Category: Events

Authors at the New Haven Library in September

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by New Haven Free Public Library

Jill Snyder, author and historian, will be at the Ives Library on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2-4 p.m. Her presentation will be Black Women in the American Revolution of 1776. Since retiring from a corporate career, Jill has devoted her time to researching Black history. When it was suggested that she research the experiences of Black women in the Revolutionary War era, she readily said, “Yes!” Through scouring journal articles and books, Jill has discovered stories of daring Black women who, despite the chaos of war, were able to carve out a unique place in history. For more info about Jill: https://www.jillmariesnyder.com.

On Thursday, Sept. 24, 6–7:30 p.m., author Hélène Landemore will talk on the intriguing topic What Would Politics Look Like … Without Politicians? Hélène is an acclaimed political theorist and author of the groundbreaking new book Politics Without Politicians: The Case for Citizen Rule. Hélène will discuss her book, the Connecticut Citizens’ Assemblies taking place this summer (as well as the international movement), and will welcome questions and conversation around the idea that, although politics may have failed us, we can create other, better ways of practicing democracy.

Both events are at the Ives Main Library, 133 Elm St., New Haven. The library is wheelchair accessible.

International Day of Peace Event Sept. 19

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by Manuel Camacho, Chairman of the City of New Haven Peace Commission

The City of New Haven Peace Commission invites you to save the date for this year’s Peace Tree planting in observance of the International Day of Peace. This year, the Commission will be planting the tree at Alderwoman Honda Smith’s community center, The Shack. The community center is located at 333 Valley St., New Haven, CT 06515. The date is Sept. 19 and the time is TBA.

Come join us and others as we gather to observe the International Day of Peace and to thank Alder Honda Smith for all that she has done for her community and youth, and for being a supporter of the Peace Commission.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to reach out to the Chairman of the Peace Commission, Manuel Camacho. Email manueldcamacho52@gmail.com.

Fall Conference to Thwart Tech Bros’ Data Centers

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by Stanley Heller, Administrator, Promoting Enduring Peace

You know about the huge data centers springing up everywhere to power the AI computers. They’re noisy 24/7, taking up huge amounts of water and often raising electricity rates for surrounding communities. In the short term, they’ll need lots of methane- (natural gas) burning power plants to provide electricity. But the tech bros plan to replace that with nuclear power plants in the mid-term. Right now CT has only one nuclear power plant, Millstone, but the CT legislature has repealed its flat ban on more nuclear power plants and has set aside $5 million to find communities that will house the nuke plants.

Nuclear power has at least one fatal flaw: its radioactive waste. The waste is dangerous for thousands of years and is kept at the plants “temporarily” in steel/concrete casks. The problem is there’s no safe way to dispose of the dangerous waste so “temporary” likely means “forever.” So if a community goes along with the drive for more nuclear power it can expect to keep and guard that waste permanently.

We’re told there’s this great need for more electricity for the AI, but there’s no necessity for more AI. Some of AI holds promise but a lot of it is openly designed to eliminate jobs. What’s really needed is a program to deal with the global warming emergency that’s causing climate collapse. Solar, wind, batteries and mandatory conservation measures can do the job.

The conference will likely take place in November with some high-powered speakers and community activists who have taken on data centers in their areas. Those interested in planning it can contact Promoting Enduring Peace at office@pepeace.org or (203) 444-3578.

[“Tech bro” is a slang term for stereotypically masculine individuals working in the technology industry, particularly programming.]

¡Fiesta Latina! 2026, Sept. 26-27

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by Yale Peabody Museum

The Yale Peabody Museum and Junta for Progressive Action will host ¡Fiesta Latina!, a celebration of Hispanic cultures that features music and other community events.

The free all-ages celebration will take place Sept. 26 and 27. Junta for Progressive Action will host programming at 175 Grand Ave., New Haven from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.

From noon to 5 p.m, on Sunday, Sept. 27, there will be music and dance performances held at the Peabody Museum, located at 170 Whitney Ave. Spanish-speaking scientists will be at the museum, and there will be Spanish-language family workshops, games, and storytelling. Details are at https://peabody.yale.edu/events/fiesta-latina-2026.

Hundreds of Volunteers to Make Up 11th annual ‘I Heart New Haven Day’ June 6

Bridges of Hope is a group of diverse New Haven area churches from across denominational, social, and cultural lines that have agreed to come together as one to serve the New Haven community as members of the community.

This year we are organizing the 11th annual “I Heart New Haven Day” which will take place on June 6, 2026. The goal is to serve the city through over 27 different projects with over 250 volunteers participating from Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church, Church on the Rock, Vox Church, Trinity Baptist Church, Christ Presbyterian Church, All Nations Church, St John’s Episcopal Church, CT Korean
Presbyterian Church, Elm City Vineyard, International Church at Yale and several other churches.

This is the 11th anniversary of coming together to build partnerships, serve immediate needs and give back to the city our volunteers know and love. People know these volunteers as the “blue shirts,” but they are also residents, public servants and leaders in the city. The day will begin at 9am on the New Haven Green with words of encouragement from the pastors of the churches and then the volunteers will be sent off to their projects to serve from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Here is a glimpse of sites we will be serving across the city. A full and comprehensive list can be supplied upon request

Examples of sites this year include:
● Organizing donations at Columbus House
● Landscaping and painting for elderly community members
● Landscaping and painting at local public schools (Hill Central, Fair Haven, Clinton Avenue and more)
● Painting at Loaves & Fishes, Christian Community Action, Amistad Catholic Worker
● Creating Gratitude cards with kids in the neighborhood…and more!

America 250: Democracy at a Crossroads

International Festival of Arts and Ideas event

Come to the New Haven Museum, 114 Whitney Ave., on Sunday, June 7!

From 1-2 p.m., hear an eye-opening conversation about democracy, power, and resilience. Democracy Under Pressure: What History Tells Us. What does history actually tell us about the moment we’re living in? Join three of America’s most compelling historians: Elizabeth Hinton, Joanne Freeman, and Beverly Gage — for an eye-opening conversation about democracy, power, and resilience. Reserve a seat at https://www.artidea.org/event/2026/5859.

Then from 2:15-3:15 p.m., you can take part in the workshop Your Voice Belongs Here: How Everyday People Make Change, led by Connecticut lobbyist and former legislative staffer Aurora Melita. In a moment when many people feel concerned about the future of democracy, this interactive Civic 101 workshop offers a practical and empowering starting point. This session breaks down how the legislative process works at the state level — and where everyday voices meaningfully influence public decision-making.  Drawing from her work inside the Connecticut legislature and on state elections, Aurora translates complex systems into clear, conversational explanations that help people feel confident navigating and participating in civic life. Reserve a seat at https://www.artidea.org/event/2026/5860.

From 3:30-4:30 p.m., consider UnCivil Uprising: Can a General Strike Save Democracy. Jack Hitt and Chenjerai Kumanyika, the hosts of the Peabody Award-winning podcast Uncivil ask the question nobody in power wants you to consider:  Can a general strike save  American  democracy?  The most powerful weapon against fascism might be the one we’ve nearly forgotten. To reserve a seat, go to https://www.artidea.org/event/2026/5861. See more Arts and Ideas events at https://www.artidea.org/calendar.

The New Haven Museum is wheelchair-accessible.

Artists for World Peace: SEEING IS BELIEVING afternoon event on May 16, Middletown

JOIN Artists for World Peace (AFWP) as they Celebrate taking care of their 9,394th patient on Tribal Land since bringing our free eye clinics home from Tanzania.

Artists for World Peace lead optometrist, Dr. Soroush Azadi, will speak, along with lead optician Ray Dennis, who also helped open the first clinic in the AFWP Free Health Center in Tanzania 14 years ago.

Dr. Aarlan Aceto will discuss working with children on Rosebud Reservation and will discuss the genetic disorder we discovered is prominent in the eyes of tribal members on the Rosebud Reservation.

Brenda Geer will share the opening of two AFWP free clinics in our home state of Connecticut for the Eastern Pequot and Western Pequot Nations, as well as the Narragansett Tribal Nation in Rhode Island. Brenda has been a long-standing Council Member of the Eastern Pequot Nation, and is a historian of her people’s history.

The Padre Pio Foundation of America will co-host.

In Peace,
Wendy and our AFWP Family

May Day / International Workers’ Day, Friday May 1

Unidad Latina en Acción and the May Day Strong coalition are rallying for May Day on the New Haven Green on Friday, May 1 from noon till 7 p.m., with a march at 5 p.m.

DAY WITHOUT IMMIGRANTS – GENERAL STRIKE! Join us on Friday, May 1,  May Day – International Workers’ Day – on the New Haven Green, for a powerful day of action and community in New Haven!

CALL TO ACTION:

No Work! No School!
No Shopping!

Come be part of a day filled with music, speakers, festival activities, community tabling.

Stand in solidarity, raise your voice, and support immigrant communities!

Friday, May 1, noon till 7 p.m. March at 5 p.m.

Contact: call 475-323-9413, or email: newhavenmayday@gmail.com. Also see maydaystrong.org.

May Day Is Our Day! 

May Day Is Our Day!  Celebrate and Unite Around Demands to Meet Our Needs! Tax the Rich – No Ice – No Wars – Hands Off Our Vote

CT People’s World

Friday May 1 in Hartford at the Capitol 10 a.m. to noon.

Friday May 1 in New Haven on the Green. Noon tabling, 4 p.m. speeches,

5 p.m. March!

Then come together on Saturday, May 2 at 6 p.m. hosted by CT People’s World at 267 Chapel St. (Teachers Union Hall) for a May Day Around the World rally.

WORKING CLASS UNITY  From the Streets to the Polls

UNIDAD DE LA CLASE TRABAJADORA 

De las Calles a las Urnas

Saturday May 2  CT People’s World May Day rally: WORKING CLASS UNITY – From the Streets to the Polls 6 p.m. at 267 Chapel St., New Haven. Refreshments.     May Day Around the World slide show. Greetings. Songs. Contributions accepted. Sign up here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/ctpw2026mayday/

US-Mexico Border and Race Symposium

by Michelle Zacks, Associate Director, Gilder Lehrman Center

Scheduled for Saturday, May 2, this is a one-day symposium at Luce Hall, 34 Hillhouse Ave., free and open to the public, called The US-Mexico Border and Race, Past and Present. It is organized by the Gilder Lehrman Center in close collaboration with GLC Associate Research Scholar, Dr. Melissa Torres (Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley). The symposium features a keynote address by Prof. Sonia Hernandez (Texas A&M), followed by two panel discussions and a break-out Q&A session for K-12 teachers. Continental breakfast and lunch will be served, as well as afternoon snacks and beverages.

The program was conceived as a follow-up to the Yale and Slavery project, and the various projects at Yale focusing on the university’s and New Haven’s key roles in the eugenics movement of the early twentieth century. This program will follow that thread by focusing on the xenophobia and white supremacist ideas that have long been embedded in U.S. immigration policy broadly and in the construction and policing of the US-Mexico border in particular. Speakers will connect the histories of violent, racialized border control policies with the contemporary violence of ICE raids, warrantless detention, family separation, concentration camps, deportation, and foreign imprisonment. They also will address how communities within the borderlands continue to develop creative modes to survive and resist these exclusionary forces.

We hope you can join us for this important conversation. For more information, for the full schedule for the day, and to register, please go to bit.ly/4tZBkcu.

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