Central Indiana Things to Do

Learn why a liberal arts education matters in an economy shifting at the speed of light.
Bestselling author and journalist George Anders is the featured speaker at the Franklin College Convocation Lecture Series on March 14 at 7 p.m. Anders is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist whose reporting has been published in The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company and Forbes. At LinkedIn, he is the senior editor-at-large and writes a weekly newsletter about the future of work. His most recent book, You Can Do Anything: The Surprising Power of a ‘Useless’ Liberal Arts Education, makes a compelling case for a liberal arts education.
This event is free and open to the public. To register, visit alumni.franklincollege.edu/e/convocation-lecture-series-why-we-need-liberal-arts-majors.

Ballet dancer and author Misty Copeland comes to Indy on March 20.
Beloved for her children’s books, including Bunheads and Firebird, Misty Copeland also co-authored the New York Times Bestselling memoir, Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina. Copeland is the 2024 Marian McFadden Memorial Lecturer, sponsored by the Indianapolis Public Library Foundation. Get free tickets to hear the history-making artist at the Madam Walker Legacy Center starting March 1.
Visit indypl.org/programs-events/mcfadden-lecture for ticket information and instructions to access the livestreamed event.

Identify native wildflowers in Putnam County.
The Hall Woods Nature Preserve in Putnam County is the destination for a monthly hike to explore the natural world. On April 13 at 9 a.m., the hike, hosted by Putnam Parks and Pathways, is led by Ashley Adair, a Putnam County native and organic agriculture specialist at Purdue Extension. Adair will show you how to identify the ephemeral flowers that blanket the forest floors in April.
Visit https://en-gb.facebook.com/putnamparks for more information.

Hear three centuries of Black composers at the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra (ICO).
ICO Creative Partner-in-Residence Joshua Thompson teams with Jared Thompson, Psywrn Simone and Kenyetta Dance Company on April 20 for Black Keys: The Evolution of the Black Classical Arts. Experience a well-curated mix of music, dance and world-class artistry highlighting Black composers. The performance is at 7:30 p.m. at the Schrott Center for the Arts on the campus of Butler University.
For ticket information, visit icomusic.org.

Acquire the ancient skill that may help you endure a major election year.
People of all ages, cultures and religions turn to meditation for wellness and inner peace. You can learn evidence-based Transcendental Meditation (TM) at several Indiana locations, including Indianapolis, Muncie, Lafayette and Columbus. If meditation sounds interesting to you, you may want to research various approaches to determine what suits you best. Sahaja Yoga Meditation, for example, focuses on personal transformation and improved relationships.
Visit tm.org/meditation-indiana/ to find a schedule of TM classes near you. Learn more about where you can find Sahaja Yoga Meditation training at indianameditation.org.