE) during the 2020-2021 academic year. IUS has had an IEE requirement for majors since 2014. Students can fulfill the requirement through study abroad, a research project, or an experience involving linguistic and cultural interaction with local immigrant populations. Students who choose the local IEE may incur costs for transportation or a reduction in pay due to adjusting their work schedules to accommodate volunteer hours. This grant aims to provide support for these students.
Contact:
Dr. Mindy E. Badía, Professor of Spanish and International Studies
Geographic scope:
Louisville, KY, and southern Indiana (what we call locally "Kentuckiana")
About the project:
Batesville Primary School received funding to provide more resources for their ELL and Mandarin teachers to help students gain comprehension through the written language. Students will learn to read fluently in the language they are studying, and their families will also be able to participate in their learning by reading along with them and listening to their child read to them in a different language.
Contact:
Sarah Massey, Media Clerk at Batesville Primary School
Geographic scope:
The town of Batesville, Ripley and Franklin counties
About the project:
Ten University of Indianapolis faculty members from different departments, schools, and colleges received funding to join a year-long cohort to learn about comprehensive internationalization and agree to add a globally-themed activity, assignment, project, or unit to one or more of their courses. Over a series of seven meetings, cohort members learned specific principles of comprehensive internationalization and global education, drawing from global learning resources and successful models developed by the American Association of Colleges & Universities, plus other local and international resources.
Contact:
Dr. Karen L. Newman, Department of English and Assistant Director for Fellowships, Ron & Laura Strain Honors College
Geographic scope:
Indiana/integrating global and international perspectives into college-level coursework
About the project:
The Indiana Workplace English Collaborative is a group of Indianapolis-area English language training providers, business leaders, and community partners working together to improve access to workplace English training resources in the region. They received funding to host a workplace English forum to identify community and business needs, to better understand the language and cultural needs of immigrant workers, and to learn how successful workplace English classes lead to more communicative employees, more efficient businesses, and stronger communities. Using data and knowledge gained from the forum, they will develop a master plan for implementation of the Indiana Workplace English Collaborative and work with area businesses to conduct workplace English needs assessments and connect those businesses with qualified providers of workplace English training.
Contact:
Matthew Hume, Assistant Director, International Center for Intercultural Communication, IU Indianapolis
Geographic scope:
Marion and surrounding counties
About the project:
The International Center received funding to support Indiana’s first professional development series devoted to global leadership. This five-month course expands participants' cultural knowledge through a collaborative curriculum convened and connected with established and rising global leaders. Each of the five sessions offers a unique theme related to improving global leadership. Participants can expect an overview of cultural competency, insights to global leadership in corporate, humanitarian, and governmental settings, and the opportunity to network with global leaders from across Indiana.
Contact:
Ashley Eason, Vice President of Programs and Services
Geographic scope:
Indiana
Project Link:
https://www.internationalcenter.org/morris-series/
https://twitter.com/INTLCTR (@INTLCTR)
About the project:
The Adult ELL Pathway to Literacy Initiative (2020-2021) is a collaborative effort between the Immigrant Welcome Center and English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs around Indianapolis to meet the need highlighted in recent immigrant research for English classes for immigrants with limited literacy skills (in English and possibly in their native language). They received funding to initiate and conduct a 10-week online pilot class, starting in August 2020, for beginning literacy-level learners, using level-appropriate assessment methods. The aim of the program is to aid the learners along the literacy pathway, to get them to the starting line of the many wonderful Level 1 Adult Basic Education classes around the city, and to ultimately help them feel more empowered and enabled to thrive in their new city.
Contact:
Ginger Kosobucki, English Learning Director, English Learning Consultant, Immigrant Welcome Center
Geographic scope:
The project is focused on the immigrant population of the Indianapolis metro area (including Marion County and surrounding counties), with the future potential of expanding beyond Indianapolis to other immigrant communities around the state.
Project Links:
https://www.immigrantwelcomecenter.org/
About the project:
The Alzheimer's Association, Greater Indiana chapter, received funding to provide education on Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias in Spanish. They sought to partner with community organizations with a large number of constituents who are Spanish language speakers. They also provided a community forum to listen to the needs of people and help shape the future of their programs.
Contact:
Stephanie Laskey. Program Director, Alzheimer's Association, Greater Indiana Chapter
Geographic scope:
73 counties in the state of Indiana
Project Link:
https://www.alz.org/indiana
About the project:
MSD Washington Towshnship received funds for the Latino Family Literacy Project, which provides resources to increase early college awareness and family reading routines. The project engaged parents in reading with their children, reflected the experiences of Latino families, and was centered around universal themes. The project's built-in evaluation process was used to measure the success of what the parents learned in class and identify parents who could take a leadership role in the project in the future.
Contact:
Rachel Sever, ENL Coordinator, MSD Washington Township
Geographic scope:
MSD Washington Township, Marion County, Indianapolis, IN
About the project:
The Indianapolis Sister Cities Teacher and Student Outreach Committee (TASOC) identified three local-global champions for student-led interviews that would be recorded and ultimately uploaded to the TASOC website. The interviews included former Mayor of Indianapolis Greg Ballard; Raju Chinthala, Founding President of Hyderabad-Indianapolis, Sister City Partnership and President, Indiana-India Business Council; and Zeno Tutino, President of the Indianapolis-Monza Sister City Committee, Honorary Consul of Italy in Indiana. The TASOC organizes a biennial conference, and in June 2020 the Global Connections in Action Conference included our first global champion interview as the first plenary session. The second and third interviews were included in presentations at the Indiana Sister Cities Symposium in September and the Indiana Council for the Social Studies conference in October.
Contact:
Susan Tomlinson, President, Indianapolis Sister Cities Teacher and Student Outreach Committee
Geographic scope:
The student-led interviews were conducted by Indianapolis high school students. The three conferences were online, so in addition to attendees from throughout Indiana, there was participation from multiple states and countries.
Project Link:
www.indytasoc.org
Facebook: Indy Sister Cities Teacher and Student Outreach Committee
Twitter: @IndyTasoc
About the project:
The Anda Spanish school provided Spanish language tutoring for students attending a dual immersion Spanish/ English program. These students engaged in virtual learning in their facilities with help from their Spanish-speaking staff.
Contact:
Nicole Montiel, Founder
Geographic scope:
Indianapolis
Learn about projects around the state that are supporting our multilingual and multicultural Indiana Hoosiers, network with others, and discuss how we can strengthen our globally connected communities.
***Due to anticipated reductions in federal grant funds for Academic Year 2025-26, this program is currently on pause and we are not accepting applications at this time.***
The funding covers the exam fees of selected students who are planning to obtain Indiana’s Certificate of Multilingual Proficiency. Teachers may nominate more than one student, but preference will be given to students taking proficiency exams for less commonly taught languages, with financial need, and from a variety of school districts. Your school must be able to award Indiana's Certificate of Multilingual Proficiency.
Funding is provided by Indiana University's U.S. Department of Education designated National Resource Centers.
Contact with questions about the nomination application or funding.
IU Global