Re-Imagining Ways to Preserve the Past - Wednesday, September 18 at Noon

Re-Imagining Ways to Preserve the Past

Wednesday, September 18 at Noon

Hartford, CT – From the home of a world-renowned opera singer to the pharmacy operated by the one of the first women in the state licensed as a pharmacist, there are more than 100 sites on the Connecticut Freedom Trail that commemorate the accomplishments of African-Americans. But many others have been lost.

Photo provided by Brent Leggs

On Wednesday, September 18, join preservationist Brent Leggs from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for his talk, Re-Imagining Ways to Preserve the Past, and discover how he helps communities save buildings including schools, homes, theaters, and churches that reflect the African-American experience.  These buildings are often “small, unadorned structures” yet their preservation is vital to empowering “black youth by revealing historical themes besides slavery, including entrepreneurship, civil rights, entertainment, sports, education, and political activism,” according to Leggs. Following the brief talk, enjoy a thought-provoking discussion with Glenn A. Cassis, the Executive Director of the Connecticut African-American Affairs Commission and Maisa Tisdale from the Mary & Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community.  The Center owns the historic Freeman Houses, the only structures remaining from Bridgeport’s Little Liberia that was home to free people of color from 1820-1850.

September is Connecticut Freedom Trail Month and Todd Levine, from the State Historic Preservation Office, will join the discussion to talk about the 130 Connecticut sites, including Connecticut’s Old State House, which embody the struggle toward freedom and human dignity and celebrate the accomplishments of the state's African-American community.

The program begins at noon and is FREE. Discounted parking is available nearby.

For more information, call 860-522-6766. Registrations are encouraged but not required. Register at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OSH2013Lectures.

Connecticut’s Old State House will validate parking tickets from the State Street South Parking Garage (formerly the Constitution Plaza garage) and State House Square Garage. The cost, after validation, is $5 for the entire day.

What Were They Thinking? Hartford Then and Now - Wednesday, May 22 at Noon

Out with the old, in with the new! That’s what urban planners thought in the 1960s when they demolished “the crown jewel of Main Street” and other landmark buildings in Hartford. What were they thinking? Today, Hartford is striving to incorporate old and new buildings into the fabric of the city. On Wednesday, May 22, join Tomas Nenortas, Associate Director of the Hartford Preservation Alliance for an illustrated talk exploring the impact of urban renewal on the city of Hartford, lost treasures and current efforts to restore historic buildings and adapt them for 21^st century life. Afterwards, join in a panel discussion on the challenges and economic impact of historic preservation in the capital city and beyond. Find out about innovative projects underway that go beyond saving old buildings and bring them to life.

The Connecticut Network’s Diane Smith will moderate the panel discussion including: Helen Higgins, Executive Director of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, Frank Hagaman, Executive Director of the Hartford Preservation Alliance, and Deputy Commissioner Kip Bergstrom from the Dept. of Economic and Community Development.  The program is FREE, begins at noon.

Bring your lunch and enjoy the program! Registrations are encouraged but not required. Register at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OSH2013Lectures.

This program is co-sponsored by CT Explored.

At the Old State House in June: Diane Smith discusses her new book Obsessed: America’s Food Addiction and My Own, written with MSNBC Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, and looks at the high cost of obesity in Connecticut, and how to turn it around. June 19 at 12 pm, Free. 

Connecticut’s Old State House will validate parking tickets from the State Street South Parking Garage (formerly the Constitution Plaza garage) and State House Square Garage. The cost, after validating, is $5. The validation is good all day.  

Throughout 2013, the Old State House will have a variety of lunchtime lectures and other special events and programming. Visit the calendar on http://www.ctoldstatehouse.org for more information.  

Located in Hartford just minutes from the Connecticut Science Center, Wadsworth Athenaeum and the riverfront, Connecticut’s Old State House invites visitors of all ages to discover that their voices matter, and that words, ideas, persuasion and debate really can change minds – and, quite possibly, the world.  The building served as the Constitution State’s original seat of government from 1796 to 1878. 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 at www.twitter.com/CTOldStateHouse or visit us online at www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

 

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A Conversation with Connecticut Department of Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor

For Immediate Release
March 21, 2013

Contact: Meaghan MacDonald

Meaghan.MacDonald@cga.ct.gov

 

A Conversation with Connecticut Department of Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor

Tuesday, April 9 at Noon

Hartford, CT - On Tuesday, April 9, join the Connecticut Network’s Diane Smith for a special one-on-one conversation with Connecticut Department of Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor. The discussion will explore the state of education in Connecticut touching on the status of educational reforms passed last year, school security in the wake of Sandy Hook, Common Core State Standards, Education Cost Sharing funding, teacher evaluation and support, and a myriad of other topics.  The lunchtime program is FREE and begins at noon.

Governor Dannel Malloy dubbed 2012 the “year of education,” only a few short months after Stefan Pryor took the job as Department of Education Commissioner. Since his appointment, Commissioner Pryor has been leading the charge with an ambitious agenda while facing budget cuts.

Mr. Pryor has served as Commissioner of Education since September 2011. Previously, he co-founded and served as the first Board President of Amistad Academy in New Haven, a high-performing charter school that now serves as the flagship for the Achievement First network of schools. Commissioner Pryor has additional roots in Connecticut, having served as a policy advisor on housing, community development and education to the Mayor of New Haven, and as a student at Yale University, where he completed the Teacher Preparation Program and earned both his undergraduate and law degrees.

Bring your lunch and enjoy the FREE program! Registrations are encouraged but not required. Register at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OSH2013Lectures.

At the Old State House in May: On May 22, Tom Nenortas from the Hartford Preservation Alliance will discuss the buildings that have been saved and lost in the last decade.  A panel discussion will follow with Frank A. Hagaman, Director of the Hartford Preservation Alliance and Helen Higgins from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation. CT-N’s Diane Smith will moderate.

Connecticut’s Old State House will validate parking tickets from the State Street South Parking Garage (formerly the Constitution Plaza garage) and State House Square Garage. The cost, after validating, is $5. The validation is good all day. 

Throughout 2013, the Old State House will have a variety of lunchtime lectures and other special events and programming. Visit the calendar on http://www.ctoldstatehouse.org for more information.  

Located in Hartford just minutes from the Connecticut Science Center, Wadsworth Athenaeum and the riverfront, Connecticut’s Old State House invites visitors of all ages to discover that their voices matter, and that words, ideas, persuasion and debate really can change minds – and, quite possibly, the world.  The building served as the Constitution State’s original seat of government from 1796 to 1878. 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 at www.twitter.com/CTOldStateHouse or visit us online at www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

 

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UPDATE: Panelists Confirmed “Moving From Tragedy to Action: The Power of Community”

UPDATE: Panelists Confirmed
“Moving From Tragedy to Action: The Power of Community”
Old State House Hosts Live, Televised Town Hall Meeting on Citizens Working Together February 27, Opening Reception at 6 p.m. and Town Hall Meeting at 7 p.m.

Hartford, CT –On Wednesday, February 27 at 7 p.m., Connecticut Network’s Diane Smith will host a live, televised town hall meeting in the historic courtroom at Connecticut’s Old State House. Experts and concerned state residents will explore the many ways that communities can come together after tragedies such as Sandy Hook to turn resources, ideas, and information into informed and meaningful action. Invited guests from diverse fields including mental health, law enforcement, school safety, the faith community, and elected officials, will talk with Diane about steps that we can to take to strengthen our communities in times of crisis. The program is FREE and doors open at 6 p.m.

Confirmed panelists include:

Dr. Alice Forrester
Executive Director, Clifford W. Beers Guidance and member of Sandy Hook Advisory Commission
George Coleman
Chair,  Connecticut Commission on Children and Newtown resident
Dr. Linda Gejda
Assistant Superintendent, Newtown Public Schools

A light reception at 6 p.m. will provide opportunities for participants to see the Old State House and converse with other audience members. Guests for the live program must be seated by 6:45 p.m.

Martha McCoy, Executive Director of Everyday Democracy, will frame the conversation with opening remarks at 7 p.m. followed by the moderated discussion. Program partners with the Old State House are the Connecticut Civic Health Advisory Group, Connecticut Commission on Children, the Connecticut Network, Everyday Democracy, and the Secretary of the State’s Office. The program is sponsored by Connecticut Humanities.

Seating for the live audience is limited but open to the public. Those interested in attending can register at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OSH2013TownHallMeeting .

Since this is a live telecast, audience members must be in their seats no later than 6:45 p.m. To see this event live on CT-N, the network is available full-time on U-Verse channel 83 and on expanded basic cable statewide. Visit www.ct-n.com to find the channel location for the network in your community or to watch online. 

The town hall meeting builds on the work of the Connecticut Civic Health Advisory Group, which offered strategies and project ideas aimed at strengthening civic participation in Connecticut. This is the third town hall meeting that the Old State House has held discussing civic health. Everyday Democracy and Secretary of the State Denise Merrill partnered with the National Conference on Citizenship (NCoC) to create this working group, whose members include both Diane Smith and Old State House Executive Director Sally Whipple.

Note:  Both CT-N and Connecticut’s Old State House are managed for the Connecticut General Assembly by the Connecticut Public Affairs Network. CPAN is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to educate and connect citizens with their state government.

This program is made possible through funding by Connecticut Humanities. Connecticut Humanities (CTH) is non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities which funds, creates and collaborates on hundreds of cultural programs across Connecticut each year. We bring together people of all ages and backgrounds to express, share and explore ideas in thoughtful and productive ways. From local discussion groups to major exhibitions on important historical events, CTH programs engage, enlighten and educate. Learn more by visiting www.cthumanities.org.

Located in Hartford just minutes from the Connecticut Science Center, Wadsworth Athenaeum and the riverfront, Connecticut’s Old State House invites visitors of all ages to discover that their voices matter, and that words, ideas, persuasion and debate really can change minds – and, quite possibly, the world.  The building served as the Constitution State’s original seat of government from 1796 to 1878. 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 at www.twitter.com/CTOldStateHouse or visit us online at www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

Nominated for a 2012 Boston/New England Emmy Award, Winner of the national Sunshine Award from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Open Government Award from the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government, the Connecticut Network is the state’s source for complete and balanced television and webcast coverage of state government and public affairs.  For more information, become a fan of CT-N on Facebook, follow the network at www.twitter.com/CTNetworkTV or visit CT-N’s website at www.ct-n.com.

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The Message and the Media: Campaigning in the Age of Facebook

Hartford, CT – First it was music and stumping, then it was lawn signs and mailers. Now, it’s Facebook and Twitter. Campaigning for public office has changed drastically over the life of our democracy. Can a candidate win with a highly-programmed and controlled message in direct mail and on television? Is the press corps irrelevant in today’s campaigns? On December 5, join the Old State House for “The Message and the Media: Campaigning in the Age of Facebook” and take a look at campaigning, then and now.  

At 11:30 a.m. well-known historical musician Rick Spencer performs campaign songs from the virulent 1856 presidential campaign between James Buchanan, John C. Fremont, and Millard Fillmore.

At Noon, Quinnipiac University Professor of Journalism Richard Hanley explores the post-media political era and discusses the evolution of campaigning for public office. His brief presentation will be followed by a lively panel discussion moderated by the Connecticut Network’s Diane Smith. Prof. Hanley will be joined by Wayne Winsley, a recent candidate for the 3^rd Congressional District; Patrick Scully, political commentator and former Director of Communications and Media for the state Senate Democrats; and Kenny Curran, campaign manager for Chris Murphy’s victorious 2012 Senate run. The presentation and panel discussion will last one hour.

Bring your lunch and enjoy this FREE program! Register for the presentation and panel discussion here

This program is made possible through funding by Connecticut Humanities.

 

Up Next at the Old State House: January 16, 2013, Noon, Myths and Legacy of the Emancipation Proclamation Issued on January 1, 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln, what exactly did the Emancipation Proclamation do? Join Dr. Matthew Warshauer, author of Connecticut in the American Civil War, for a spirited exploration of this famous document and its impact. The Connecticut Network’s Diane Smith will moderate a panel discussion with Dr. Warshauer;  Elizabeth Rose, historian for the Promise of Freedom exhibition at  the Fairfield Museum and History Center; and Alona Wilson, curator of the upcoming exhibit Emancipation! at the Amistad Center for Art and Culture.

Connecticut’s Old State House will validate parking tickets from the State Street South Parking Garage (formerly the Constitution Plaza garage). The cost, after validating, is $5.  The ticket will be stamped once admission is paid at the museum.  The validation is good all day.

Throughout 2013, the Old State House will have a variety of lunchtime lectures and other special events and programming. Visit the calendar on www.ctoldstatehouse.org for more information.

Located in Hartford just minutes from the Connecticut Science Center, Wadsworth Athenaeum and the riverfront, Connecticut’s Old State House invites visitors of all ages to discover that their voices matter, and that words, ideas, persuasion and debate really can change minds – and, quite possibly, the world.  The building served as the Constitution State’s original seat of government from 1796 to 1878. 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 at www.twitter.com/CTOldStateHouse or visit us online at www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

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“Inspiring Change: Leadership Starts With You” Town Hall Meeting Hosted at the Old State House

Can a parent really make a difference in the community? The answer was a resounding “yes” from a crowd of 75 at a town-hall style meeting from the Old State House on Thursday, November 15.

Connecticut’s Old State House, in partnership with the Connecticut Network, Connecticut Commission on Children, Civic Health Index Advisory Board and the Parent Leadership Training Institute, hosted a live, televised town hall meeting entitled, Inspiring Change: Leadership Starts With You. Secretary of the State Denise Merrill provided opening remarks and the discussion was moderated by Diane Smith. The program focused on how parents and others can become community leaders with the help of the Parent Leadership Training Institute. A panel of state leaders and local school board and town council members, including State Representative Cathy Abercombie and Bridgeport community leader Donna Thompson-Bennett. 

View the program here - http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=8394

Letters From the Front: A Dramatic Reading

On Wednesday, November 14, the Old State House traveled back to World War II for a dramatic reading from “Dear Eva,” a new play by Connecticut authors Paul Janensch and Catherine Ladnier based on letters written during the conflict by friends and relatives. Audience members experienced the fear and worry felt by the Greatest Generation as the letters touched on life during wartime. They explored relationships and army life with humor and an unexpected honesty.

Photo by Gary Denmark

Following the performance, the audience learned how Central Connecticut State University’s Veterans History Project preserves the stories of the men and women who have served our nation in war and peace from Director Eileen Hurst.  The project records the wartime stories of Connecticut veterans and the school is now an archive partner with the Library of Congress.

The entire program can be viewed by visiting the Connecticut Network’s On Demand section or by clicking here http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=8391.

 A trove of letters saved by Eva Lee Brown of South Carolina, were discovered after her death by her daughter, Catherine Ladnier of Greenwich. Ladnier invited Janensch, a former newspaper editor and professor emeritus of journalism at Quinnipiac University to join her as a collaborator in bringing Eva’s story to the stage.  The letters featured references to the 853^rd Engineers Aviation Battalion, which included many Connecticut men.