Temple University has received several Campus250 grants to support community engagement initiatives as the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, according to a March 24 announcement. The funding comes from the Campus250 program, launched by Campus Philly and PHENND with support from the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial.
The grant program aims to help colleges and universities in the region develop projects that engage communities in innovative ways during this milestone year. Of the 28 projects funded so far, four have been awarded to Temple University.
Aunshul Rege, professor of criminal justice and director of Temple’s Cybersecurity in Application Research and Education (CARE) Lab, was awarded $3,500 for “Digital Trust and Civic Resilience: Community Cybersecurity Education for America’s 250th.” This project will fund Community Cybersecurity Clinics (C3), which are free learning events focused on digital safety. “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.”
Rege’s clinics are led by undergraduate and graduate students who also participate through experiential learning opportunities at Temple. The spring 2026 semester will address topics such as romance scams and tax frauds. Past sessions have covered artificial intelligence threats and password security. The CARE Lab also partners with local organizations like the Juvenile Justice Center of Philadelphia to provide cybersecurity education tailored for youth.
IDEAL received a $3,200 grant for “I, Too, Am America,” an exhibit that will transform its office into a museum highlighting national and local figures who have shaped American history. “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.
Tiffenia D. Archie, associate vice president and chief inclusion officer for IDEAL added: “And while these principles were not extended to all [at America’s founding], 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 those who have fought on behalf of others.”
Other recent awards include $7,500 granted earlier in support of Temple’s Inclusive Leadership Conference held in February—an event centered on inclusion in partnership with Drexel University—and $1,500 supporting Klein College’s global program on democracy.
