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Better Toledo | Welcoming

Hear on the topic of "Welcoming" from the BGSU Institute for the Study of Culture & Society

Learn more about what is to be welcoming from a BGSU Institute for the Study of Culture & Society scholar.

This event is sponsored by Welcome Toledo Lucas County as well as The City of Toledo Human Relations Commission and is part of Better Toledo, a personal and professional development series to ensure “you will do better in Toledo.”

Certificates of completion are available to participants who take part in three or more sessions in 2024.

For group registrations please call 419-259-5293.

Established in 1996, the Institute for the Study of Culture & Society (ICS) is a public humanities hub at Bowling Green State University. Our aim is to encourage innovation in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, and to communicate the value and significance of that work to the wider public.

ICS delivers programs and initiatives that empower BGSU faculty, students, staff and community members to leverage the strengths of the humanities to serve the public good.  We encourage you to explore our website to learn about the work ICS does and how you can become a part of our community!  

ICS seeks to empower people and communities to leverage the strengths of the humanities to serve the public good.
At ICS, we employ the humanities to inspire and empower diverse publics to use their voices, experiences, and expertise to contribute to the public good. We define the humanities as the qualitative study of society and culture, the written and oral narratives that shape people’s lived experience and potential for change. We define the public good as increasing access, equity, and opportunity via social, cultural, and civic engagement.

The vision of ICS is to make the world more equitable, just, and inclusive. ICS strives to be a place where nuanced conversation and meaningful connections are made, and where complexity and ambiguity are valued. ICS seeks to reduce barriers to access, challenge disciplinary silos, and overcome the constraints imposed by the structures of higher education, ensuring that the university serves to benefit, empower, and improve the lives of local people.