Greenwich Historical Society’s Shining a Light Lecture Series to Elevate and Amplify Underrepresented Voices
By Laura in Cos Cob’s HamletHub.com on March 14, 2022
In its second year, the Greenwich Historical Society’s annual “Shining a Light” Lecture Series offers riveting stories from distinguished individuals on topics that have shaped the history of Greenwich and New England. Dedicated to elevating and amplifying underrepresented voices in history, the three-part virtual series features speakers who are dedicated to interpreting, restoring and preserving these histories.
The initiative speaks to situations and events behind many of the themes that are shaping the nation’s narrative, including race, oppression, identity and equality.
“We are proud to shine a light on activists and humanitarians who are actively involved in ensuring these stories and events are recognized as part of our local history so that current and future generations can learn from them,” says Greenwich Historical Society’s Public Programs Manager Stephanie Barnett. “The program aligns perfectly with the Historical Society’s mission of preserving and interpreting Greenwich’s history and strengthening the community’s connection to the past, to each other and to the future.”
The Witness Stones Project will be featured on March 24, 2022
March 24, 2022
The Witness Stones Project: Restoring History, Honoring Humanity
Speaker: Dennis Culliton
M.A.T., C.A. G.S., and Founder and Executive Director, The Witness Stones Project
Virtual Event
6:00 – 7:15pm
Project Executive Director Dennis Culliton will explore the economic and legal framework that supported slavery in our region based on extensive research into primary source analysis conducted by the Witness Stones Project, an organization he founded in 2017 that is committed to restoring the honor, humanity and contributions of enslaved individuals who helped build local communities. He will be joined by Greenwich Historical Society Manager of Youth and Family Programs Heather Lodge who will highlight the history of enslavement at the Bush-Holley House and illuminate the agency, resistance, and contributions of the enslaved who lived there.
For more information and to register: https://greenwichhistory.org/event/dennis-culliton/
Trinity on the Green to Partner with the Witness Stones Project
The Witness Stones Project, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to restore the history and honor the humanity of the enslaved individuals who helped build our communities, today announced a new affiliation with Trinity on the Green. The Episcopal church sin New Haven, Connecticut, will be using the Project’s research and landscape markers to expand their teaching of the history of slavery in colonial Connecticut.
The congregation will examine primary source documents, such property, church, and vital records; wills and probate inventories; and census data, in order to understand the reality of slavery and to restore the memory of those individuals who were enslaved. They will learn how to document and describe the dehumanization and paternalism of slavery; the economic and legal framework that supported slavery; and, the agency, resistance, and contributions of the enslaved to our local and national history. Finally, these students will be inviting their communities to witness as they install memorial stones for individuals who were enslaved in their town.
Trinity on the Green Trinity is a historic Episcopal Church located in the heart of New Haven, on the New Haven Green.
