Campus projects that were recently awarded funding explore digital safety, civic responsibility and inclusive storytelling ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

From cybersecurity to social justice, Temple University community initiatives have been awarded funding through the latest round of the Campus250 grant program, supporting efforts to enhance community engagement as the nation prepares to mark its 250th anniversary. 

Campus Philly and PHENND, the Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development, have launched Campus250, a special grant program supporting innovative programming in celebration of America’s 250th birthday in 2026. With support from the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial, Campus250 provides funding to regional colleges and universities and their partners to bring bold, community-driven projects to life. To date, four of the 28 funded projects have been awarded to Temple. 

Aunshul Rege, professor of criminal justice and director of the Cybersecurity in Application Research and Education (CARE) Lab, was awarded $3,500 for the project “Digital Trust and Civic Resilience: Community Cybersecurity Education for America’s 250th.” 

The funding will be used to support Rege’s Community Cybersecurity Clinics (C3), a series of free, hands-on learning events designed to help community members strengthen their digital security. Developed in partnership with the CARE Lab and the Digital Access Center at Temple University, each session focuses on a different aspect of online safety and is open to all ages, offering practical strategies to stay safe online. 

“Cybersecurity is no longer something that is optional—it touches everybody’s lives,” said Rege. “Cybersecurity should be as normal as hearing ‘stranger danger’ or ‘remember to lock your doors.’ We want to create safe, judgment-free spaces where people feel comfortable raising their hand and saying, ‘Hey, this happened to me’ and arm them with knowledge—not just how to spot red flags, but what to do if something happens.” 

Established in 2022, the sessions are led by undergraduate and graduate students in the CARE Lab. As part of the experiential learning opportunities available at Temple, students in Rege’s undergraduate cybercrime and graduate privacy, surveillance and cybersecurity classes also participate in leading C3 sessions. The spring 2026 semester focuses on romance and tax scams. Past clinics have featured topics on scams and fraud, staying safe in the world of AI and deepfakes, and password security. With an emphasis on building community programming, Rege’s collaborators include the College of Liberal Arts Office of Community Engagement, Temple Community Gateway and the Lenfest Center for Community Workforce Partnerships. 

Rege’s lab also offers cybersecurity education for youth through a partnership with the Juvenile Justice Center of Philadelphia, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing youth from entering the justice system and supporting those already involved. The five-week programs feature topics that pertain to adolescents, such as the dangers of texting, AI and the future of cybercrime, social media algorithms, and staying safe online. At the end of the program, the CARE Lab organizes a celebration ceremony with a conversation about what the students learned, and students are awarded certificates. 

“In 2026, digital platforms, artificial intelligence and online communication increasingly influence how individuals access information, engage with institutions and participate in civic processes,” said Rege. “Anchored in Philadelphia’s unique historical legacy, our projects position cybersecurity education as part of the civic values and democratic story of the United States. Campus250’s support will allow these community initiatives to be enhanced with intentional civic framing aligned with America’s 250th anniversary, while maintaining existing partnerships, delivery structures and ethical engagement practices in a rapidly evolving digital environment.” 

IDEAL was also recognized with a $3,200 award for the project, “I, Too, Am America,” an initiative that will transform the IDEAL office suite into a visual, modern-day museum. The exhibit—slated to open this spring—will elevate both well-known and lesser-known national and local historical figures who have shaped the history of the United States. 

“By blending historical storytelling with expressive art, this exhibit will highlight pivotal social justice moments and the often-unrecognized figures whose courage and advocacy have helped sustain and strengthen American democracy,” said Nu’Rodney Prad, senior director of student engagement for IDEAL, who is overseeing the project. “Over the past 250 years, these changemakers have challenged injustice, expanded opportunity, and pushed the country closer to its promise of liberty and freedom. As we reflect on the past 250 years, this project invites our community to honor those histories while inspiring us all to continue advancing a more just and inclusive future.”  

Students, faculty and staff will collaborate in both the planning and implementation of the project. IDEAL will also partner with campus partners to incorporate wellness-informed dialogue and ensure meaningful engagement with the North Philadelphia community. 

“It’s remarkable to think about the nation’s founders coming to the city of Philadelphia to debate about ideas that would shape our collective notions of democracy and freedom,” added Tiffenia D. Archie, associate vice president and chief inclusion officer for IDEAL. “And while these principles were not extended to all, over the past two and a half centuries, we have worked as a nation to ensure that they do. This project allows us to celebrate and honor those who have fought on behalf of others for the freedoms we hold so dear.” 

The space will be open for community drop-ins for students, faculty, staff and local residents and will feature an opening day event. Self-guided tours will remain available through the fall 2026 semester, supported by a dedicated webpage on diversity.temple.edu that provides context, resources and interpretive materials.    

A secondary component of this project includes one of IDEAL’s signature engagements, Shop Talk. This program brings barbers from the North Philadelphia community into the IDEAL suite, transforming the space into a barbershop and creating an authentic environment for dialogue. 

“Through campus collaboration, student leadership and open community access, these projects foster engagement with Temple University and the broader North Philadelphia community, including local residents, civic groups and community partners,” said Prad. 

The latest Campus250 awards come after Temple was awarded $7,500 for the 17th annual Inclusive Leadership Conference (ILC), We the People, We the Future held in February. Organized by Temple’s Office of Student Leadership and Engagement in partnership with IDEAL, Campus Philly and Drexel University, ILC is the largest collegiate conference in the Greater Philadelphia area centered on inclusion, leadership and diversity.   

Finally, Temple’s Klein College of Media and Communication was awarded $1,500 to support a Klein Global Opportunities program titled, “The Foundations of Democracy: Understanding the Past to Change the Future.”  

This one-week experiential learning program took place in January and immersed graduate and undergraduate students in United States history by exploring media and communication in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Students documented their experiences through multimedia reflecting on what they had learned about the intersection of democracy, power, civic engagement and history.