Boldly stating that “the concept of making voting a universal civic duty in the United States would significantly enhance our democracy by broadening civic participation in all communities,” a working group organized by The Brookings Institution and the Ash Center at the Harvard Kennedy School released a comprehensive report, following a year and a half of research and analysis, saying the concept “is worthy of a broad public discussion.”

Testimony last March from hundreds of supporters helped to pass a law that launched development, now underway, of a high school course focused on Black and Latino history. Said one state resident, 16 months ago: “We can’t begin to heal and move forward as a country until we have done the profoundly important work of reckoning with our past and learning our history. People’s lives, my son’s life, literally depends on it.”

The release this month of a comprehensive report and recommendations by a bipartisan commission, convened by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, outlines 31 steps to strengthen America's institutions and civic culture to help a nation in crisis emerge with a more resilient democracy. And Connecticut voices were prominent in its development.

In honor of the 100th anniversary year of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which not only gave women the right to vote, but ensured their access to the political process and opened doors for them to achieve their educational, economic, and civic goals, the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame (CWHF) and the Connecticut Historical Society (CHS) have collaborated, with the support of CT Humanities, to develop a new banner exhibit, entitled "Rise Up, Sisters!"