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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