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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261031T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261031T163000
DTSTAMP:20261022T141358Z
CREATED:20260904T171010Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261022T141358Z
UID:10004092-1793460600-1793464200@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Spirits at Stowe
DESCRIPTION:Spirits at Stowe considers spiritualism as a tool of resistance among radicals and reformers of the 19th century. \nThrough contact with spirits\, radical women claimed authority to speak the unspeakable\, especially the right to full control and autonomy over their own bodies and families. Throughout the tour\, we will delve into the historic\, social\, and political context of the 19th century and explore the role of spiritualism in the lives of reformers\, suffragists\, and Black activists\, including Harriet Jacobs\, Frederick Douglass\, and Harriet Wilson. \nDuring the tour\, the house is “set” to reflect a Spiritualist setting. It takes place later in the evening and is by (electric) candlelight. Participants on the tour will observe and engage with materials and primary sources related to spiritualism\, including a planchette\, spiritualist newspapers\, seance accounts\, and letter excerpts from leading 19th century activists. \nSpirits at Stowe deals with themes such as violence\, sexuality\, and reproductive rights.\nIt is not recommended for children under 13.  \n  \nWhat is spiritualism?  \nBroadly speaking\, spiritualism is the belief that an individual’s awareness persists after death and can be contacted by the living. During Spirits at Stowe\, we discuss the histories of multiple spiritualist traditions in U.S. history\, and how these beliefs helped inspire\, nourish\, and connect politically radical individuals and communities – paying special attention to abolitionism\, women’s rights\, labor rights\, and the intersection among them. \n 
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/spirits-at-stowe-6/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Spirits,Spirits at Stowe,Tours
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261031T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261031T150000
DTSTAMP:20261022T141000Z
CREATED:20260911T201332Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261022T141000Z
UID:10004112-1793457000-1793458800@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Family Spirits: Haunted History Tours at the Stowe Center for Literary Activism
DESCRIPTION:Spirits and séances at the Stowe Center for Literary Activism!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n        Did you know that Harriet Beecher Stowe practiced spiritualism throughout her life? Together with family\, friends\, and her Hartford neighbors\, she would hold séances to try to speak with the spirits of people who had passed on to the next life. Over the years\, visitors and staff at the Stowe Center have experienced many mysterious and unexplainable events in Harriet’s historic home—just as Harriet did during her spiritualist explorations. \n          Join us for our Family Spirits Tours\, where we’ll learn all about spiritualism in the 1800’s\, and how people spoke to departed spirits looking for wisdom\, comfort\, and knowledge. We’ll also hear stories of some of the most haunting encounters in the history of our museum! \n\n[Please note\, this tour talks openly about death and grief. Recommended for ages 8+]
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/family-spirits-haunted-history-tours-at-the-stowe-center-for-literary-activism-9/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Family Spirits,Spirits,Tours
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ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261028T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261028T193000
DTSTAMP:20260912T135914Z
CREATED:20260904T173700Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260912T135914Z
UID:10004075-1793210400-1793215800@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Ann Plato: A Panel on Hartford's Pioneer Black Writer and Educator
DESCRIPTION:The first Black-Indigenous woman to publish a book of essays and poems was from Hartford\, Connecticut!  \nHer name was Ann Plato.   \nAt sixteen years old\, she would publish: Essays including biographies and miscellaneous pieces\, in prose and poetry. \nAnn Plato was an educator\, writer\, congregant\, and connected with Hartford’s abolitionist movement.   \nJoin us the Stowe Center for Literary Activism for a panel conversation with experts on one of Hartford’s most important historical figures!  \n \nModerator: Erika Slocumb is a scholar of Black history. She is a PhD Candidate in Afro-American Studies and holds a Master of Science in Labor Studies from the University of Massachusetts\, Amherst\, MA. At the Stowe Center\, she expands the narratives of communities of the global majority\, in conversation with Harriet Beecher Stowe and her work in social justice and civic engagement.  \n  \nPanelists \n  \n \nReverend D. Cleo Graham formerly served as the Associate Pastor and Teacher at Beneficent Congregational Church in Providence\, Rhode Island. She also served as the church’s Community Minister and Sabbatical Pastor. Before joining Beneficent Church\, Rev. Graham served as Co-Pastor and Teacher at Hope Congregational Church in East Providence\, Rhode Island. Pastor Cleo also served as the Affiliated Protestant Chaplain at Roger Williams University. Pastor Cleo is a trailblazer as the first Person of Color ordained in the Rhode Ialand Conference United Church of Christ (2013) \n  \nAlycia D. Jenkins -aka-“Lady Abstract” is a teaching/spoken word performing artist\, poet\, writer\, an environmental organizer\, and an emerging scholar. Raised on the West Side of Chicago\, Ms. Jenkins is a graduate of Trinity College who currently resides in Hartford where she has lived for over a decade. She is a proud African American feminist who believes in the power of liberation for Black families in the USA. Ms. Jenkins has been an advocate for justice since she was a teenager. She continues her advocacy by changing the world one city at a time.  \n  \nAntoinette Brim-Bell\, Connecticut’s 8th State Poet Laureate\, is the author of three full-length poetry collections:  These Women You Gave Me\, Icarus in Love\, and Psalm of the Sunflower.  A sought-after speaker\, editor\, educator\, and consultant\, Brim-Bell is a Professor of English at Connecticut State Community College\, Capital. \n  \n  \nRon Welburn (Accomac Cherokee\, Lenape\, and African American) is an emeritus professor of the UMass Amherst English department where he taught a range of literature courses emphasizing American studies; he also co-founded the University’s Native & Indigenous Studies Certificate Program. He has authored seven poetry collections and two critical works in Native studies\, one being Hartford’s Ann Plato and the Native Borders of Identity (SUNY Press 2015); and writing about jazz has long been a passion of his. Although most of his schooling was in Philadelphia\, he considers suburban Berwyn his hometown. Before earning his M.A. in English at Arizona and his doctorate in American Studies at NYU\, as a senior at Lincoln University he first heard of Ann Plato as\, according to the esteemed J. Saunders Redding\, likely having Indian ancestry. \n  \nCommunity Partners
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/plato/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
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ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260915T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260915T210000
DTSTAMP:20260827T135839Z
CREATED:20260601T161434Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260827T135839Z
UID:10003943-1789498800-1789506000@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:The Upside Down World Circus
DESCRIPTION:The one and only Bread & Puppet Circus is coming to Hartford. \nJoin the Stowe Center for Literary Activism and First Presbyterian Church of Hartford for a raucous\, colorful spectacle of protest and celebration\, featuring puppets big and small\, acts serious and silly\, and performances both slapstick and sublime. Stilt dancers\, papier-mâché beasts\, and a riotous brass band come together in Bread & Puppet’s urgently needed radical theater tradition. \nAfter the show\, Bread & Puppet will serve its famous sourdough rye bread with aioli. “Cheap Art” from the Bread & Puppet Press — books\, posters\, postcards\, pamphlets\, and banners — will also be available for purchase. \nRain location: First Presbyterian Church of Hartford136 Capitol Ave\, Hartford\, CT 06106
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/bread-puppet-circus/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Gardens and Grounds
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ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260902T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260902T193000
DTSTAMP:20260514T162133Z
CREATED:20260514T162133Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260514T162133Z
UID:10003826-1788372000-1788377400@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Salons at Stowe
DESCRIPTION:We need to talk. We need each other. We need community. \nJoin the Stowe Center for Literary Activism for an open forum centered on current news and the issues shaping our lives right now. These gatherings invite neighbors into conversation\, reflection\, and community connection in a welcoming space where dialogue can spark understanding and action. \nRather than focusing on a single predetermined topic\, this forum makes room for what people most want and need to talk about. Contemporary issues will remain at the heart of the conversation\, with space for participants to bring their questions\, concerns\, and perspectives. \nCome be in community\, engage with others\, and help turn conversation into action. \nAbout Derek Hall \nDerek Hall (he/him/his) is a dynamic anti-racist intergroup dialogue facilitator\, public speaker\, and activist committed to challenging beliefs and institutional culture rooted in systemic racism and other forms of oppression. \nDerek has worked in the diversity\, equity\, and inclusion field for more than ten years\, partnering with public and private school systems\, for-profit and nonprofit organizations locally and nationally. His passion for decolonized education\, human connection\, and implementing racial equity strategies has led him to speak to audiences of more than 500 people and facilitate groups as small as 5 to 15. As a Racial Equity Consultant and Coach\, Derek believes that “changed people change systems\,” and he uses facilitation\, storytelling\, and community building to deepen the racial and social consciousness of individuals and organizations.
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/salons-at-stowe-6/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Salons at Stowe
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ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260812T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260812T200000
DTSTAMP:20260709T210347Z
CREATED:20260709T210317Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260709T210347Z
UID:10004004-1786557600-1786564800@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:CHRO Civil Rights Museum Opening
DESCRIPTION:Join the Committee on Human Rights and Opportunities at the Stowe Center for Literary Activism for the opening event of the Connecticut CHRO Civil Rights Museum on Wednesday\, August 12\, from 6-8PM! \nThe Connecticut CHRO Civil Rights Museum will aim to tell the story of Connecticut’s role in the Civil Rights Movement and the state’s pioneering social justice and antidiscrimination laws. \nThe CHRO is the oldest governmental civil rights agency in the nation. Through this museum project\, the CHRO will work with State and Federal partners and Connecticut businesses to educate stakeholders and residents about civil and human rights law enforcement. \nJoin us for speeches\, the viewing of the document that created the oldest governmental civil rights agency in the nation\, refreshments and more!
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/chro-civil-rights-museum-opening/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/1000003582.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260808T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260808T163000
DTSTAMP:20260520T145511Z
CREATED:20260311T144555Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260520T145511Z
UID:10003477-1786203000-1786206600@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Inheriting Freedom: An Intergenerational Tour
DESCRIPTION:One tour\, two stories! Come learn about the Black abolitionist Frederick Douglass and the white anti-slavery author Harriet Beecher Stowe. We’ll explore their stories from the time they were young children until they became famous authors\, paying special attention to the importance of love\, family\, and education in their lives. Did you know that Frederick Douglass taught himself to read and write in secret as a child? Or that Douglass was aided in his extraordinary escape to freedom by his wife-to-be\, Anna Murray? Did you know that Harriet Beecher Stowe’s famous work of anti-slavery fiction\, Uncle Tom’s Cabin\, was directly inspired by Frederick Douglass and other Black activists of the 19th century? Our interactive\, conversation-based tour is designed to explore some of the hardest moments in U.S. history in an empowering\, age-appropriate way. Step back in time with us\, touch and hold historical objects and documents that help this history come alive\, and join in a conversation about how all of us have the power to create change. \n [Designed to be enjoyed by visitors ages 6 and above.]
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/inheriting-freedom-an-intergenerational-tour-3/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Inheriting Freedom,Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_9422-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260722T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260722T193000
DTSTAMP:20261102T171106Z
CREATED:20261102T171106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261102T171106Z
UID:10002115-1784743200-1784748600@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Stowe Prize Series: The Phillips Manuscript and "James: A Novel"
DESCRIPTION:Free and open to the public\n77 Forest St\, Hartford | Zoom\n6:00 – 7:30 PM EST\, Presentation and audience Q&A\nRiverbend Bookshop: Get a 10% discount our Stowe Prize books! Mention us at check-out or use STOWEFORCHANGE for online purchases.\nWith gratitude to our funders for their support\n\n\nRegister to Attend in Person\nRegister to Attend Virtually\n\nDr. Deirdre Cooper Owens\, professor at the University of Connecticut\, will present about the history of medicine\, health and healing seen in the Phillips Manuscript in conversation with how these are expressed Percival Everett’s James. \n\nThe Stowe Prize Series continues with a powerful exploration of history\, storytelling\, and the enduring struggle for freedom. \nThis year\, we bring into conversation two remarkable works: the recently discovered Phillips Manuscript\, which documents the extraordinary life of Dr. William H. Phillips\, and Percival Everett’s award-winning novel James. The Phillips Manuscript will be on display at each gathering. \nBorn enslaved in Virginia in 1841\, Dr. Phillips went on to become a nationally respected minister at Shiloh Baptist Church in Philadelphia. His life touches on pivotal events of 19th-century America and illuminates the resilience\, courage\, and intellect of Black Americans before and after emancipation. His story resonates with the themes of Everett’s James\, which reframes the story of Huck Finn through the eyes of Jim. \nTogether\, these works invite us to reflect on the essential question:What is the role of storytelling and narrative in our understanding of history and our current culture?
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/stowe-prize-series-the-phillips-manuscript-and-james-a-novel-3-2/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Stowe Prize Series
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ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260715T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260715T193000
DTSTAMP:20260601T154107Z
CREATED:20260429T161727Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260601T154107Z
UID:10003620-1784138400-1784143800@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Common Ground for Common Good
DESCRIPTION:Before we can find common ground\, we must ask: are we on equal ground? \nThrough a story of a historical radical and his memorialization in monuments\, we unpack the idea of neutrality to begin to situate our own views as part of the wide political spectrum of our time. In so doing\, we help folks feel better equipped to navigate the deeply held and very different beliefs of friends\, family\, acquaintances\, and strangers alike. \nA shareable toolkit for engaging in challenging conversations is available as a supplement to this experience\, giving participants what they need to engage with wildly divergent political viewpoints—and to share space\, search for\, and build common ground together. \nThis experience is made possible with support from\, and in partnership with\, Connecticut Public. \nPart of our America 250 CT programming.
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/common-ground-for-common-good/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:America 250 CT
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_7107-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260704T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260704T160000
DTSTAMP:20261102T190905Z
CREATED:20260427T201122Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261102T190905Z
UID:10003619-1783162800-1783180800@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:6000+ Declarations of Independence
DESCRIPTION:July 4 Community Celebration\nJoin us for a family-friendly July 4 celebration inspired by 6000+ Declarations of Independence\, an America250CT project exploring how Black abolitionists declared their own freedom through storytelling\, art\, and activism. \nThroughout the day\, visitors are invited to experience history through live interpretation\, creative workshops\, and community gathering—reflecting on the many ways freedom has been imagined\, claimed\, and expressed. \nWhat to Expect\nLive interpreters portraying Frederick Douglass\, Harriet Jacobs\, and Josiah HensonComic book workshop with artist Joe Young all day!Kemet character appearanceReadings of freedom narratives and declarations of independenceOutdoor programming on the Stowe Center grounds (weather permitting) \nFamilies and visitors of all ages are welcome. \n6000+ Declarations of Independence Speakers and First-Person Interpreters: \n \nJoe Young\nJoe Young is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker\, award-winning cartoonist\, producer\, writer\, and teaching artist with more than 35 years of experience in media\, education\, and community engagement. He is the creator of the nationally recognized KEMET comic property and President of Joe Young Entertainment\, LLC\, producing original content for television\, film\, and streaming platforms including Amazon Prime and Tubi. Young is also the President and Co-Founder of Hartford’s Got Talent and leads CAN DO\, Inc.\, organizations dedicated to empowering youth through arts\, entrepreneurship\, and creative education programs. His work and leadership have been recognized nationally through multiple awards\, media features\, a Guinness World Record\, and a statewide proclamation honoring his contributions to arts and youth development.  \n\n \nTammy Denease\nTammy Denease. An accomplished Performing Artist\, Storyteller\, Actor\, and Playwright\, Tammy Denease specializes in bringing to life the lives of very important\, yet “hidden” women in history. Among her favorites are Bessie Coleman (first internationally licensed pilot in the world) and Elizabeth Keckly (former enslaved woman who worked at Lincoln’s White House)\, Margu (Amistad captive) and Elizabeth “MumBet” Freeman – one minute a free woman. Tammy performs at historical sites\, libraries\, schools\, theaters\, and corporate events. When Tammy is not bringing historical figures to life\, she vividly tells folktales where she takes the audience into a world in which animals set the scene for life lessons!  \n \n \nDr. Dexter Gabriel\nDr. Dexter Gabriel is a professor of History at the University of Connecticut. He earned his B.A. in history from Texas State University-San Marcos\, an M.A. in history also from Texas State University-San Marcos\, and his Ph.D. in history from Stony Brook University-New York. His research interests include the histories of slavery\, resistance\, and freedom in the Black Atlantic\, as well as interdisciplinary approaches to slavery within popular culture and media. He teaches courses on the UCONN campus ranging from African American History to 1865\, Comparative Slavery in the Americas\, and Slavery in Film—to name a few. His most recent published book\, Jubilee’s Experiment: The British West Indies and American Abolitionism\, explores British Emancipation in the Anglo-Caribbean and its impact on abolitionist strategies in the nineteenth-century United States. \n \n \nFiona Vernal \nFiona Vernal is Associate Director of the Africana Studies Institute (ASI)\, Associate Professor of History and Africana Studies at the University of Connecticut and the Director of Engaged\, Public\, Oral\, and Community Histories (EPOCH)\, a public-facing initiative at UConn aimed at integrating research\, teaching\, and scholarship in broader public policy interventions and capacity-building for community organizations. Her teaching and research center African\, Caribbean\, African Diaspora histories. She is currently working on a book and digital humanities project\, Hartford Bound that integrates oral histories\, archival research\, and GIS methodologies to offer new visual and spatial histories of race\, ethnic belonging\, migration\, and community succession in Hartford\, Connecticut.  \n \n \nNadia Sims\nNadia Sims is a Manchester based poet spreading her message of grace across CT\, NY and MA. The Princeton graduate is the proud author of “A Soft Place to Land”\, “We Know the Dark” and “Apostle\, Interrupted.” \n  \n  \n\n \n Godfrey Simmons \nGodfrey L. Simmons\, Jr. New England HartBeat Ensemble: My Children! My Africa!\, The Trump Card and Possessing Harriet; Hartford Stage: It’s A Wonderful Life: A Radio Play\, All My Sons\, and Two Trains Running (CT Critics Nom); TheaterWorks Hartford: The Old Settler\, Circus Fire; Chester Theatre: Mr. Joy (Berkie Award); Silverthorne Theatre: Bulrusher. Off-Broadway Epic Theatre Ensemble: A More Perfect Union\, Widowers’ Houses (co-adapted)\, Einstein’s Gift\, MacBeth; Playwrights Horizons: Betty’s Summer Vacation; Primary Stages: The Old Settler (Audelco Award); Working Theater: Free Market. Theatre Companies HartBeat Ensemble\, Hartford—Artistic Director; Civic Ensemble\, Ithaca\, NY—Co-Founder; Epic Theatre Ensemble—former Producing Artist in charge of New Artist Development; Ensemble Studio Theatre—Lifetime Member. Teaching Current: Trinity College—Visiting Lecturer; Cornell University\, Binghamton University\, John Jay College\, Marymount Manhattan College\, UConn Hartford. \n \n \nGerry Williams \nGerry Williams is currently the weekday morning host for WIHS Radio in Middletown Connecticut. He conducts weekly interviews for the WIHS Journal News And Public Affairs program.He graduated from the Connecticut School Of Broadcasting in 2006. His Passions are the things of God\, family\, the performing arts\, Stand Up Comedy\, fishing and Raider football. \n  \n\nYsanne\nYsanne has a way of offering an experience to the audience in many different perspectives. From opening up for Juelz Santana to playing “Motormouth Maybelle” in Dean College production Hairspray\, there is no stage Ysanne can’t dominate! As a performer at Six Flags New England Amusement Park Ysanne was cast as the original actress to play the role of “Cleo” in the debut of Graveyard Groove in 2014\, where she performed in front of nearly 10\,000 people that season alone. Fall of 2021 Ysanne played in a one woman show about the one and only Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grille at The Rep in Porthsmouth\, NH. \n  \nSponsored by Travelers and the Greater Hartford Arts Council. \n \nFree museum access during Long Weekend is sponsored by \n \nas part of the America 250 | CT Commemoration
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/6000-declarations-of-independence/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:6000+ Declarations of Independance,America 250 CT,Gardens and Grounds
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ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260628T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260628T133000
DTSTAMP:20260421T203321Z
CREATED:20260421T203321Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260421T203321Z
UID:10003618-1782639000-1782653400@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:CT Historic Gardens Day
DESCRIPTION:Join us at the Stowe Center for a special celebration of CT Historic Gardens Day. \nWhile the Stowe House is closed for tours on Sundays\, visitors are warmly invited to explore our historic gardens and grounds from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. Knowledgeable garden volunteers will be on hand throughout the morning to share insights into the design\, history\, and plant selections that make the Stowe Center landscape so distinctive. \nGuests can also enjoy complimentary lemonade and cookies while taking in the beauty of the gardens. \nJust next door\, our neighbors at the Mark Twain House & Museum will also host garden volunteers from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm and will be open for house tours from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. \nWe hope you’ll join us for a morning of history\, conversation\, and community in bloom.
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/ct-historic-gardens-day/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Gardens and Grounds
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ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260615T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260615T193000
DTSTAMP:20260609T175534Z
CREATED:20260505T205706Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260609T175534Z
UID:10003733-1781546400-1781551800@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Book Tours: An Evening with Chris Smalls
DESCRIPTION:What can the history of the labor movement teach us about work\, power\, and collective change? \nJoin the Stowe Center for Literary Activism for a conversation with Chris Smalls about his new book\, When the Revolution Comes: A Fight for the Future of the Working Class. The book offers a firsthand account of one of the most closely watched labor campaigns in recent history\, exploring the challenges\, strategies\, and experiences that shaped the effort. \nIn conversation with Anita Durkin\, Unit Chair of the Stowe Center’s union\, Smalls will reflect on the history and evolution of labor organizing in the United States\, the role of workers in shaping social and economic change\, and the contemporary significance of these movements. \nThrough discussion of the book and the broader history it engages\, this program invites audiences to consider how stories of labor\, activism\, and collective action continue to inform public conversations about work and democracy today. \nRegister to Attend in Person                Register to Attend Virtually\n \nAbout the Speakers\nChris Smalls\, Photo taken by Kennedi Carter \nAnita Durkin \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\nChris Smalls\nChris Smalls is the co-founder and former president of the Amazon Labor Union. Under his leadership\, the ALU successfully unionized an Amazon warehouse: a historic victory for workers’ rights in America. A Fortune “40 Under 40” honoree\, he was named to the Time 100 list of the most influential people of 2022\, alongside his fellow union organizer Derrick Palmer. When the Revolution Comes is his first book. \nAnita Durkin\nAnita Durkin is the Unit Chair of the Stowe Center for Literary Activism union\, UAW Local 2110. She holds a PhD in American Literature from the University of Rochester.
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/book-tours-an-evening-with-chris-smalls/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/download-1.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260613T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260613T150000
DTSTAMP:20260519T191218Z
CREATED:20260326T144059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260519T191218Z
UID:10003609-1781348400-1781362800@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Nook Farm Lawn Party
DESCRIPTION:Celebrate summer\, community\, and the legacy of Nook Farm at the Nook Farm Lawn Party\, a joyful outdoor gathering in Harriet’s Backyard at the Stowe Center for Literary Activism. Held as part of the 22nd Annual Connecticut Open House Day\, the event is presented in partnership with the Asylum Hill Neighborhood Association and the Mark Twain House & Museum\, inviting neighbors and visitors alike to explore\, connect\, and celebrate the spirit of activism and community that has long defined this historic neighborhood. \nEnjoy an afternoon filled with lawn games\, crafts\, and hands-on activities for all ages\, along with complimentary food and opportunities to meet and learn from local social justice organizations tabling throughout the space. Guests can also take advantage of free station tours inside both the Harriet Beecher Stowe House and the Mark Twain House\, offering a chance to experience two of Connecticut’s most important literary landmarks. \nEach year\, Connecticut Open House Day falls near the birthdays of Harriet Beecher Stowe and Josiah Henson\, giving us a meaningful opportunity to celebrate their enduring legacies and the powerful connections between literature\, freedom\, and social change. This year’s gathering is especially meaningful as we also honor the 150th anniversary of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer\, alongside Harriet’s 215th birthday and Josiah’s 237th—marking a powerful convergence of literary and activist histories. \nAs Connecticut looks ahead to America 250\, this celebration offers a vibrant and community-centered way to begin commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary—grounded in the stories\, voices\, and activism that have shaped American history and continue to inspire its future. \nBring your family\, invite a friend\, and join us for an afternoon of community\, history\, and celebration in the heart of Nook Farm. \nThis project is supported by funding from the Community Investment Fund 2030 (Round 5)\, administered by the State of Connecticut.
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/nook-farm-lawn-party/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Gardens and Grounds
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Nook-Farm-Lawn-Party-scaled-e1774535978256.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Mark Twain House and Museum":MAILTO:info@marktwainhouse.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260520T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260520T193000
DTSTAMP:20260507T134019Z
CREATED:20260402T163814Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T134019Z
UID:10003610-1779300000-1779305400@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Hot for Beecher
DESCRIPTION:Let’s spice up history class. 🔥 \nJoin the Stowe Center for Literary Activism for Hot for Beecher\, a lively interview-style program where scholarship meets serious heat. In this special installment\, Dr. Allison Speicher sits down with guest scholars Susan Campbell and Beth Burgess for a conversation that turns up the temperature—complete with increasingly spicy hot wings (cauliflower available for vegans!). \nTogether\, they’ll dive into the lives of John and Isabella Beecher Hooker—an abolitionist and suffragist power couple whose influence helped shape American history. \nCome for the history\, stay for the heat\, and discover the personalities behind one of America’s most compelling literary families.\nPlease note: this event is 21+. \n\n\n \nSusan Campbell \n\n\n \nBeth Burgess \n\n\n \nAllison Speicher \n\n\nAbout the Facilitators\nSusan Campbell is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist\, widely read columnist\, and author of Tempest-Tossed: The Spirit of Isabella Beecher Hooker. Campbell has worked across the media landscape as an award-winning print journalist\, a regular commentator on WNPR\, and a guest on CBS’ Sunday Morning\, the BBC\, WTNH-TV\, and Face the State. \nFormer Director of Collections at the Stowe Center for Literary Activism for nearly 20 years\, Beth Burgess now serves as Museum Curator for the Museum of Connecticut History. \nDr. Allison Speicher has taught at Eastern since 2014\, specializing in 19th-century American literature. She teaches American and children’s literature and works closely with Women’s and Gender Studies students. Her first book\, Schooling Readers\, examines the role fiction played in the evolution of public schooling. She is co-editor of the Country School Journal\, secretary of the Stowe Society\, and faculty advisor to Eastern’s Sigma Tau Delta chapter.
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/hot-for-beecher-2/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-02-130825.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260516T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260516T160000
DTSTAMP:20260427T201412Z
CREATED:20260315T005604Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260427T201412Z
UID:10003479-1778932800-1778947200@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:El Teteo in Harriet's Backyard
DESCRIPTION:A Community Celebration at the Stowe Center \nJoin us for a teteo—a Dominican slang word for a lively party—as we close the exhibition What does it mean to be Human?\, a collaboration between artist Amanda Mendoza and researcher Gamze Ozker. \nThrough intimate and reflective works\, the exhibition explores what it means to be recognized as human within systems that determine whose rights are protected and whose are denied. Together\, Mendoza and Ozker examine how compassion and dignity are lost—and reclaimed—through struggles for human rights. \nWe invite the community to gather in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s backyard for a celebration of joy\, culture\, and community as we close the exhibition the best way we know how—by coming together. Because Harriet’s backyard is for everyone. \n\nWhat to Expect\n\nCar show featuring local enthusiasts in collaboration with Rad Stallions. \nSponsored by Xtreme Rides and Haymond Law Firm.\nMusic and dancing\nDominos and card games\nArts & crafts for all ages\nFood vendors\nLocal organizations tabling\n\nIf you are interested in displaying your car please email Miguel Santos \nThe Stowe Center Visitor Center will be open during the event\, giving visitors the chance to experience Amanda Mendoza’s exhibition What does it mean to be Human? on its final day on view. \n\nFood & Vendors\n\nLos Chamos Street Food Truck\nPika Food Truck\nRolling Roti Food Truck\n\n\nCommunity Organizations\nHartford Public Library • CT Fair Housing Center • Center for Latino Progress • Make the Road Connecticut • Sierra Club Connecticut • Hispanic Health Council • Night Fall Hartford • Lucinda’s House • Helena’s Casita \nFamilies and visitors of all ages are welcome. Registration is not required\, but recommended.
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/el-teteo-in-harriets-backyard/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:What Does it Mean to Be Human?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/IMG_20240613_103103-e1773536219852.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260422T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260422T190000
DTSTAMP:20251209T191306Z
CREATED:20250903T172543Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T191306Z
UID:10002104-1776880800-1776884400@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Yours Truly: 19th Century Letters from Our Archive
DESCRIPTION:Our archive holds a wealth of fascinating correspondence\, scrapbooks\, diaries\, and other materials that offer unique perspectives into the interior lives of some of the most influential people of the 19th century. We invite our public into close contact with some of our most insightful\, curious\, enlightening\, and humorous archival holdings for monthly gatherings where we read letters from our collection. We hold letters from Frederick Douglass\, Harriet Jacobs\, William Lloyd Garrison\, and other progressive thinkers of the 19th century\, in addition of course to those written by the extensive and active Beecher family. This gathering will meet and read copies of historic letters from our archive\, with the original on display. Together\, we will work through not only 19th century handwriting (transcript will be available) but the topics\, thoughts\, emotional reactions these writers held. 19th century correspondence was both a semi-private and semi-public affair\, and letters offer a unique glimpse into the personality and interiority of individuals. We hope you’ll join Cat White\, Director of Historic Collections\, as we bring our letters out of the archives!
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/yours-truly-19th-century-letters-from-our-archive-4/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Salons at Stowe,Yours Truly
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Featured-Image-Size-for-Events-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260418T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260418T170000
DTSTAMP:20260331T170133Z
CREATED:20260218T215955Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260331T170133Z
UID:10003470-1776499200-1776531600@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:The 2026 Stowe Symposium: Stowe in Context & Conversation
DESCRIPTION:Photo by Tobi Hollander \nJoin the Stowe Center for Literary Activism for our day-long exploration of 19th-century literature and history centered on Harriet Beecher Stowe. \nRegistration opens at 8:00 a.m. \nFeaturing keynote speaker Tiya Miles\, author of All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack\, a Black Family Keepsake. \nLocation: Trinity College\, 300 Summit St\, Hartford\, CT 06106 \nSYMPOSIUM OVERVIEW PAGE
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/symposium/
LOCATION:Trinity College\, 300 Summit St\, Hartford\, United States
CATEGORIES:Stowe Symposium
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Beecher-Stowe-scaled-e1771451639857.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260417T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260417T193000
DTSTAMP:20260414T150751Z
CREATED:20260305T214928Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260414T150751Z
UID:10003473-1776448800-1776454200@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Hot for Beecher
DESCRIPTION:Let’s spice up history class. \nJoin the Stowe Center for Literary Activism for Hot for Beecher\, a lively interview-style program where scholarship meets serious heat. Director of Historic Collections Cat White and guest scholar Dr. Tess Chakkalakal will take on increasingly spicy hot wings (cauliflower available for vegans!) while answering questions about members of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s remarkable family. \nThis installment turns the spotlight on Calvin E. Stowe—Harriet Beecher Stowe’s husband\, a professor\, translator\, and unexpectedly whimsical partner whose letters reveal humor\, affection\, and intellectual partnership. \nCome for the history\, stay for the heat\, and discover the personalities behind one of America’s most influential literary families. Please note that this event is 21+. \nDr. Tess Chakkalakal \nCat White \n  \nAbout the Facilitators\nDr. Tess Chakkalakal is Professor of Africana Studies and English at Bowdoin College. She successfully campaigned for the renovation of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s residence at Bowdoin where she wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Dr. Chakkalakal is the author of Novel Bondage: Slavery\, Marriage\, and Freedom in Nineteenth-Century America (2011)\, A Matter of Complexion: The Life and Fictions of Charles W. Chesnutt (2025) among others\, and the executive producer and co-host of the award-winning podcast “Dead Writers.”  \nCat White is the Director of Historic Collections at the Stowe Center for Literary Activism. 
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/hot-for-beecher/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-09-155238.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260408T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260408T193000
DTSTAMP:20260309T202656Z
CREATED:20260305T174342Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260309T202656Z
UID:10003472-1775671200-1775676600@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Artist on Artist
DESCRIPTION:Two artists. One conversation about art\, process\, and the times we live in. Join the Stowe Center for Literary Activism for Artists on Artists\, a candid dialogue between Amanda Mendoza and David Jackson as they reflect on their exhibitions\, creative inspirations\, and how art can challenge\, heal\, and reimagine our world. Audience members are invited to listen\, ask questions\, and engage in a dynamic conversation about the role of art in social change. \nRegister to Attend in Person                Register to Attend Virtually\n \nAbout the Artists\nAmanda Mendoza\, Artist \nDavid Jackson\, Artist \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\nDavid Jackson\nDavid C. Jackson is an active artist who combines his creative and administrative-counseling skillsets. As a fine artist\, David works predominantly in oil\, acrylic\, watercolor\, and colored pencil. As a young artist\, Jackson sold his first piece in 1995 and never looked back. He has been an art instructor and has exhibited at various institutions in the northeast\, galleries\, museums\, and private pop-ups.  \nAmanda Mendoza\nAmanda Mendoza is an artist\, muralist and curator who aims to create a legacy of advocacy\, resilience and community healing through social justice art initiatives. Amanda’s artistic philosophy is that art can do more than decorate spaces; it can heal and connect communities.  
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/artist-on-artist/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/pexels-steve-1047540-scaled-e1772732607797.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260325T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260325T190000
DTSTAMP:20251209T191306Z
CREATED:20250903T172516Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T191306Z
UID:10002103-1774461600-1774465200@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Yours Truly: 19th Century Letters from Our Archive
DESCRIPTION:Our archive holds a wealth of fascinating correspondence\, scrapbooks\, diaries\, and other materials that offer unique perspectives into the interior lives of some of the most influential people of the 19th century. We invite our public into close contact with some of our most insightful\, curious\, enlightening\, and humorous archival holdings for monthly gatherings where we read letters from our collection. We hold letters from Frederick Douglass\, Harriet Jacobs\, William Lloyd Garrison\, and other progressive thinkers of the 19th century\, in addition of course to those written by the extensive and active Beecher family. This gathering will meet and read copies of historic letters from our archive\, with the original on display. Together\, we will work through not only 19th century handwriting (transcript will be available) but the topics\, thoughts\, emotional reactions these writers held. 19th century correspondence was both a semi-private and semi-public affair\, and letters offer a unique glimpse into the personality and interiority of individuals. We hope you’ll join Cat White\, Director of Historic Collections\, as we bring our letters out of the archives!
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/yours-truly-19th-century-letters-from-our-archive-3/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Salons at Stowe,Yours Truly
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Featured-Image-Size-for-Events-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260318T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260318T193000
DTSTAMP:20260211T195151Z
CREATED:20260210T155303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260211T195151Z
UID:10003469-1773856800-1773862200@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:"In America\, the Law is King": Considering Thomas Paine's Common Sense at 250
DESCRIPTION:On the 250th anniversary of Common Sense\, join the Stowe Center for Literary Activism for an evening of shared reading\, conversation\, and civic reflection. \nTogether\, we will revisit Thomas Paine’s revolutionary pamphlet\, read selected excerpts\, and explore its enduring declaration that “In America\, the Law is King.” With scholars and community leaders\, we will draw throughlines between Common Sense’s anti-monarchical message and present-day challenges to democracy—and consider what action looks like now. \n\n\nFeatured Speakers\n \nDr. Sarah Moon\nSarah Moon is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Writing Studies\, Rhetoric\, and Composition at Roger Williams University. Her scholarship explores community and classroom writing in performance. A playwright\, she facilitates the Coventry Playwrights Collective new play workshop and Write Your Roots\, a food-centered community writing and performance project. She holds a PhD in Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Connecticut and an MFA in Playwriting from Brandeis University. \n \nDr. Scott Gac\nScott Gac is an author\, historian\, and teacher\, and a Professor of History and American Studies at Trinity College in Connecticut. His work on American music and social activism has appeared in Choice\, Rethinking History\, and Reviews in American History. His most recent book is Born in Blood: Violence and the Making of America (Cambridge University Press\, 2024). \n\nCommunity Reader Bios\nWe are delighted to feature leaders from Hartford-area social justice organizations as community readers. \nNorm Moghtaderi\nNorm Moghtaderi is an improvisor and actor with Sea Tea Improv in Hartford\, CT. Norm can be seen performing regularly at the Sea Tea Comedy Theater and venues across the region\, including the Mark Twain house where he portrays Twain’s literary characters for Clue mystery tours. He completed the improvisation training program at the renowned Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City. Norm is a labor and housing justice advocate\, he is pro-union and anti-imperialism.  While Norm can be seen teaching improv at schools and workplaces across the state\, he is most passionate about making sure your dog is entertained. \n\n\nMadelyn Macbryde\n \nMadelyn Macbryde is an artist\, singer-songwriter\, actor\, and comedian based in Connecticut. She is a teaching artist at the Wadsworth\, Oddfellows Playhouse\, and other arts organizations. She is a member of the Coventry Playwrights and performs in their special productions. Madelyn performs regularly at the Sea Tea Comedy Theater in Hartford and occasionally at UCB in New York. In all her work she strives to promote messages of love\, liberation\, justice\, and truth.\n \n\nTianna Glass-Tripp\nTianna Glass-Tripp is a playwright\, comedic writer\, and storyteller living in Bloomfield\, CT. Along with her wife Charmagne\, she owns Gripp Productions; an artistic production company with a focus on community. In this role she has directed and produced several live shows in Greater Hartford. Additionally\, Tianna is an intuitive healer\, a cat mom\, and a karaoke powerhouse. \n  \n\nKamora Herrington\n \nKamora Herrington is an experiential educator working at the intersections of identity and community. She is the recipient of the New Haven Pride Center’s Dorothy Award\, the CT Voice Award for Advocacy\, and a 100 Women of Color Award. Her work supports individuals and organizations committed to personal and professional growth through cultural humility. \nKamora’s Cultural Corner: KCC provides both a metaphoric and physical space to learn to use the gifts and privileges of our unique and shared identities. Approaching cultural humility through a Black Queer and Afrocentric perspective we create and navigate Brave Spaces with the intention of building and supporting organic community connections.  \n\n\n \nDavid Hopkins\nDavid Hopkins is President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Hartford. \nUrban League of Greater Hartford: Since 1964\, with a legacy rooted in fighting for equal opportunities and against the injustice of discrimination\, our programs and services have helped Hartford area residents overcome barriers to achieve their life goals.  \n\n\nSam Pudlin\n \nSam Pudlin is a founding member of the Hartford Jewish Organizing Collective. \nHartford Jewish Organizing Collective: HJOC brings together Hartford-area Jews to fight for the liberation of all people through political action\, community-building\, and religious ritual. Focused on the connection between the local and the global\, it has been a force for housing justice\, public education\, and the liberation of Palestine. Founded in 2023\, it has since grown into Hartford’s largest Jewish congregation. 
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/common-sense/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-11-121147.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260316T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260316T200000
DTSTAMP:20260303T144941Z
CREATED:20260108T165722Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260303T144941Z
UID:10003421-1773687600-1773691200@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Ibram X. Kendi: Chain of Ideas
DESCRIPTION:Presented in collaboration with the Mark Twain House & Museum  \nJoin us for an evening with Dr. Ibram X. Kendi\, National Book Award–winning historian and author of How to Be an Antiracist\, as he discusses his powerful new book\, Chain of Ideas: The Origins of Our Authoritarian Age. \nIn Chain of Ideas\, Kendi traces how “great replacement theory” and related conspiracies have evolved over centuries — moving from fringe paranoia to mainstream political rhetoric. With clarity and insight\, he reveals how these ideas have shaped modern fears\, fueled extremist movements\, and threatened democracy itself. Blending history\, analysis\, and urgent storytelling\, Kendi challenges audiences to confront the forces undermining equality and justice — and to imagine a freer\, more democratic future. \nREGISTER HERE! \n\nABOUT THE AUTHOR\n \nIbram X. Kendi is one of America’s foremost historians and antiracist scholars. He is the founding director of the Howard University Institute for Advanced Study and the author of several acclaimed books\, including Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America (winner of the National Book Award) and How to Be an Antiracist. \nNamed one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world\, Kendi has received the MacArthur Fellowship and numerous other honors for his work examining racism and inequality in America and beyond. \n\nTICKETS\n$45 Bundled Ticket (Book & General Admission) \n$15 General Admission
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/ibram-x-kendi-chain-of-ideas/
LOCATION:Immanuel Congregational Church\, 10 Woodland Street\, Hartford\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Ibram-X.-Kendi-Chain-of-Ideas-Main-Graphic-e1767891389950.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260307T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260307T120000
DTSTAMP:20260212T201120Z
CREATED:20260206T192601Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T201120Z
UID:10003424-1772877600-1772884800@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Be A Badass Arborist!
DESCRIPTION:Believe it or not\, wintertime is the BEST time to prune young trees. Become a badass arborist with badass arborists!   \nJoin Hartford City Forester\, Sophia Rodbell\, and Urban Forester and PhD student at UMass Amherst\, Candace Powning\, with an introduction and hands-on experience.  \nParticipate in pruning several young trees on the Stowe Center campus\, including elms\, maples\, yellowwood\, serviceberry\, and pear. \nDetails and Guidelines:  \n\nMeet at Katherine Seymour Day House for introduction.  \nDress for the weather!  \nTools and gloves will be provided but you can bring your own. \n\nAbout the Experts!\nCandace Powning\, Urban Forester \nSophia Rodbell\, City of Hartford Forester \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n\nCandace Powning\nTree Planting and Outreach Coordinator for the City of Hartford and a PhD student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. \nSophia Rodbell\nArborist and City of Hartford Forester with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) focused in Environmental Studies and biology from Roanoke College.
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/be-a-badass-arborist/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Gardens and Grounds
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IMG_5991-scaled.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260220T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260220T200000
DTSTAMP:20260122T224954Z
CREATED:20260112T165705Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260122T224954Z
UID:10003422-1771612200-1771617600@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Book Tours: An Evening with Clay Cane
DESCRIPTION:Award-winning journalist\, writer\, radio host\, and political analyst Clay Cane will discuss his new novel Burn Down Master’s House. In the face of a political cycle that seeks to silence and erase\, Burn Down Master’s House is a rallying cry\, a reminder of the power of defiance\, and a testament to the enduring spirit of resistance. Readers will be enthralled by Cane’s immersive storytelling as he tackles themes of race\, class\, sexuality\, power\, and freedom.  \nRegister to Attend in Person                Register to Attend Virtually\n \nAbout the Facilitators\nClay Cane\, Author \nNachum Levitan\, Moderator \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\nClay Cane\nCane is a New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist\, radio host\, and political analyst. More than 3 million listeners tune into The Clay Cane Show on SiriusXM each week\, his commentary is heard on television networks such as ABC\, MSNBC\, FOX and CNN\, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post\, CNN.com\, and BET. He is the author of the instant New York Times bestseller The Grift: The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans from the Party of Lincoln to the Cult\, Live Through This\, and Burn Down Master’s House. A graduate of Rutgers University\, Phi Beta Kappa\, with a B.A. in English and African American Studies\, he lives outside of New York City. \nNachum Levitan \nNachum Levitan is the Programs and Visitor Center Coordinator at the Stowe Center for Literary Activism. He holds an M.A. in English Literature from the University of Rochester.
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/book-tours-an-evening-with-clay-cane/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Book Tours
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Reading-for-change-Events-image.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260214T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260214T170000
DTSTAMP:20260122T210916Z
CREATED:20251030T171755Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260122T210916Z
UID:10002155-1771077600-1771088400@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:All That Makes Life Bright
DESCRIPTION:On a quest to make a better life for themselves and their families\, three activists connect with people and artifacts on this plane and the next. Join us as we look at letters\, spirit journals\, and funerary jewelry in this year’s All That Makes Life Bright. Sip wine\, eat chocolate\, engage in 19th century Valentine and view objects from the collections. \nBefore the tour begins\, guests are invited to:🍷 Sip wine and savor chocolate in a Valentine’s Day ambiance💌 Explore letters from Harriet Jacobs and Isabella Beecher Hooker📜 Read Harriet Jacob’s gold embossed letter\n📃 Read Harriet Stowe’s letter of support for Reverend Strother\n🪶 Read Isabella Beecher Hooker’s letter of astonishment at her daughter’s reaction to suffrage💫 View mourning jewelry🖋 Victorian valentines \nAt 3:30 & 4:00 PM\, the experience deepens as guests step into the historic home for an exclusive Spirits Tour\, uncovering the power of spiritualism to transform a struggle for freedom and equal rights. \nThis is a one-night-only event blending history\, intrigue\, and the allure of love on this plane and the next.  \n❤️ Space is limited — reserve your spot now!
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/all-that-makes-life-bright/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Spirits
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Untitled-design-53.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260211T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260211T193000
DTSTAMP:20260202T034231Z
CREATED:20260112T172156Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260202T034231Z
UID:10003423-1770832800-1770838200@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Spirits of Resistance
DESCRIPTION:Raise a glass to the rebels of the past! Join us for Spirits of Resistance\, a-one-of-a kind winter evening where radical history\, ghost stories\, and great drinks come together.  \nSet in the spirit (and spirits) of 19th-century resistance\, this interactive storytelling experience dives into how Spiritualism became a powerful tool for women’s activism and Black liberation. You’ll explore real historical artifacts\, hold primary documents\, and meet trailblazers like Harriet Wilson—a Black entrepreneur\, novelist\, and celebrated spirit medium who defied every rule of her time.   \nWhether you’re here for the tea or the tipple (you get both!) this isn’t your typical history talk. You’ll sip on complimentary wine and enjoy tea service\, all while learning how marginalized voices channeled the beyond to speak truth to power.  \nCome curious. Leave a little haunted–and totally inspired. 
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/spirits-of-resistance/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Untitled-design-49.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260128T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260128T190000
DTSTAMP:20251209T191306Z
CREATED:20250903T172328Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T191306Z
UID:10002102-1769623200-1769626800@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Yours Truly: 19th Century Letters from Our Archive
DESCRIPTION:Our archive holds a wealth of fascinating correspondence\, scrapbooks\, diaries\, and other materials that offer unique perspectives into the interior lives of some of the most influential people of the 19th century. We invite our public into close contact with some of our most insightful\, curious\, enlightening\, and humorous archival holdings for monthly gatherings where we read letters from our collection. We hold letters from Frederick Douglass\, Harriet Jacobs\, William Lloyd Garrison\, and other progressive thinkers of the 19th century\, in addition of course to those written by the extensive and active Beecher family. This gathering will meet and read copies of historic letters from our archive\, with the original on display. Together\, we will work through not only 19th century handwriting (transcript will be available) but the topics\, thoughts\, emotional reactions these writers held. 19th century correspondence was both a semi-private and semi-public affair\, and letters offer a unique glimpse into the personality and interiority of individuals. We hope you’ll join Cat White\, Director of Historic Collections\, as we bring our letters out of the archives!
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/yours-truly-19th-century-letters-from-our-archive-2/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:Salons at Stowe,Yours Truly
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Featured-Image-Size-for-Events-1.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251212T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251212T193000
DTSTAMP:20261102T171106Z
CREATED:20261102T171106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261102T171106Z
UID:10002162-1765562400-1765567800@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:What does it mean to be Human? -Exhibit opening
DESCRIPTION:Join the Stowe Center for Literary Activism for the opening of What does it mean to be Human?\, a new exhibition by artist Amanda Mendoza in collaboration with researcher Gamze Ozker. \nThrough intimate and reflective works\, Mendoza examines what it means to be seen as human within systems that determine whose rights are protected and whose are denied. Partnering with Ozker\, the exhibition uses art to explore how compassion and dignity are lost—and reclaimed—through struggles for human rights. \nProgram Highlights: \n\nRemarks from Amanda Mendoza\, and Gamze Ozker\, and Erika Slocumb\nCommunity discussion circle in the gallery\nLight refreshments\n\nAbout the Artist & Researcher: \n\n\nAmanda MendozaArtist \n\n\nGamze OzkerResearcher \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEXHIBITION OVERVEIW PAGE
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/opening-exhibit/
LOCATION:Stowe Center for Literary Activism\, 77 Forest Street\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:What Does it Mean to Be Human?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Untitled-document-1-1-e1763498510924.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251121T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251121T193000
DTSTAMP:20261102T171105Z
CREATED:20261102T171105Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261102T171105Z
UID:10002121-1763746200-1763753400@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Train of Thought: A Closing Conversation
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a closing conversation with David Jackson for his exhibition Revolutionary [RE]Imagining. \n\nFree and open to the public\n77 Forest St\, Hartford; The Gallery for Literary Activism | Zoom\n\n5:30 – 6:00 PM\, Gallery opens\n6:00 – 6:30 PM\, Q&A with David and Erika (streaming on Zoom\, recorded)\n6:30 – 7:00 PM\, Audience Q&A\n7:00 – 7:30 PM\, Gallery open for guests to walk-through \n\nRegister to Attend in Person\nRegister to Attend Virtually
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/train-of-thought-a-closing-conversation/
LOCATION:CT
CATEGORIES:General Program
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Untitled-design-48.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251120T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251120T193000
DTSTAMP:20261102T171106Z
CREATED:20261102T171106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261102T171106Z
UID:10002122-1763661600-1763667000@stowecenter.org
SUMMARY:Borders of Belonging: A Conversation on Humanity and Human Rights
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an open discussion with human rights educators and activists as we explore the question\, “What does it mean to be human?” \nThis thought-provoking conversation parallels the themes of Amanda Mendoza’s upcoming solo art exhibition\, What Does It Mean to Be Human?—opening at the Stowe Center for Literary Activism on December 12th\, 2025. \nServing as a prelude to the exhibition\, this event invites participants to reflect on humanity\, belonging\, and the systems that shape our shared human experience. Refreshments will be provided! \nPlease arrive by 5:50 PM—guests should be seated by 6:00 PM so the discussion can begin promptly. \nSpeakers: \n  /* Only affects this block */  .speakers-row {    display: flex;    align-items: flex-start;    justify-content: space-between;    gap: 20px;    flex-wrap: nowrap;    text-align: center;  }  /* Neutralize WP alignment floats inside this row */  .speakers-row .wp-caption\,  .speakers-row [class*=”align”]\,  .speakers-row img {    float: none !important;    margin: 0 !important;  }  /* Make each speaker take equal space and stack their image + text */  .speakers-row > * {    flex: 1 1 0;  } \n\nAmanda Mendoza\, Artist \nEvan Turiano\, Ph.D.\, Visiting Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Law at Trinity College \n \nTeresa Quintana\, Housing Equity Organizer at Make the Road CT\n\nParking Information \nPark in the spots directly facing the building or on either side of the row of spaces along the chain-link fence. \nEXHIBITION OVERVEIW PAGE
URL:https://stowecenter.org/event/borders-of-belonging/
LOCATION:224 EcoSpace\, 224 Farmington Ave\, Hartford\, CT\, 06105\, United States
CATEGORIES:What Does it Mean to Be Human?
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://stowecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Borders-of-Belonging-Real-Estate-Flyer-e1761759221914.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Stowe Center for Literary Activism":MAILTO:info@stowecenter.org
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR