The Center for Economic and Civic Learning at Ball State University invites students, educators, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to a special Constitution Week event featuring Minnijean Brown-Trickey, a member of the historic Little Rock Nine.

As a teenager, Brown-Trickey helped integrate Little Rock Central High School in 1957 under federal protection—one of the defining moments in the history of American education, the Civil Rights Movement, and American democracy.

During this public conversation, she will reflect on her experiences and consider a question that remains urgent today: What does the work of democracy require of students, educators, and citizens?

Event Information

  • Event: Education, Courage, and the Work of Democracy: A Talk with Minnijean Brown-Trickey
  • Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
  • Time: 7–8:30 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 p.m.
  • Location: L.A. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom
  • Address: 2000 W. University Avenue, Muncie, Indiana 47306
  • Admission: Free and open to the public

Advance registration is encouraged. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Register to Attend

About Minnijean Brown-Trickey

In September 1957, Minnijean Brown-Trickey and eight other African American students entered the previously segregated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Known collectively as the Little Rock Nine, the students faced intense intimidation, threats, and violence as they sought the education guaranteed to them under the United States Constitution.

Their enrollment became a defining test of the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education and the federal government’s responsibility to uphold constitutional rights. On September 25, 1957, the students entered Central High under the protection of federal troops sent by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Brown-Trickey subsequently devoted her life to education, public service, youth leadership, human rights, and social justice. Her work has included teaching, community leadership, cross-cultural education, and advocacy in the United States and Canada. From 1999 to 2001, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Workforce Diversity at the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Brown-Trickey and the other members of the Little Rock Nine received the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal and were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their courage and contributions to the nation.

A Living Conversation About Democracy

This event offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from a person whose life is part of American history. Brown-Trickey’s experiences invite us to consider enduring questions about education, citizenship, equality, courage, and constitutional government:

  • What responsibilities accompany the rights guaranteed by the Constitution?
  • How can education prepare young people for thoughtful participation in civic life?
  • What does courage look like when institutions fail to protect equal rights?
  • What roles do dialogue, public service, and civic responsibility play in sustaining democracy?
  • What can one generation learn by listening carefully to the experiences of another?

The event is presented as part of Ball State University’s Constitution Week and reflects the University’s commitment to preparing informed, engaged, and responsible citizens.

For Faculty and Educators

Faculty members and K–12 educators are encouraged to incorporate this event into their courses and learning activities. The program can connect naturally with education, history, political science, sociology, social work, communication, leadership, honors, African American studies, women’s and gender studies, and other fields.

Instructors might encourage students to attend, connect the event to a class discussion or reflection, or offer course or extra credit where appropriate. This is an opportunity for students to encounter history firsthand and consider how the struggles of the past continue to shape civic responsibilities in the present.

Parking and Accessibility

The L.A. Pittenger Student Center is located at 2000 W. University Avenue in Muncie. Visitors may consult Ball State’s campus and visitor parking maps when planning their visit. Additional event-specific parking information will be shared with registered attendees before the program.

Ball State University is committed to providing an accessible event. Individuals who need accommodations may contact the Office of Disability Services at dsd@bsu.edu or 765-285-5293.

Learn More

Questions

For questions about the event, contact:

Dr. David J. Roof
Director, Center for Economic and Civic Learning
Ball State University
djroof@bsu.edu

Register for the Event