Salons at Stowe: Supporting the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting

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.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Supporting the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting

"Sorrow reveals forces in ourselves we never dreamed of..."

Harriet Beecher Stowe, in The Minister's Wooing (1859)

Our thoughts and condolences go out to our neighbors in Newtown, Connecticut as they cope with the sadness following last Friday's tragedy. In keeping with the Stowe Center's mission, below is an "Inspiration to Action" list of things you can do to support the victims of Sandy Hook.

Donate

United Way of Western Connecticut's Sandy Hook Elementary School Fund via Newtown Savings Bank: https://newtown/uwwesternct.org

Sandy Hook Elementary School Fund via CrowdTilt: https://www.crowdtilt.com/campaigns/sandy-hook-elementary-school-fund

Sandy Hook Elementary School Victims Relief Fund via CrowdRise: http://www.crowdrise.com/SHSRelief

"Secure Schools" effort to get security systems in place at all schools via GiveForward: http://www.giveforward.com/secureschools

Newtown Youth & Family Services: http://www.newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org/donate.php

Newtown Parent Connection: http://www.newtownparentconnection.org/

American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/news/article/Red-Cross-Provides-Support-after-Connecticut-School-Shooting

Help decorate the Monroe school which will house Sandy Hook Elementary School students by making paper snowflakes. Make and send snowflakes to Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, CT 06514, by January 12, 2013. Financial donations can also be sent to Connecticut PTSA at this address.

Express

Observe the Connecticut state-wide moment of silence on Friday, December 21 at 9:30AM

The U.S. Postal Service has established a unique Post Office Box to allow the public to send condolences to those affected by the tragedy in Newtown, CT last week. Expressions of comfort should be addressed to: Messages of Condolence for Newtown, PO Box 3700, Newtown CT 06470

Show that there is more love than hate int he world via Wall of Love: http://walloflove.org

Visit the Facebook group R.I.P. Sandy Hook Elementary School Children

Wear green and white - Sandy Hook Elementary School colors - in honor of victims, via R.I.P. Sandy Hook Elementary School Children

Offer voluntary assistance by calling the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection at 211 or (800) 203-1234

Speak Out, Take Action

Contact your Congressman to voice your opinions on forthcoming laws and discussions: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

Sign the White House's petition to address the shortcomings of our current mental health system: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/address-shortcomings-current-mental-health-system-prevent-risk-people-becoming-violent-offenders/3sRkLcj6