E nthusiasm for the city’s past meets passion for the planet’s future.
Monday, April 19
300 years to the day after he was born, New Haven’s first mayor, Roger Sherman—often overshadowed by America’s other founding fathers despite being the only person to sign “all six of the key founding-era documents including the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights,” among many other acts and accomplishments—gets a moment in the spotlight during “Roger Sherman and the Creation of the American Republic.” The free virtual talk, delivered by George Fox University professor Mark David Hall and presented by the New Haven Museum, begins at 6 p.m. and precedes a wider-ranging but also more locally focused lecture on “Revolutionary New Haven” from historian Peter Malia later this week.
sponsored by
Tuesday, April 20
Yale’s Earth Week is underway, with a busy schedule spanning topics from environmental social justice to a “green hydrogen economy” to a “walk and talk” on the Farmington Canal Trail to “nature immersion meditation.” Today’s events focus on the most environmentally impactful choice any of us can make: what we put on our plates. The docket includes live virtual talks on “How to Be a Conscious Eater” and “Animal Welfare and Climate Change, Explained” at noon and 2 p.m., respectively, with a couple of recorded talks available as well.
Thursday, April 22 – Earth Day
“Designed and created by local youth” as part of Solar Youth’s Trailblazers program, a new trail system connecting surrounding neighborhoods to the West Rock Nature Center and featuring “charming hand-made trail signs, a challenge course, and a bridge contributed by the City of New Haven”—read more on that here—enjoys a ribbon-cutting at 61 Level Street at 3:30 p.m.
sponsored by
Back downtown, an Earth Day Peace Celebration starting at 4 p.m. in front of City Hall (165 Church St, New Haven) aims to “bring… together the peace/anti-war movement, the climate change movement, and the anti-gun violence movement.” Organizers say “there will be sidewalk chalking (chalk provided) and performances such as African dancing, poetry, and songs by high school students. Representatives from local organizations will also say a few words.”
The Yale Undergraduate Jazz Collective’s eighth annual Jazz Festival at Yale culminates in three live virtual shows broadcast via the YUJC Facebook page. First up is an 8 p.m. “concert and conversation” today with Tia Fuller, a Grammy winner who played sax in the Pixar movie Soul (2020). Next up is a student performance at 8 p.m. tomorrow featuring a four-piece rhythm section and two saxophonists, followed on Saturday, also at 8, by a concert from veteran jazz guitarist Michael Gregory Jackson. Free.
Saturday, April 24
The 2021 Rock to Rock Earth Day Ride fundraiser is doing what it usually does: “rais[ing] critical support for local environmental organizations.” This year, it’s also “respecting public health guidance” by “offer[ing] a range of ride, walk [and] service opportunities,” with bike rides and hikes happening “in small groups at staggered starts.” Official rides include a two-mile “family-friendly” route in addition to 20- and 66-mile (“metric century”) options, while hikes and nature walks will happen at West Rock and East Rock.
Written and photographed by Dan Mims. Image features Roger Sherman’s mayoral portrait in New Haven City Hall. Readers are encouraged to verify times, locations and prices before attending events.
