Statement from the Connecticut Public Affairs Network (CPAN) on the closing of Connecticut's Old State House

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

 

 

(Hartford, CT) For the past eight years, the Connecticut Public Affairs Network has had the privilege of managing educational and community programming at Connecticut’s Old State House.  During that time, we have worked diligently to bring our state’s rich history and civic life together through our school programs and visitor experience, our public programs like Town Hall Meetings and Conversations at Noon, and our statewide outreach with school programs like Connecticut History Day and Connecticut’s Kid Governor.  We have played an active role in the larger conversation about civic engagement and civil discourse with organizations like the Civic Health Advisory Group, and garnered national recognition for many of our initiatives.  In all, we have been tireless in our efforts to imbue the Old State House with new purpose:  one that served and inspired the citizens of our state, and honored the tradition of a building that served as a seat of Connecticut’s government in the days of our nation’s infancy.

In the past few weeks we have seen that even a state icon can fall victim to our new economic reality, and it is with great regret that we see our contract to be the programmers of a place we have long loved come to an end.  As the General Assembly continues to work with the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection to transition the Old State House to DEEP’s stewardship, we stand ready – if called upon – to help shepherd yet another new era for the building.  Regardless of the outcome, CPAN’s educational focus and commitment to civic engagement remains unchanged and our organization will forge ahead with projects in the same spirit as those that had become synonymous with Connecticut’s Old State House.  We offer our deepest thanks to our many partners and collaborators so instrumental to our success and we look forward to working with you again soon.

 

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Connecticut Students Win at National History Day Contest: Contest took place June 12-16 at the University of Maryland

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For Immediate Release
June 17, 2016
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov
(860) 522-6766

Mia Porcello - 2016 NHD Champion
in Jr. Individual Exhibit

College Park, MD/Hartford, CT – Sixty-eight Connecticut students represented the state and the Connecticut History Day (CHD) program during the prestigious 2016 National History Day® Contest at the University of Maryland this past week. CHD, a statewide history program led by Connecticut’s Old State House, sent the state’s delegation to the annual contest to compete against 2,900 students from across the country. Several students won awards at the NHD Contest, resulting in the most successful year in the program’s history:

• Mia Porcello, a middle school student from St. Timothy School in West Hartford, captured a national title by winning First Place in the Junior Individual Exhibit Category for her entry Florence Wald: Exploring Medical Boundaries, Exchanging Hospitals to Hospice.

CHD Winners at NHD 2016 Contest

• Shay Pezzulo, a high school student from Classical Magnet School in Hartford, captured CHD’s second national title of the year by winning First Place in the Senior Individual Website Category for her entry Duel and Duality: New Journalism, New York. Pezzulo also attended "Breakfast on the Hill" with members of Congress during her trip to the NHD Contest - an event sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

• Juliana Rodrigues, Max Bueno, Samantha Gilbert, Emily Strickland and Joseph Zarif, students from Memorial Middle School in Middlebury, won two Special Awards for their project, Alexander Hamilton Explores a Financial System for the New Nation of America. The awards included the U.S. Constitution Award and Special Award in History in the Federal Government.

• The Outstanding Connecticut Entry Award from the Senior Division was awarded to Nicole Wood, Juliana Salamone, Katherine Hurst and Flora Dievenich for their group project, Women Airforce Service Pilots and the Flight for Equality. They are students at Greenwich High School and were also finalists in the Senior Group Performance Category.

• The Outstanding Connecticut Entry Award from the Junior Division was awarded to Hunter Dale and Noah Vasington for their group project, Branch Rickey: Branching Off to New Ideas. They are students at Mansfield Middle School in Storrs and were also finalists in the Junior Group Exhibit Category.

• Rosie the Riveter, an exhibit created by Claire Graham, Hana Previte, Isabel Saltzman, and Lauren White was one of only 57 projects featured at the National Museum of American History’s "National History Night" on Wednesday, June 15. They are students at Wilton High School, in Wilton, CT.

"Good strategic thinking by our History Day team has increased the number of students who learn and grow through this program," said Sally Whipple, Executive Director of Connecticut’s Old State House. "Old State House workshops, resources and coaching have helped students develop high quality projects based on sound research. We serve thousands of students through this program, but more important than the number served, is the quality of that service. Students develop critical thinking, writing and research skills, along with increased confidence, curiosity and the ability to ask and find answers to compelling questions. The Old State House staff strives to do this every day through all of its programs. It’s great to see student work that we’ve helped nurture receive the highest National History Day honors possible."

During their stay at the five day contest, the Connecticut Delegation spent time exploring Washington, D.C. They toured the U.S. Capitol Building and were able to observe a filibuster from the Senate Gallery. Students also enjoyed the opportunity to visit and tour the National World War II Monument.

Connecticut History Day is made possible by the leadership of Connecticut’s Old State House and a strong collaboration among many of Connecticut’s history organizations. CHD is designed to help students develop critical thinking skills and a passion for learning and sharing history – with the goal of encouraging students to develop a life-long interest in Connecticut’s rich stories, archives, historic buildings and museum collections. CHD is led by Connecticut’s Old State House, funded by Connecticut Humanities and supported by the Connecticut League of History Organizations, Central Connecticut State University and scores of historical societies and civic groups who provide special prizes at the state level. To learn more about Connecticut History Day visit the program’s website, www.historydayct.org, or follow CHD on Facebook.

Connecticut’s Old State House wins 2016 AASLH Award of Merit for the Connecticut’s Kid Governor civics program

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Local Contact:

Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov
(860) 522-6766
Connecticut’s Old State House

AASLH Contact:

Bethany Hawkins
hawkins@aaslh.org
(615) 320-3203

NASHVILLE, TN - The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) proudly announces that Connecticut’s Old State House is the recipient of an Award of Merit for its statewide civics program, Connecticut’s Kid Governor. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards, now in its 71st year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.

Connecticut’s Kid Governor is a statewide, in-school civics program for 5^th graders that was created by Connecticut’s Old State House in 2015. Timed to coincide with Election Day in November, each school in Connecticut is eligible to enter one student candidate into a statewide election that other 5^th graders vote in. With the goal of inspiring young students to be lifelong agents of change, active participants in our government and registered voters when they turn 18, this innovative program illustrates how elections work and how Connecticut residents of all ages can choose to participate in our democratic society. This past fall, hundreds of Connecticut 5^th graders participated in the program’s first ever election and Elena Tipton, a 5^th grade student at Dr. Thomas O’Connell School in East Hartford, became the first Connecticut’s Kid Governor after running on a campaign for kindness. You can learn more about Connecticut’s Kid Governor, both the program and the student, by visiting the program’s website, CT.KidGovernor.org.

 

This year, AASLH is proud to confer sixty-three national awards honoring people, projects, exhibits, and publications. The winners represent the best in the field and provide leadership for the future of state and local history. Presentation of the awards will be made at a special banquet during the 2016 AASLH/MMA Annual Meeting in Detroit, Michigan, on Friday, September 16. The banquet is supported by a generous contribution from the History Channel.

The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards not only honor significant achievement in the field of state and local history, but also bring public recognition of the opportunities for small and large organizations, institutions, and programs to make contributions in this arena. For more information about the Leadership in History Awards, contact AASLH at 615-320-3203, or go to www.aaslh.org.

Located in historic downtown Hartford, Connecticut’s Old State House served as a seat of government for the Constitution State from 1796 to 1878. Now serving as one of the state’s most-historically significant museums, the Old State House offers interactive and participatory school programs that focus on the history of the building, the role Connecticut played during the 18^th and 19^th centuries, civic participation and how government works. In addition to the Connecticut’s Kid Governor program, Connecticut’s Old State House also leads Connecticut History Day, another statewide school program that has encouraged thousands of Connecticut students in grades 6-12 to explore local, state, national and world history. For more information on admission prices, school programs, and upcoming events, follow Connecticut’s Old State House on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit the museum online at www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

The American Association for State and Local History is a not-for-profit professional organization of individuals and institutions working to preserve and promote history. From its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, AASLH provides leadership, service, and support for its members who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful in American society. AASLH publishes books, technical publications, a quarterly magazine, a monthly newsletter, and maintains numerous affinity groups and committees serving a broad range of constituents across the historical community. The association also sponsors regional and national training workshops and an annual meeting.

Connecticut’s Old State House Welcomes Nationally-Renowned Speaker Eric Liu to Next Town Hall Meeting

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For Immediate Release
May 26, 2016
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov
(860) 246-1553 ext. 116

Eric Liu, Founder of Citizen
University and Keynote Speaker

Hartford, CT – Connecticut’s Old State House will host its next Town Hall Meeting, Great Citizenship: Building a Better Connecticut, during the evening of Thursday, June 9 where nationally-renowned author Eric Liu will be the keynote speaker.

Great Citizenship will review the insights of Connecticut residents’ social behavior toward their neighbors, communities, and government, which were revealed in the 2016 Connecticut Civic Health Index Report. The Connecticut Network’s (CT-N) Diane Smith will moderate the program, which will include a panel of distinguished guests including Liu, Martha McCoy of Everyday Democracy, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, Dr. Bilal Sekou of the University of Hartford, Dr. Richard Brown of the University of Connecticut, and Alma Maya, a Latina Community Activist and Former Bridgeport Town Clerk.

Eric Liu is the founder and CEO of Citizen University and the author of several books, including his latest: The Gardens of Democracy. He previously served as a White House speechwriter and policy advisor for President Bill Clinton. Currently, he is a regular columnist for CNN.com and correspondent for TheAtlantic.com. Copies of Liu’s book are currently available for purchase in Connecticut’s Old State House Shop. He will be available for books signings on the night of the event from 6 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Connecticut’s Old State House will open its doors for this event at 6 p.m. and light refreshments will be served. The program will begin at 6:45 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Great Citizenship: Building a Better Connecticut is sponsored by the Connecticut Civic Health Advisory Group, Connecticut’s Old State House, Connecticut Network (CT-N), Everyday Democracy, DataHaven, the Office of the Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, The Connecticut Forum and CT Parent Power. Funding is provided by Connecticut Humanities, the William Caspar Graustein Fund, Connecticut Campus Compact and private donors.

Located in historic downtown Hartford, Connecticut’s Old State House served as a seat of government for the Constitution State from 1796 to 1878. The Old State House Shop, located on the Main Street side of the building and online at shop.ctoldstatehouse.org, provides visitors an opportunity to purchase Connecticut, Hartford and Old State House-themed gifts, products and apparel. For more information on admission prices, school programs, upcoming events and parking discounts nearby, follow Connecticut’s Old State House on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit the museum online at www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

East Hartford Mayor to Present Check to Connecticut’s Old State House

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For Immediate Release
May 23, 2016
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov
(860) 246-1553 ext. 116

Hartford, CT - East Hartford Mayor Marcia A. Leclerc will be presenting a $6,000 donation to Connecticut’s Old State House on Tuesday, May 24 at 3:30 p.m. at the Old State House in downtown Hartford. The donation will go toward the construction of an office for Connecticut’s Kid Governor and a Civics Action Lab that will educate the public about government and civic involvement in their community – a core mission of Connecticut’s Old State House. Connecticut’s Kid Governor Elena Tipton, an East Hartford resident and 5^th grade student at Dr. Thomas O’Connell School, will be on hand for the check presentation, along with the Executive Director of Connecticut’s Old State House, Sally Whipple.

Elena Tipton was elected as Connecticut’s Kid Governor after hundreds of the state’s 5^th graders took part in a statewide election organized by Connecticut’s Old State House. Connecticut’s Kid Governor, a statewide, in-school civics program that was created by the Old State House in 2015, teaches students how elections work and how Connecticut residents of all ages can choose to participate in our democratic society. Tipton has proposed establishing the 13^th of each month as “Kindness Day”, installing buddy benches in schools, and creating an online blog where Connecticut students can share examples of being kind to others. Mayor Leclerc previously recognized Kid Governor Elena Tipton’s accomplishments at an East Hartford Town Council meeting in February and visited with Elena and her classmates, along with Governor Dannel Malloy and Education Commissioner Dianna Wentzell, in March.

To learn more about Connecticut’s Kid Governor – both the program and the student – visit the program’s website at CT.KidGovernor.org and like the program on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Located in historic downtown Hartford, Connecticut’s Old State House served as a seat of government for the Constitution State from 1796 to 1878. The Old State House Shop, located on the Main Street side of the building and online at shop.ctoldstatehouse.org, provides visitors an opportunity to purchase Connecticut, Hartford and Old State House-themed gifts, products and apparel. For more information on admission prices, school programs, upcoming events and parking discounts nearby, follow Connecticut’s Old State House on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit the museum online at www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

Connecticut’s Kid Governor to Speak at Civics First Annual Reception

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For Immediate Release
May 20, 2016
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov
(860) 246-1553 ext. 116

Hartford, CT – Connecticut’s Kid Governor, Elena Tipton of East Hartford, will take part in Civics First’s Annual Reception on Tuesday, May 24 at the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford. The event, which begins at 6 p.m., marks the 40^th anniversary for Civics First – a non-profit association that promotes and conducts law-related education programs and projects in Connecticut’s public and private schools, courtrooms and communities. The state’s first ever Kid Governor will discuss her popular “Campaign for Kindness”, as she continues her push for spreading kindness throughout the state during her 1-year term.

Elena Tipton was elected as Connecticut’s Kid Governor after hundreds of the state’s 5^th graders took part in a statewide election organized by Connecticut’s Old State House in downtown Hartford. Connecticut’s Kid Governor, a statewide, in-school civics program that was created by the Old State House in 2015, teaches students how elections work and how Connecticut residents of all ages can choose to participate in our democratic society. Tipton has proposed establishing the 13^th of each month as “Kindness Day”, installing buddy benches in schools, and creating an online blog where Connecticut students can share examples of being kind to others. Civics First was a sponsor of Inauguration Day 2016 at Connecticut’s Old State House – providing bus transportation for 5^th grade students who attended the day’s events.

The Honorable Richard A. Robinson of the Connecticut Supreme Court will serve as the keynote speaker at the Civics First Annual Reception. More information about this event can be found at Civics First’s website, www.civicsfirst.org, or by contacting Beth Deluco, Executive Director of Civics First, at (860) 357-5300.

To learn more about Connecticut’s Kid Governor, both the program and student, visit CT.KidGovernor.org or follow the program on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Connecticut’s Kid Governor is a statewide civics program created by Connecticut’s Old State House.

Located in historic downtown Hartford, Connecticut’s Old State House served as a seat of government for the Constitution State from 1796 to 1878. The Old State House Shop, located on the Main Street side of the building and online at shop.ctoldstatehouse.org, provides visitors an opportunity to purchase Connecticut, Hartford and Old State House-themed gifts, products and apparel. For more information on admission prices, school programs, upcoming events and parking discounts nearby, follow Connecticut’s Old State House on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit the museum online at www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

Connecticut’s Old State House: The 1843 Petition – Gaining Religious Freedom for CT Jews

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For Immediate Release
May 16, 2016
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov
(860) 246-1553 ext. 116

Hartford, CT – Connecticut’s Old State House will host its next installment of Conversations at Noon, The 1843 Petition: Gaining Religious Freedom for Connecticut Jews, on Tuesday, May 24. Keynote speaker Mary M. Donohue, the Assistant Publisher of Connecticut Explored magazine, will discuss the Jewish community’s 1843 petition to the Connecticut General Assembly for full religious equality during a time where Connecticut’s State Constitution deliberately excluded Jewish congregations.

Following her talk, Donohue will join a panel that includes the University of Hartford’s Dr. Bilal Dabir Sekou and Connecticut’s State Historian Dr. Walter Woodward for a discussion on how the state’s residents, both past and present, have used petitions to effect change. The Connecticut Network’s (CT-N) Diane Smith will moderate the discussion.

This program is co-sponsored by Connecticut Explored magazine. The Conversations at Noon series is supported by Connecticut Humanities. The event, which begins promptly at noon, is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to bring their lunch and ask questions of the panel.

Future Conversations at Noon include…

Industry, Activism, & Community in 19^th Century Connecticut: June 7 at Noon.  Dr. Jason Mancini, Director of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, will discuss industrialist, political activist and community leader Isaac C. Glasko. Described at having both Native and African American ancestry, Glasko’s success as a black smith highlights the opportunities for and the limitations of people of color in 19^th century Connecticut. Following his talk, Dr. Mancini will be joined by Kathleen Housley, author of The Letter Kills but the Spirit Gives Life, and Bishop John Selders, Co-Founder of Moral Money CT, for a panel discussion on social activism. Free to attend. Co-sponsored with Connecticut Explored magazine.

Located in historic downtown Hartford, Connecticut’s Old State House served as a seat of government for the Constitution State from 1796 to 1878. The Old State House Shop, located on the Main Street side of the building and online at shop.ctoldstatehouse.org, provides visitors an opportunity to purchase quality-made Connecticut and Hartford themed gifts, products and apparel. For more information on admission prices, upcoming events and parking discounts nearby, become a fan of Connecticut’s Old State House on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or visit us online at http://www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

Results from the 2016 Connecticut History Day State Contest

New Britain - Over 400 middle- and high-school students took part in the 2016 Connecticut History Day State Contest this past Saturday at Central Connecticut State University. Students who previously finished in the top three at one of Connecticut’s six Regional Contests were eligible to participate in this annual contest, where eighty one Connecticut schools were represented. The student historians who placed first or second within their category at the State Contest are now eligible to represent the state at the National History Day® Contest taking place at the University of Maryland in June.

Results from the CHD State Contest can be viewed here.

CHD students spend months researching historical topics of their own choice related to this year’s national theme of Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History. The students, who choose to work alone or in a group, present their projects in one of five categories: Paper, Documentary, Exhibit, Website, or Performance. The projects were presented to teams of volunteer judges, who chose the top three projects in each category. First and second place finishers will advance to the National Contest.  Additionally, over twenty Special Prizes, sponsored by numerous museums and non-profit organizations from across the state were presented to students.

Connecticut History Day is led by Connecticut’s Old State House in downtown Hartford, with support from the Connecticut League of History Organizations and Connecticut Humanities’ website, www.ConnecticutHistory.org.  Major funding for CHD is provided by Connecticut Humanities. You can learn more about Connecticut History Day by visiting the program’s website, www.historydayct.org, and by following CHD on Facebook and Twitter. The National History Day® website may be viewed at www.nhd.org.

Old State House to Host Spring Pop-Up Market Through May

Market to take place every Friday starting May 6 thorough June 10 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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For Immediate Release
May 3, 2016
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
(860) 246-1553 ext. 116
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov

Hartford, CT – In addition to its already popular downtown Farmers Market, Connecticut’s Old State House will begin hosting a Spring Pop-Up Market through the month of May into early June. The Market, which will only include local Connecticut farmers, will open on Friday, May 6 and take place every Friday until June 10 – just prior to the opening of the 20-week Farmers Market. The Pop-Up Market will be open to the public on the Main Street side of the building from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

The Old State House Spring Pop-Up Market is an earlier market intended to provide farmers who previously participated at the seasonal Old State House Farmers Market an opportunity to sell early spring produce, which is generally no longer in season by the time the regular market begins, potted flowering plants, and garden vegetable plants. The timing of this market also perfectly coincides with Mother’s Day – providing downtown residents and workers a chance to purchase fresh flowers before the weekend.

Located in historic downtown Hartford, Connecticut’s Old State House served as a seat of
government for the Constitution State from 1796 to 1878. The Connecticut’s Old State House Shop, located on the Main Street side of the building, provides visitors an opportunity to purchase quality-made Connecticut and Hartford themed gifts, products and apparel. Visitors can also shop online at shop.ctoldstatehouse.org. For more information on admission prices, upcoming events and parking discounts nearby, become a fan of Connecticut’s Old State House on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or visit us online at http://www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

400 Connecticut Student Historians to Compete at CHD State Contest: April 30 at Central Connecticut State University

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov
(860) 246-1553 ext. 116


Over 400 middle and high school student historians will compete at the Connecticut History Day (CHD) State Contest this Saturday, April 30 at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain.  Eighty one Connecticut schools will be represented at this annual contest. The students participating have previously finished first, second, or third at one of the six Regional State Contests that took place throughout Connecticut earlier this spring. The students will be competing for the chance to participate in the prestigious National History Day® (NHD) Contest at the University of Maryland (June 12-16), where 2,000 other students from around the country will also be representing their respective states.

The student historians have spent months researching historical topics of their own choice related to this year’s national theme of Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History. The students, who choose to work alone or in a group, present their projects in one of five categories: Paper, Documentary, Exhibit, Website, or Performance.   The projects will be presented to teams of volunteer judges, who must choose the top three projects in each category. First and second place finishers will advance to the National Contest.  Additionally, over twenty Special Prizes, sponsored by numerous museums and non-profit organizations from across the state, will be presented to students.

The CHD State Contest will begin with a Welcome Ceremony at 9 a.m. in Welte Auditorium where CCSU Provost Dr. Carl Lovitt will be on hand.  Students will begin presenting their projects at 9:30 a.m. in the Social Sciences Building and Davidson Hall.  Judging is set to conclude by 2:30 p.m.

At 3:45 p.m., hundreds of students, parents and teachers will once more congregate at Welte Auditorium to hear the final results of the day at the CHD Award Ceremony. For the third straight year, the First Company Governor’s Foot Guard Band will kick-off the ceremony with a rousing performance. CHD State Coordinator Rebecca Taber-Conover will be joined by special guests for the presentation of CHD State Contest Awards, including Education Commissioner Dr. Dianna Wentzell, CCSU’s Dr. Matthew Warshauer, and the Executive Director of Connecticut’s Old State House Sally Whipple.

Follow the day’s activities with the hashtag #CHDStates.

Connecticut History Day is led by Connecticut’s Old State House in downtown Hartford, with support from the Connecticut League of History Organizations and Connecticut Humanities’ website, www.ConnecticutHistory.org.  Major funding for CHD is provided by Connecticut Humanities. You can learn more about Connecticut History Day by visiting the program’s website, www.historydayct.org, and by following CHD on Facebook and Twitter. The National History Day® website may be viewed at www.nhd.org.

Connecticut’s Old State House to Look Back at Women Doctors’ Wartime Service on Tuesday, April 12

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For Immediate Release
March 30, 2016
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov
(860) 246-1553 ext. 116

Hartford – Connecticut’s Old State House in downtown Hartford will look back at Connecticut women physicians’ service during World War I for the next installment of its popular lunchtime Conversations at Noon series – Volunteer forVictory: Connecticut Women in WWI - on Tuesday, April 12.

Attendees will discover how our state’s women doctors served overseas for the American Red Cross and the American Women’s Hospitals during The Great War. Central Connecticut State University’s Dr. Heather Munro Prescott will discuss the impact of their service and their status within Connecticut’s medical field. Following her talk, award-winning journalist Diane Smith of the Connecticut Network (CT-N) will lead a panel discussion on volunteerism, both past and present, with Dr. Prescott, author Dave Drury, and Katie Zahara from the Emerging Leaders Society at United Way.

This program is co-sponsored with the Connecticut World War I Centennial Committee and the Conversations at Noon series is supported by Connecticut Humanities. Volunteer for Victory: Connecticut Women in WWI begins at noon, and is free & open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lunch and join the conversation.
Connecticut’s Old State House will be live-tweeting the event using the hashtag #ConvoAtNoon.

Connecticut’s Old State House will follow up this installment with The 1843 Petition: Gaining Religious Freedom for Connecticut Jews on Tuesday, May 24. You can learn more about this program and other events at Connecticut’s Old State House by visiting www.ctoldstatehouse.org or by liking the Old State House on Facebook.
 

Located in historic downtown Hartford, Connecticut’s Old State House served as a seat of
government for the Constitution State from 1796 to 1878. The Connecticut’s Old State House Shop, located on the Main Street side of the building, provides visitors an opportunity to purchase quality-made Connecticut and Hartford themed gifts, products and apparel. Visitors can also shop online at shop.ctoldstatehouse.org. For more information on admission prices, upcoming events and parking discounts nearby, become a fan of Connecticut’s Old State House on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or visit us online at http://www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

Connecticut’s Old State House to Explore Fights for Women’s Rights - Both Past & Present. Conversations at Noon: Tuesday, March 22 at Noon

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For Immediate Release
March 14, 2016
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
(860) 246-1553 ext. 116
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov

Hartford, CT – Connecticut’s Old State House in downtown Hartford will host the next installment of its popular and free lunchtime Conversations at Noon series, Freedom or Death: Suffrage for All, on Tuesday, March 22.

Connecticut was a hot spot during the fight for women’s right to vote, leading to Englishwoman Emmeline Pankhurst’s fiery 1913 “Freedom or Death” speech in Hartford. Writer Steve Thornton will explore the impact of what has been called “one of the greatest speeches of the 20^th century.” Following his talk, the Connecticut Network’s (CT-N) Diane Smith will moderate a panel discussion on the rights that women are fighting for today with Thornton, the CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut Mary Barneby, and the Executive Director of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women Carolyn Treiss.

Conversations at Noon is free and open to the public thanks to the support of Connecticut Humanities. This event will begin at noon on Tuesday, March 22 and last for one hour. Visitors are encouraged to bring their lunch and join the conversation.

Following Freedom or Death: Suffrage for All, Connecticut’s Old State House will host Volunteer for Victory: Connecticut Women inWWI on Tuesday, April 12. Dr. Heather Munro Prescott of Central Connecticut State University will discuss the impact of women doctors’ wartime service and their status within Connecticut’s medical field. A panel discussion on volunteerism, both past and present, will follow. Co-sponsored with the Connecticut World War I Centennial Committee.

Located in historic downtown Hartford, Connecticut’s Old State House served as a seat of
government for the Constitution State from 1796 to 1878. The Connecticut’s Old State House Shop, located on the Main Street side of the building, provides visitors an opportunity to purchase quality-made Connecticut and Hartford themed gifts, products and apparel. Visitors can also shop online at shop.ctoldstatehouse.org. For more information on admission prices, upcoming events and parking discounts nearby, become a fan of Connecticut’s Old State House on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or visit us online at http://www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

Connecticut’s Old State House to Highlight Food-Related Businesses Launched by Women: Conversations at Noon: Tuesday, February 23

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For Immediate Release
February 4, 2016
Contact: Chris Zaccaro
chris.zaccaro@cga.ct.gov
(860) 246-2553 ext. 116

Hartford, CT – Connecticut’s Old State House in downtown Hartford will host the next installment of its popular lunchtime Conversations at Noon series, Women in the Kitchen: It’s Strictly Business, on Tuesday, February 23.

Margaret Rudkin, founder of Pepperidge Farm, started her world famous business in her own Fairfield County kitchen. Dr. Elizabeth Rose of the Fairfield Museum and History Center will outline the unique reasoning behind the company’s original formation. Following her talk, Dr. Rose will be joined by NoRa Cupcake Company’s Carrie Carella and Cary Wheaton, Executive Director of Billings Forge Community Works, for a panel discussion on food-related businesses launched by women. The Connecticut Network’s (CT-N) Diane Smith will both moderate the discussion and take questions from the audience.

Conversations at Noon is free and open to the public thanks to the support of Connecticut Humanities. Women in the Kitchen: It’s Strictly Business is co-sponsored with Connecticut Explored. The event will begin at Noon on Tuesday, February 23 and last for one hour.

Located in historic downtown Hartford, Connecticut’s Old State House served as a seat of
government for the Constitution State from 1796 to 1878. The Connecticut’s Old State House Shop, located on the Main Street side of the building, provides visitors an opportunity to purchase quality-made Connecticut and Hartford themed gifts, products and apparel. Visitors can also shop online at shop.ctoldstatehouse.org. For more information on admission prices, upcoming events and parking discounts nearby, become a fan of Connecticut’s Old State House on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or visit us online at http://www.ctoldstatehouse.org.