Civic Learning Week National Forum Kickoff Reception
Sunday, March 08, 2026
5:30 - 7:30pm EST
Join us as we kick off Civic Learning Week with a special reception inside Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, site of the nation's first penitentiary. Connect with fellow educators over light bites and drinks, and explore how the site's history connects to today’s urgent conversations about democracy. Plus...
- Engage with Eastern State staff on Mini Tours that dive deeper into topics of interest and activate behind-the-scenes spaces.
- Test your civics knowledge by competing in a round of civics trivia to win fun prizes.
- Remarks by Lauren Cristella, President & CEO of Committee of Seventy, Ellen Resneck, Chief Programs Officer of Founding Forward, Emma Humphries, Chief Education Officer of iCivics, Kelly McFarland Stratman, Executive Director of National Council for the Social Studies, and Dr. Kerry Sautner, President & CEO of Eastern State.
- Explore exhibits about mass incarceration and freedom of the press, and add your voice to our Civic Season Wish Wall.
This reception, rooted in Philadelphia’s unique history and Eastern State’s legacy as America’s first penitentiary, will celebrate civic experiences, promote civic dialogue, and inspire renewed commitment to democracy over the next 250 years. We hope you'll join us to engage with diverse stories and be inspired to shape a more just future. Presented by Eastern State, PA Civics, and Committee of Seventy.
Questions? Please email us at [email protected].
About the Panelists:
We strive to make the penitentiary and our site, programs, and exhibits accessible to all visitors. Click here to learn more about accessibility and accommodations at ESPHS.
This program is part of Civic Learning Week, an annual event hosted and created by iCivics that emphasizes the importance of civic education in strengthening and sustaining constitutional democracy in the United States.
Co-Sponsors
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