Talks on the Road

Looking for a way to engage your group with Connecticut Women's History? Consider hosting one of our Talks on the Road!

No matter the size of your event, its intended audience, or its location in Connecticut, our staff and volunteer speakers can provide educational, inspirational, and interactive presentations that engage your participants and encourage them to explore women’s history.

Presentations typically run 30-45 minutes, plus time for Q & A. Presenters will briefly describe the Hall and our mission and programs, but the bulk of the program will focus on bringing our Inductees' stories to life! We currently offer ten standard talks. If your group has specific needs/interest, please contact us to discuss customized options!  (fees may apply)

Request a Talk

Email programs@cwhf.org, call 203.392.9013, or complete the form below.

Talk Descriptions

This talk chronicles the history of Women in Sports from the early Olympics to modern day. Since the passing of Title IX in 1972, many individuals have fought to give women and girls equal access to athletics teams and facilities. Our trailblazing inductees have played numerous sports, coached diverse teams, and mentored countless athletes. This talk highlights nine remarkable women including our 2022 inductees Suzy Whaley, Cora Lee Bentley Radcliffe, Jennifer Rizzotti, and Lhakpa Sherpa.

Women in Sports

All people regardless of their gender, race, and sexual orientation, have a right to equal access to education, healthcare, and voting rights. In the last 400 years, CWHF Inductees have fought discrimination and persevered to reduce the disparity felt between men and women, transgender people, immigrants, and more. Some of the inductees highlighted in Women Leaders for Social Justice are: Maria Miller Stewart, Constance Baker Motley, Ann Stanback, Jerimarie Liesegang, Kica Matos and Teresa Younger!

Women Leaders for Social Justice

The Connecticut Women in the Sciences program explores women in the field of science who were tenacious, courageous pioneers. These women were denied access to the education and professions they aspired to because of their gender and at times, their race. Featuring Emeline Roberts Jones, Emily Dunning Barringer, Theodate Pope Riddle, Dorrit Hoffleit, Alice Hamilton, Joyce Yerwood, Hilda Crosby Standish, Barbara McClintock, Jewel Plummer Cobb, Carolyn Mazure, Joan Steitz and Jennifer Lawton

WOMEN IN The SCIENCEs

 

Women inducted in the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame persevered to preserve their culture and ensure that minority groups receive an equal place in society. Our newest Talk on the Road program explores Connecticut women such as Fidelia Hoscott Fielding, who preserved the Mohegan-Pequot language for future generations, Ann Petry, who gave a voice to black writers, and Maria Sanchez, a strong advocate for the Puerto Rican community and the initiator of bilingual education in Hartford.

Connecticut's Black, Indigenous and Women of Color

In 2020 we mark the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in the United States. The fight for women's right to vote was long and took many twists and turns. Join us to learn about the Connecticut women who fought on a local, state, and national level and on whose shoulders we stand. Be inspired by their stories to use your vote to give a voice to women.

VOTES FOR WOMEN

Join us for an interactive multi-media program by the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame and learn about some of our state’s most remarkable women! Be inspired as you learn about well-known figures like Ella Grasso, Katharine Hepburn and Marian Anderson and lesser-known heroines like Maria Sanchez, Barbara McClintock and Hannah Watson. This presentation will introduce you to the Hall, its mission and programs, and give you a panoramic view of some of its 125 Inductees from across all fields of endeavor, from politics and sports to the arts and sciences.

Celebrating 300 Years of Connecticut’s Remarkable Women

 

Has anyone ever told you that you couldn’t succeed? How have you proved them wrong? Join us for an interactive multi-media program by the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame and be inspired by the stories of some of Connecticut’s remarkable women who overcame obstacles and objections to achieve great things! Learn from the determination of women in science and medicine like Barbara McClintock, Helen Smits and Emeline Roberts Jones, women pioneers in law like Constance Baker Motley and Patricia Wald, female sports icons like Joan Joyce and Donna Lopiano, and others from across all fields of endeavor.

Pushing Past “No”: Overcoming Obstacles on the Path to Success

Connecticut’s history is filled with remarkable women who achieved extraordinary things! Join us for an interactive multi-media program by the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame and learn about some of the state’s powerful female voices for change in our democracy. Discover the power your own voice can have by exploring the inspirational stories of suffrage advocates like Alice Paul and Isabella Beecher Hooker, prominent female firsts like Ella Grasso and Denise Nappier and social activists like Helen Keller, Anne Stanback and Estelle Griswold.

Powerful Voices: Connecticut Women Changing Democracy

African Americans have played a major role in the development of our state, our nation and our world. African American women from Connecticut are no exception! Join us for an interactive multi-media program by the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame and learn about some of Connecticut's most remarkable African American heroines. From women's rights advocate Maria Miller Stewart and legendary contralto and Civil Rights catalyst Marian Anderson to pioneering journalist Adrianne Baughns-Wallace and former State Treasurer Denise L. Nappier, you'll be inspired as we explore the important contributions of African American women in Connecticut.

Connecticut's African American Heroines

 

Jewish women in Connecticut have made a lasting impact on our society. They have made significant contributions to the arts, business, and religious life. Their accomplishments are as varied as their struggles, and their stories inspire us to create new history. Hear the stories of a poor but determined immigrant named Sonya Kalich, and that of the formidable Mrs. Auerbach, who grew a department store into a model of modern business practices. Learn about the many Connecticut Jewish women who have challenged the status quo and blazed new trails.

Connecticut’s Remarkable Jewish Women

 

Connecticut has been home to some incredible writers and journalists, and this program explores the contributions of some of the remarkable women who have shaped our understanding of the world through their writing and reporting.

Featuring: Helen Keller, Lydia Huntley Sigourney, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Clare Boothe Luce, Ann Petry, Margaret Bourke-White, Adrianne Baughns-Wallace, Jane Hamilton Merritt, Anne Garrels, Jane Pauley, and Annie Leibovitz

Writers and Journalists

Once barred from the stage because it was seen to be “dangerous” and “immoral,” women have struggled to find their place in the spotlight for centuries. Chronic underrepresentation, sexual harassment, and the loss of roles after a certain age is still an issue for women in the face of the performing arts today. CWHF Inductee Sophie Tucker faced discrimination due to her weight and Katherine Hepburn struggled to take roles that defied stereotypes. Marian Anderson became a reluctant icon of the Civil Rights movement simply for doing what she was trained and loved to sing before an audience. Help us put the spotlight on the Connecticut women who found a voice for change in the performing arts.

Women Center Stage

Women have been involved in military conflicts from the beginning of time; some as warriors, some as spies, and others who made the munitions or simply called for peace. Connecticut women are among the finest and bravest who have stood for their cause – sometimes defying gender norms, and often without the recognition they deserved. CWHF Inductees prove that women are just as tough as men and will inspire others to shatter gender barriers. Learn about a teenager who helped save Danbury during the Revolutionary War, how Harriet Beecher Stowe sowed the seeds of conflict leading to the Civil War, and how Margaret Bourke-White’s photography brought civilians to face to face with the war front for the first time.

Women and War