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Join Thames River Heritage Park Foundation and the Lyman Allyn Art Museum on April 8 for a public forum on immigration justice in Eastern Connecticut. Hear from legal experts, advocates, and community leaders, and stay for a reception with access to museum galleries.
Join Thames River Heritage Park Foundation and the Lyman Allyn Art Museum on April 8 for a public forum on immigration justice in Eastern Connecticut. Hear from legal experts, advocates, and community leaders, and stay for a reception with access to museum galleries.
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Operated by Thames River Heritage Park · New London, Connecticut
On April 8, 2026, the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London, Connecticut, hosts "A Community Conversation on Immigration", a public forum presented by Thames River Heritage Park Foundation as part of the 2026 Lecture Series. Located at 625 Williams St, New London, CT 06320, USA, the museum provides gallery space for a reception at 6 p.m. followed by a lecture at 7 p.m. The program gathers a panel of community advocates and legal experts—Margaret Rodriguez, Sister Mary Jude Lazarus, Tabitha Sookdeo, and Chris Vials—with Julie Cagle moderating—to explore immigration justice and the local impact of ICE activity across Eastern Connecticut.
The event reads like a map of the region’s civic life: museum galleries opening into a waterfront city where the Thames River meets Long Island Sound. That meeting of river and sea defines the coast and the communities who live there; expect views that remind visitors the issue is both legal and local. The reception includes light hors d’oeuvres, wine, and fruit‑infused water; seating and access are wheelchair accessible. Tickets are General Admission: $20.00 and Member Admission: $15.00.
What makes this evening special for travelers is its merging of place and policy. Rather than a lecture hall removed from daily life, the discussion happens in a cultural anchor that connects art, history, and civic service. Panelists bring direct experience: an immigration attorney, leaders of faith and youth advocacy, nonprofit relief organizers, and an ESOL teacher moderating community questions. Together they will surface rights, services, and practical ways to be an ally.
Practical details matter: the program runs about two hours, seating is limited to about 60 people, and tickets are non‑refundable. Arrive early to tour museum galleries during the reception and to claim street or museum parking in the downtown New London corridor. For travelers building an itinerary around coastal Connecticut, this lecture pairs well with a morning walk along the Thames River waterfront or an afternoon visit to nearby historic sites.
If you care about conversations that shape your neighbors’ lives, this is the kind of local gathering that translates policy into human stories and civic action. It’s an evening where legal expertise meets lived experience inside a public museum, where community members can learn, ask questions, and leave with concrete steps to support immigrant neighbors. Reserve your ticket and plan to linger in New London’s waterfront streets after the lecture for the full context of the conversation. Local organizers encourage attendees to bring questions, business cards, or contact information for community referrals; volunteers and nonprofit tables may be available during the reception, offering printed resources, advocacy contact lists, and opportunities to volunteer or donate to support immigrants navigating legal, social, and economic challenges across the region today.
easy.
2 hours.
No special fitness required; the program is seated and accessible.
The meeting point is Lyman Allyn Art Museum, 625 Williams St, New London, CT 06320, USA.
Reception runs 6–7PM, with the lecture from 7–8PM; total on-site time is about two hours.
Tickets are non-refundable as noted in the event listing.
Yes. The event is wheelchair accessible; contact the museum for specific accessibility needs.
Admission includes access to the reception with light hors d’oeuvres, wine, and fruit-infused water and entry to the lecture.
No age limits are specified; seating is limited and recommended for adults or accompanied youth.
This program is presented by Thames River Heritage Park Foundation in collaboration with Lyman Allyn Art Museum as part of the 2026 Lecture Series, connecting cultural venues with regional civic issues.
Organizers encourage low-waste events and local support; bringing a reusable bottle and using public transit reduce the event’s footprint.
Thames River Heritage Park is a New London, Connecticut organization that preserves and interprets the history, culture, and natural resources of the Thames River estuary. The organization offers a curated series of guided 75-minute boat tours and talks that connect passengers with regional stories, including maritime history, Indigenous heritage, African American experiences, Gilded Age estates, Revolutionary War events, and local folklore. Tours feature collaborations with recognized local experts and institutions: UConn faculty, members of the Mohegan Tribe, Connecticut Sea Grant scientists, historians from the New London County Historical Society, and local authors. Many programs explicitly support area heritage sites and nonprofit partners through ticket revenue. Departing from locations such as Fort Trumbull State Park, the tours navigate landmarks like Pine Island, Bushy Point, Bluff Point, and riverbanks that witnessed significant historical events. The schedule includes specialized programs — for example, guided conversations about emancipation and abolition; profiles of notable women of the Thames; natural-history excursions; a haunted-harbor ghost tour; and focused narratives on Benedict Arnold’s 1781 burning of New London. Most offerings emphasize education, community engagement, and place-based interpretation tailored to adults, families, and history enthusiasts. Thames River Heritage Park emphasizes transparent partnerships, local scholarship, and stewardship of the river corridor. Tickets and public programs make regional history accessible while reinvesting in heritage organizations. Visitors can expect knowledgeable narration, close river access to shoreline sites, and an opportunity to support ongoing preservation and interpretation of New London’s maritime landscape. Seasonal schedules vary; check the foundation calendar for details and updates.
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