Revisting the Founding Era: Panel Discussion & Community Conversation

Join us for the kick-off program in an exciting, new series called Revisiting the Founding Era taking place on Sunday, January 27 at 2 p.m., at the Ridgefield Library.

During this lively, town-hall panel discussion, moderated by journalist and professor at Mt. Holyoke College, Todd Brewster, a distinguished panel, along with the audience, will delve into some of America’s key founding documents to discuss how they relate to our world today.

Our distinguished panelists are: 
Jennifer DeJulio, Ridgefield Teacher of the Year;
Leslie Lindenauer, Western Connecticut State University History Professor;
Nadine Strossen, NYU Law Professor and past president of the ACLU;
Will Tong, Connecticut Attorney General

There will be plenty of time for Q & A. Teens and adults are encouraged to attend and engage in this important conversation.

Refreshments will be served! Please register.

Revisiting the Founding Era is part of a new ongoing series called First Principles, which is co-sponsored by Ridgefield Library, Keeler Tavern Museum and History Center, Ridgefield Historical Society, Drum Hill Chapter of the DAR, Books on the Common, Connecticut Project for the Constitution, and Ridgefield League of Women Voters. 

Other upcoming programs in the series are:

Sunday, February 10 at 3 p.m. (Ridgefield Library)
Renowned author and legal scholar Akhil Amar will bring to life the characters from the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

Sunday, February 24, 2 p.m. (Ridgefield Library)
An illustrated talk with art historian Michael Norris about George Washington and his portrayal in art.

Sunday, March 10 at 2 p.m. (KTM&HC)
A living history program for young people about slavery, featuring Cheyney McKnight of Not Your Momma’s History.

 Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m.
A field trip and lecture at the John Jay Homestead.
($20 – please register at ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org or call 203-438-5821).

Revisiting the Founding Era is a three-year national initiative of The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, presented in partnership with the American Library Association and the National Constitution Center, with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The grant provides 100 public libraries across the country the opportunity to use historical documents to spark public conversations about the Founding Era’s enduring ideas and themes and how they continue to influence our lives today. For more information about Revisiting the Founding Era and participating libraries, visit www.foundingera.org.