Stephen Riege’s Essay Inspired by The 1619 Project
Fear of the Unknown? Choose Learning I am a retired middle and high school teacher. Truth be told I retired ten years ago. I have been busy these years but do miss the classroom and the learning environment where young people wrestle with ideas....
Robert Cooper’s Reflections on The 1619 Project
March 1, 2023 Dear America, I don't have my gaze on being the next Black martyr - dead. turn your guns the other way. keep your promise, never again a black martyr. And, I have something to say and, I'm saying it: I don't go anywhere...
“Moishe Teichman to Arthur Murray” Virtual Talk with Duby McDowell
https://youtu.be/w1xe8MNjjE4 Enjoy these images that accompany Duby's talk.
Historic Stained Glass Restoration
Charter Oak Cultural Center Kicks Off Major Renovation Project With Restoration and Installation of Historic Stained Glass Windows Charter Oak Cultural Center, housed in one of Connecticut’s architectural jewels--the first synagogue built in...
WAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
A Reflection by Rabbi Donna Berman There is a famous Buddhist teaching about how, soon after his enlightenment, the Buddha passed a man on the road who was struck by the Buddha’s peaceful and radiant presence. The man stopped and asked, “My friend,...
BRING BRITTNEY BACK!
In February 2022, nine-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Brittney Griner was detained at an airport in Russia for possession of vape cartridges with trace amounts of medicinal cannabis. Most people arrested for such an offense...
The Ada Maria Isasi Diaz Justice Institute Launch Event
https://youtu.be/tE5goXToPT4 You can now view the launch event of The Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz Justice Institute held on October 6, 2022. EN LA LUCHA: What is “The Struggle” in 2022 for Latinas/for Us All? Featuring a distinguished panel: Dr. Melissa...
April 2022 Student of the Month: Andrea Cotto-Juarbe
Andrea Cotto-Juarbe is a 13-year-old student at Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy in Hartford, Connecticut. She has been a Youth Arts student for a year and attends the program alongside her sister one night a week. Andrea has a love for...
Youth Arts Institute April Teacher of the Month
Charter Oak's Youth Arts Institute APRIL TEACHER OF THE MONTH is HENRY OLIVO a.k.a. Savage Henry Henry Olivo, also known as Savage Henry in the dance world, has been Breakdancing and competing for 15 years as well as teaching dance for 8 years....
March 2022 Student of the Month: Natalia Reyes
MEET NATALIA, OUR MARCH 2022 Y.A.I. STUDENT OF THE MONTH! Natalia Reyes is a 12-year-old student at Renzulli Academy in Hartford, Connecticut. She has been a Youth Arts student for four years and continues to attend the program two nights a...
Help Us Create a Moving Memorial to BIPOC Victims of Police Violence
George Gould spent 26 years in a Connecticut prison after being wrongly convicted of a murder he didn't commit. Working with Community Partners in Action's Prison Arts Program, Charter Oak Cultural Center has commissioned Gould to create a moving...
Charter Oak Reaches Critical Capital Campaign Milestone
Charter Oak Reaches Critical Capital Campaign Milestone In an email to friends and supporters this morning, Charter Oak Cultural Center Executive Director Donna Berman announced that the arts, cultural and social justice non-profit reached the 90...
LOVING HAITI: Helping Our Brothers and Sisters in Need – A Benefit
Charter Oak Cultural Center, Free Center and Levo International invite you to LOVING HAITI: A BENEFIT FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN NEED Wednesday, August 25 at 6:30pm EDT Join us Wednesday evening for a conversation with visual artists...
Charter Oak’s Got Talent
https://youtu.be/_ykaU6-dr6w Two of our Youth Arts Institute students - Saagariha and Sarvariha Sunoj - were winners of the Be a Friend Lip Sync Contest! Their mother sent Charter Oak a nice note: My daughters got an opportunity to participate in a...
Spring 2021 Youth Arts Institute Student Showcase
Watch our Youth Arts Institute Spring 2021 students share what they’ve learned by clicking on the video below! https://youtu.be/qOjt_BVRpj4
Did You Miss Our Virtual Open House and Big Announcement?
Watch the Virtual Open House featuring Mayor Luke Bronin and CT State Representative Julio Concepcion by clicking below! https://youtu.be/GoeGQ0p9KGk
Hartford Courant Story on our Expansion & Restoration Plans
EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about our plans to construct an urban education campus in The Hartford Courant by CLICKING HERE! Photo by Brad Corrigan/copyright: Hartford Courant.
Charter Oak Cultural Center Announces Acquisition of Historic Property, Expansion of Youth Arts Campus, and Capital Campaign
Arts, Culture and Social Justice Non-Profit to Expand and Upgrade Downtown Campus, Serve Double the Number of Hartford Youth Charter Oak Cultural Center unveiled today the acquisition of an adjacent historic property, major renovation and...
Watch: THE EMPATHY DIARIES – Dr. Sherry Turkle in conversation with Rabbi Donna Berman
Did you miss our recent (and wonderful!) conversation on MIT Professor and Clinical Psychologist Dr. Sherry Turkle's THE EMPATHY DIARIES: A MEMOIR? Enjoy this lovely and intimate chat with her cousin, our very own Rabbi Donna Berman, Executive...
Here Comes the Poetry Bus!
Charter Oak Cultural Center is proud to present The Poetry Bus, a CT Transit vehicle featuring excerpts from poems written by our Youth Arts Initiative students. Working with YAI teaching artist and Poetry on the Streets founder Melanie Faranello,...
Lip Sync Battle!
Calling all youth! Be A Friend Project is hosting a lip synch battle competition to raise awareness around social bullying. Broadway judges and awesome prizes await your entry! https://www.beafriendproject.org/battle
Trevor Noah: Where are the good apples?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhhBocZnkoQ
Announcing THE EMPATHY DIARIES – A 2-Part Conversation with Sherry Turkle
Hartford Stage, The Mark Twain House & Museum and Charter Oak Cultural Center presentTHE EMPATHY DIARIES: A Two-Part conversation with SHERRY TURKLE Three of Hartford’s premier cultural institutions join together for an intimate two-part...
Charter Oak Announces the Sustainable CT Challenge to expand our Eats of the Street program!
Charter Oak Cultural Center is working to expand its Eats of the Street program with the addition of new container gardens on the streets of Hartford, arbors added to existing pots to increase food output, and the hiring of additional Hartford...
Charter Oak proudly presents the Fall 2020 Youth Arts Institute Showcase
https://youtu.be/hDnmuKC5qcI