Connecticut Democracy Center

05/26/2026

📢🎉Shout out to teacher Katie Boland, who was recently awarded the 2026 Classroom Champion Award from Street Law, Inc. Katie, a social studies teacher at Trumbull High School, collaborates with the Connecticut Democracy Center to utilize the Center for Civic Education's "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" curriculum in her classroom. Over the years, Katie has coached and guided students to 14 state championships and five Top-10 finishes at the “We The People” national competition.

This annual Street Law, Inc. award recognizes educators who demonstrate exemplary use of Street Law materials and pedagogy. Boland regularly integrates Street Law’s resources to move students beyond memorizing constitutional concepts and teaches them to use primary sources to connect with court cases, amendments, and other complex materials, to identify broader constitutional trends.

Katie is another exceptional teacher who helps us forge a lifetime pathway for young people to effectively engage in civic life and strengthen their communities!

05/20/2026

230 is the new 40! Friends joined the birthday celebration commemorating Connecticut's Old State House, which included a birthday cake baked by Natalie Townsend, owner of Nevaeh’s Cake Creations and winner of the 2025 Election Cake Bake Off!

Did you know that General George Washington and Alexander Hamilton stood on these grounds in September of 1780 to meet with French General Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau and the Marquis de Lafayette? This meeting marked the start of an alliance that led to American independence and ended the Revolutionary War.

This historic site has borne witness to some of the most pivotal narratives in our state’s history, including the landmark Amistad and Prudence Crandall trials, as well as the Constitutional Convention of 1818.

Plan your visit this summer! Stop by our Farmer's Market every Tuesday and Friday from 10am to 2pm, and enjoy our Summer Concert Series on Fridays at Noon. For details, visit www.ctoldstatehouse.org.

05/18/2026

👏Congratulations to our friend and partner Brian Grindrod, who recently received the Award for Excellence in Social Studies Education (Grades 9-12) from the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies.

Brian has been a social studies teacher at Wilbur Cross High School since 2014. He is passionate about project-based learning (PBL), where students move beyond traditional textbooks to engage directly with the mechanics of democracy through authentic, real-world challenges. He does this by collaborating with The Connecticut Democracy Center by supporting the Center for Civic Education's "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" curriculum in his classroom. This award highlights Brian's commitment to fostering student advocacy.

Teachers like Brian Grindrod help us forge a lifetime pathway for young people to develop the skills they need to engage in civic life and strengthen their communities!🎉

05/14/2026

Check out coverage of Governor Lamont's recent press conference at Connecticut's Old State House about statewide plans to celebrate American independence. We're inviting you to start the celebration on Saturday, May 16 at 12 Noon to commemorate the 230th birthday of Connecticut's Old State House. Come for a tour, kids activities, cake, a craft fair, food trucks and Bizarre Bazaar on State House Square!

🎶 Live music by the Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble.

This historic site has witnessed pivotal moments in Connecticut’s story—from the Amistad and Prudence Crandall trials to the Constitutional Convention of 1818. Come celebrate the legacy!

☔ Rain or shine
🎟 FREE admission
RSVP here: http://ct-dc.org/qr.asp?q=BDayRSVP2026

Connecticut is gearing up to celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a year-long series of events happening across all 169 towns and cities.State leaders unv...

05/13/2026

🎉Can you make it?

Join us for a fun-filled afternoon honoring American history by celebrating the 230th birthday of Connecticut's Old State House and the 250th birthday of the United States of America

🗓 Saturday, May 16, 2026
🕑 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main Street, Hartford
🍰 Enjoy birthday cake by Natalie Townsend of Nevaeh’s Cake Creations (winner of the 2025 Election Cake Bake Off!)

🎶 Live music by the Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble
🛍 Spring Market featuring Connecticut-made vendors & crafters
👨‍👩‍👧 Family-friendly activities and tours

🎪 Don’t miss the Bizarre Bazaar with crafts, food trucks, and live music on State House Square, courtesy of Hartford.com!

☔ Rain or shine
🎟 FREE admission
👉 RSVP here: http://ct-dc.org/qr.asp?q=BDayRSVP2026

05/11/2026

🎉 Let There Be Cake! Join us for a fun-filled afternoon honoring American history by celebrating the 230th birthday of Connecticut's Old State House and the 250th birthday of the United States of America.

🗓 Saturday, May 16, 2026
🕑 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main Street, Hartford

🍰 Enjoy birthday cake by Natalie Townsend of Nevaeh’s Cake Creations (winner of the 2025 Election Cake Bake Off!)
🎶 Live music by the Val Ramos Flamenco Ensemble
🛍 Spring Market featuring Connecticut-made vendors & crafters
👨‍👩‍👧 Family-friendly activities and tours

🎪 Don’t miss the Bizarre Bazaar with crafts, food trucks, and live music on State House Square, courtesy of Hartford.com!
This historic site has witnessed pivotal moments in Connecticut’s story—from the Amistad and Prudence Crandall trials to the Constitutional Convention of 1818. Come celebrate the legacy!

☔ Rain or shine
🎟 FREE admission
👉 RSVP here: http://ct-dc.org/qr.asp?q=BDayRSVP2026 See less

05/07/2026

⏰ Final hours of The Great Give! We’re so close to our goal—but we need your help! Click here to donate: https://www.thegreatgive.org/organizations/connecticut-democracy-center

The Connecticut Democracy Center runs civic education programs including Connecticut's Kid Governor, Connecticut History Day, and programming at Connecticut's Old State House.

Your support today ensures more students across Connecticut — especially those in school districts with fewer resources — can access our programs that help students build confidence, civic knowledge, and leadership skills.

Don’t miss your chance to make an impact before 8 PM tonight!

05/06/2026

The Connecticut Democracy Center is proud to participate in The Great Give, a 36-hour online giving event supporting local nonprofits! Click here to donate: https://www.thegreatgive.org/organizations/connecticut-democracy-center

May 6 (8 AM) – May 7 (8 PM)

For 27 years, we’ve helped people across Connecticut become informed, engaged citizens through hands-on civic education programs including Connecticut's Kid Governor, Connecticut History Day and programming at Connecticut's Old State House.

Last year alone, we:

✔️ Registered 10,300+ fifth graders to vote in the Kid Governor election
✔️ Engaged 4,200+ students in Connecticut History Day
✔️ Partnered with 411 teachers statewide
But too many young people still lack access to these opportunities.

🎯 Our goal: Raise $20,000 to expand these programs in under-resourced communities.

Your gift helps empower the next generation of voters, leaders, and changemakers.

Give during The Great Give to help us unlock matching funds and prizes!
👉 Learn more & donate: https://www.thegreatgive.org/organizations/connecticut-democracy-center

04/30/2026

Connecticut's Kid Governor Tessa Hallinan of North Haven and her cabinet members spent the day at Capitol to meet with State leaders and members of the legislature.

Connecticut's Kid Governor and her cabinet stopped by Gov. Ned Lamont's office at the Capitol on Wednesday.

04/30/2026

Can you join us tomorrow? Don't miss this powerful evening celebrating the life and legacy of James Mars with our friends from Discovering Amistad.

📅 Friday, May 1
⏰ 5:30–7:30 PM
📍 Connecticut’s Old State House, 800 Main Street, Hartford

Experience:
✨ Readings from James Mars’ 1869 memoir
✨ A keynote by his descendant, Shelley D. Best
✨ Performances by Nia Arts, Andre Keitt, and The Walkers

Born in 1790, Mars lived the contradiction of American liberty—enslaved in a free state—and went on to become a powerful voice for justice.

🎟️ Register here: https://da-james-mars.eventbrite.com

04/27/2026

Join us on Wednesday 4/29 at Connecticut's Old State House for the book launch of genealogist and historian John Mills from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.

His debut work, "The Narrative of Primus: A Lineage Woven into America’s History" reconstructs the life of a ten-year-old boy taken from his mother's bedside in West Africa to his enslavement in colonial Connecticut.

Through meticulous genealogical research Mr. Mills uncovers the remarkable, nearly forgotten story of how Primus survived the Middle Passage, endured decades of enslavement, raised a family, and laid, a foundation that rippled across generations of descendants who, bravely fought in both the Revolutionary and Civil War.

This event will include a brief talk, a reading, and an opportunity to meet the author and purchase signed copies of the book. Admission is free. To RSVP, click here: https://www.simpletix.com/e/the-narrative-of-primus-book-launch-event-tickets-267589