“America 250: Then, Now & Next” Keynote Address With Jon Meacham.The presentation will take place Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 7 p.m. at the Flint Institute of Arts. The event is free and open to the public; seats are first come, first served.
Ballenger Eminent Persons Lecture Series, in partnership with the Griffin Endowed Chair at
Central Michigan University, is inviting the public to this talk by acclaimed
presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham.
“I am most honored that we are bringing presidential historian Jon Meacham to the Flint community to mark such a monumental year, the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence,” said Bill Ballenger, grandson of William S. Ballenger, Sr., benefactor of the Ballenger Lecture Series. Through our wonderful partnership with Mott Community College and Central Michigan University, we can host an evening of rich American history at the Flint Institute of Arts.”
“Jon Meacham is one of this generation’s most important historians,” said Dan Kildee, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. “His perspective on our history and his observations about our current moment will create the first draft of history for these times. Students, faculty, and community members will learn a lot from this incredible opportunity.”
This event exemplifies the core mission of the Ballenger Eminent Persons Lecture Series: to
spark meaningful public dialogue throughout the broader Flint community. Established to enrich
the academic and cultural life of the region, the series brings world-renowned speakers,
scholars, creators and leaders to Flint. By hosting high-caliber thinkers from diverse fields,
ranging from national politics and journalism to the arts and sciences, the Ballenger Eminent
Persons Lecture Series provides a platform for lifelong learning, civic engagement and critical
reflection.
Previous speakers have included rocket scientist Werner von Braun, anthropologist Margaret Mead, former Polish Prime Minister Lech Walesa, former British Prime Minister Sir Harold Wilson, film director Spike Lee, and entertainer/civil rights leader Harry Belafonte, among many others.
Through collaborations with regional institutions such as Mott Community College and Central
Michigan University, the series ensures local audiences have direct access to the defining ideas,
global perspectives and historical contexts shaping our modern world, all offered free to
students, faculty and the general public.
Event Details
● Date: Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026
● Time: 7 p.m.
● Cost: Free and open to the public
● Location: Flint Institute of Arts, 1120 E. Kearsley St., Flint, MI 48503
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Will the talk be recorded so we readers from out of town can hear it later?
Terrific program with one of our greatest historians and writers. He and David McCullough remind us all of true scribes recording our nation’s history in an indelible way. Congrats to you and Dan for the work.