Welcome to the conversation!


Welcome to the conversation!

Harriet Beecher Stowe's (1811-1896) best-selling anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852), made her the most famous American woman of the 19th century and galvanized the abolition movement before the Civil War.

The Stowe Center is a 21st-century museum and program center using Stowe's story to inspire social justice and positive change.

The Salons at Stowe programs are a forum to connect the challenging issues (race, gender and class) that impelled Stowe to write and act with the contemporary face of those same issues. The Salon format is based on a robust level of audience participation, with the explicit goal of promoting civic engagement. Recent topics included: Teaching Acceptance; Is Prison the New Slavery; Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North; Creativity and Change; Race, Gender and Politics Today; How to be an Advocate

This blog will expand the reach of these community conversations to the online audience. Add your posts and comments to keep the conversation going! Commit to action by clicking HERE to stay up to date on Salon and social justice news.

For updates on Stowe Center programs and events, sign up for our enews at http://harrietbeecherstowe.org/email.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

#SalonatStowe: Gender Bias in Juvenile Justice

Join the Stowe Center tonight, for our Salon at Stowe program: Gender Bias in Juvenile Justice. Featured guests Mallory LaPierre of the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance and Kimball Robbins of the Court Support Services Division.

Meet the featured guests below!

Mallory LaPierre
Policy Associate at Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance

Mallory LaPierre joined the Alliance in November of 2012. Before joining the Alliance, Mallory managed a successful reelection campaign for a Connecticut state representative. As a campaign coordinator, Mallory was responsible for organizing and running the day-to-day operation. Prior to her campaign work, she was an intern with the Appropriations Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly. Mallory graduated with high honors from Salve Regina University and holds her BA in Administration of Justice.

Kimball Robbins 
Regional Manager of Juvenile Probation and Gender Responsive Probation Supervisor at Court Support Services Division

Kimball Robbins is the Regional Manager of Juvenile Probation and the Gender Responsive Probation Supervisor at Court Support Services Division. She works within the Juvenile Probation Services Division within the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch. 

Girls are the fastest growing demographic in the juvenile justice system. What are the unique challenges that girls face in the juvenile justice system? How does the intersection of gender and race impact young women of color in the juvenile justice system? Can those outside the justice system make a difference? 

What questions will you ask the featured guests? Come to the Salon to learn more!  

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

#StoweSyllabus: What We're Reading this Week

Articles and current events that got us thinking over the week!

What it’s really like to work in Hollywood. (If you’re not a straight white man)
Melena Ryzik, February 24, 2016, The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/02/24/arts/hollywood-diversity-inclusion.html

The matter of black lives
Jelani Cobb, March 7, 2016, The New Yorker
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/03/14/where-is-black-lives-matter-headed

A big win for same-sex adoption at the Supreme Court
Dahlia Lithwick, March 7, 2016, Slate
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/03/07/supreme_court_issues_order_upholding_a_same_sex_adoption.html

Drop tax on feminine products, diapers
Susan Campbell, March 5, 2016, The Hartford Courant
http://www.courant.com/opinion/op-ed/hc-op-campbell-end-ct-tax-feminine-prodcuts-0306-20160304-column.html?platform=hootsuite  

What are your reactions to the pieces? What articles, news pieces, or video-clips have you come across over the week? Let us know, below!

Happy #InternationalWomensDay! What will you do?

March 8th marks International Women's Day, a celebration of the contributions of women worldwide and a call to action to achieve gender equity. Originally conceived as International Working Women's Day to highlight the struggles of working class women, International Women's Day serves to draw attention to the issues of women on a broad, global scale.

This year, International Women's Day organizers are asking supporters to "Take the Pledge for Parity" and commit to actions to achieve gender equity. Action items include pledging to check unconscious bias, to create inclusive communities, and to empower young girls. Check out the pledge here and commit to action today!    



What did you do to recognize International Women's Day? What women of history inspire you? How will you work to achieve gender equity today? Let us know in the comments below! 

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Celebrate #ReadAcrossAmerica Day!

March 2nd marks Read Across America Day, a celebration of the power of books and language. The day coincides with the birthday of the famous children's author, Dr. Seuss.


We at the Stowe Center will be taking part in Read Across America Day, by highlighting the impact of one of our favorite books Uncle Tom's Cabin. Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1852, Uncle Tom's Cabin galvanized readers across the United States to get involved in the fight against slavery. Today, the book provides a platform for critical conversations on slavery, representation, and the continued fight for racial justice. Beyond Uncle Tom's Cabin, there are many other books that inspire readers to take action on issues of justice. Books like 12 Years a Slave, The Fire Next Time, Beloved, and even The Lorax all contribute to important conversations and action around social justice.

What is your favorite book? What book has made you change your mind on an issue or inspired you to act? Take the pledge to Read Across America and let us know how you will be celebrating in the comments!