Conference
We are currently accepting proposals for breakout sessions! Proposals are due January 15, 2025.
This full-day conference will feature opening and closing keynote speakers, as well as breakout sessions aligned with the four themes of the Commission. The complete conference program and registration will be available in early February.
Conference Goals
Conference activities will focus on how a variety of groups can participate and engage the public in this commemoration.
Attendees will engage with a variety of ideas and leave with actionable items that can be implemented in their own communities.
Who Should Attend?
Anyone who is engaged in planning events or programming tied to the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
This is not limited to the events of the Revolutionary Era, and can include any programming that seeks to explore the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and/or the Commission’s themes.
The conference will include sessions for:
- Local governments/250th committees
- Historians
- Historical societies
- Civics groups
- Museums
- Arts & cultural organizations
- Educators
Is your organization interested in becoming a sponsor?
Conference Theme
This year’s conference theme is inspired by the Commission’s desire to foster inclusivity and a sense of belonging, as noted in its Vision Statement. The Commission aspires for all Connecticut residents to participate in this commemoration, both to reflect on the country’s history and to contribute to the work of building a more perfect union. Today, as in 1776, Connecticut’s residents are diverse in every way. We speak many languages, practice many religions, hold distinct political ideas, and look back on distinct family histories. A central question is how to commemorate the 250th in ways that respect our differences, while also forging connections across communities and helping us face the future as one Connecticut.
Conference Tracks
Power of Place: Connecticut is comprised of 169 towns and cities, five tribes, and countless communities with unique identities and contributions. This conference track seeks to bring together the many people that weave the fabric of our communities and find ways to engage all of Connecticut’s residents in this commemoration.
Tell Inclusive Stories: This commemoration is an opportunity to continue the nation’s reckoning with the totality of its past. By encouraging the amplification of previously untold, marginalized, and devalued stories, we aim to expand the nation’s narrative. This conference track seeks to help identify such stories, locate sources to tell them, and share them with the public.
For the Common Good: As we reckon with what the nation’s 250th means in Connecticut, we will encourage civic engagement in an effort to continue building our communities, state, and nation in alignment with the democratic ideals of the founding documents. This conference track seeks to promote engagement with the democratic process, public service, and community building tied with the 250th.
Doing History: In part, the commission’s work will focus on Connecticut’s role in the Revolutionary period — its people, sites, and historic context. This conference track will help tie together the ideals of the American Revolution, with an emphasis on Connecticut stories.