The Witness Stones Project – March 2023
Coming soon! The Witness Stones Project.
We are pleased to share that in March 2023 an ecumenical collaboration across three towns will engage with The Witness Stones Project and our youth to explore the history of slavery in our area. Staff from Witness Stones will lead three sessions on Wednesday evenings (6:00-8:00pm). These will be followed by three sessions led by trained church leaders on Sundays (11:30am-1:00pm). Drawing from primary sources, young people in grades 5-9 from our congregations and communities will create a narrative of the life of John C. Wally, an enslaved person from Wilton who worshipped at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. Our project will culminate with a public ceremony to memorialize him with the laying of a witness stone.
There is no cost to participate. Funding is provided by the Episcopal Church in Connecticut and the sponsoring congregations of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Wilton; Unitarian Universalist Church of Westport; Wilton Presbyterian Church; and St. Paul’s on the Green Episcopal Church, Norwalk. All sessions will be held at the WEPCO complex.
Registration will be open in January 2023. For more information, speak with Sharon Pearson [email protected] or 203-984-1228.
Save the dates! March your calendars and inform your children & grandchildren!
Wednesday, March 1– History of Slavery and the West Indies Trade in Connecticut
For registered youth, leaders, and any member of the community!
Preregistration required.
Wednesday, March 8 – Discovering Slavery Through Primary Documents
For registered youth and their trained leaders
Wednesday, March 15 – Creating a Biographical Sketch of a Locally Enslaved Person
For registered youth and their trained leaders
Sunday, March 19 – Constructing a narrative for John C. Wally
For youth & leaders (Sharon Pearson & Becky Hudspeth)
Sunday, April 16 – Composing a narrative through story, music, drama, poetry, video
For youth & leaders (Sharon Pearson & Becky Hudspeth)
Sunday, April 23 – Finalizing a narrative
For youth & leaders (Sharon Pearson & Becky Hudspeth)
May 2023 – Ceremony memorialize John C. Wall with a Witness Stone
(Date and location in Wilton to be determined)
Everyone!
The Witness Stones Project is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to restore the history and honor the humanity of the enslaved individuals who helped build our communities. We will be using the Project’s curriculum and landscape markers to expand our understanding of the history of slavery in colonial Connecticut. Learn more about Wilton and The Witness Stones Project at https://witnessstonesproject.org/tag/wiltonct/