Though our policy work takes us around the globe, we remain committed to our community by creating opportunities to facilitate inclusive dialogue and elevate diverse perspectives.
All of us are shaped by the places we call home. In turn, we have the potential, and the responsibility, to give back to our communities with our talents and resources.
The Global Education program at the Stanley Center fosters inclusive dialogue, celebrates diverse perspectives, and promotes equity through educational programs in our local community.
Through the program, we partner with the Muscatine community–specifically local educators and organizations–to grow global awareness and understanding.
This picture book beautifully simplifies for young readers a decades-long struggle for civil rights in a period before, during, and after the Civil War. It offers an imagined glimpse into the true story of Susan Clark and her family, in Muscatine, Iowa, who overcame barriers to equal access to education. Susan Clark was just 13 when she became the first Black student in the United States to integrate a public school through a court order, in 1868.
Learn more about Susie Clark: The Bravest Girl You’ve Ever Seen.
In 2025, the Stanley Center’s Global Education Program and the Muscatine Art Center commissioned Iowa Playwrights Workshop student Cianon Jones to write a play. Barberman: The Alexander Clark Story portrays the life and times of the longtime Muscatine resident and early leader in the fight for equal rights in Iowa. The play is the result of a multi-year partnership for engaging the public with Alexander Clark’s story.
The opportunity to learn abroad can expand the horizons of any traveler, no matter his or her vocation. But when teachers have the opportunity, the experience has ripple effects throughout a community. It enhances their ability to support students from diverse backgrounds, adds new perspective to their classrooms, and helps them become stronger educators. Each spring, the Stanley Center invites local teachers to apply for a summer study tour outside of the United States. The awards are named after Catherine Miller, a longtime Muscatine educator who was an avid traveler and always sought to expand her students’ understanding of the world. Winners are announced in the fall.
This annual event, organized in partnership with several entities at the University of Iowa, brings together students from nearly a dozen Iowa middle schools to learn how to take meaningful action in their communities and across the world. Each year, one of the articles under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is chosen to guide the curriculum.
World Press Perspectives is an annual community conversation with the World Press Institute’s (WPI) journalism fellows that explores the experiences and challenges of journalists reporting the news around the world. Join us on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 5:30 PM for a conversation with the WPI journalism fellows.
What can we do to ensure that all people, whatever identities they possess, are treated with dignity and respect? As part of the Global Education Program at the Stanley Center, we invite the community to join us for a discussion with award-winning author and illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka in person on Thursday, April 2, 2026. Learn more about Inclusive Dialogue.
Are you a student, teacher, or member of our community with a question about our programs in Iowa? Contact us to learn more.