February 4 - December 19, 2018
Listen to a Podcast on the Exhibit
The Laurel Museum’s newest exhibit is a both celebration of Laurel citizens’ community involvement and also a call to action. We the People: How Civic Engagement Has Shaped Laurel opens at the Laurel Museum on February 4, 2018. From saving the Laurel railroad station, to the fight for integration of schools, to defeating the proposed Redskin Stadium, the timely exhibit demonstrates how engaged average citizens have shaped and continue to shape the story of our town.
Visitors to exhibit will be asked, “When something is deeply important to you, what can you do to bring about change in your community?” Each section of the exhibit describes an issue of importance to the community. Visitors obtain a window into how people who felt strongly about it participated in civic engagement to create change. Visitors learn what tools were used, and how they affected the final outcome. The exhibit lays out different points of view on each topic and visitors are challenged to think analytically about the topic and consider how THEY would respond. Visitors will also learn about the ongoing work in the community and how to personally get involved.
“At a time when people seem to be simultaneously more engaged than ever and more disillusioned with the system, our 2018 exhibit serves as a blueprint for civic engagement in Laurel. We look to our shared past and how average people have shaped our story and then invite visitors to learn the means through which they can create change around issues of importance to them today.” Notes LHS Board Chairman Jhanna Levin
We the People is broken into ten sections covering a variety of topics. Each section has one thing in common: the people of Laurel found each issue important enough to mobilize around. Visitors will find well known topics like the effort to prevent the Redskins Stadium in Laurel or the recent Save Our Stop efforts to preserve the Laurel train station. Other sections provide less familiar, but illuminating details on issues such as the importance of the Laurel Grove Improvement Committee following a 1967 summer filled with KKK activities in Laurel. Sections differ greatly and include the Laurel Library, school integrations, and the effort to save the Foundry building.
In the East Gallery of the Museum, visitors will learn about Civic Groups active in Laurel today. Fifteen different civic groups from the American Legion to the Lovely Ladies of Laurel tell their story and how they hope to impact Laurel today. For each group, visitors will find a “call to action.” This is something that they can do, upon leaving the Museum, to directly support the mission of each group. Some calls to action are things you can do yourself in your community, such as Laurel Cat’s request that you spay or neuter any cat you are caring for. Other calls to action involve direct support of the group’s work such as First Generation College Bound’s reminder that a $150 donation could assist as student with their enrollment deposit to a 4-year college or university.
In Civic Engagement 101, visitors are presented with some tools they can use to impact issues of importance to them. These include instructions on how to write a Letter to the Editor, how to register to vote, how to write to your elected official, and more. Visitors are encouraged to share stories of their own experiences with Civic Engagement and try their hand at writing a letter to their elected officials.
We the People runs through December 18, 2018. Admission is free. The Laurel Museum is open Wednesdays and Fridays 10-2, Sundays 1-4. Group tours by appointment. Admission is free. The Laurel Library and digitized Laurel Leaders and other items from the LHS collection are open to researchers by appointment Monday-Friday. The Laurel Museum is located at 817 Main Street, Laurel, Md. For appointments or for additional visitor information contact 301-725-7975 or info@laurelhistoricalsociety.org or visit www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org
Listen to a Podcast on the Exhibit
The Laurel Museum’s newest exhibit is a both celebration of Laurel citizens’ community involvement and also a call to action. We the People: How Civic Engagement Has Shaped Laurel opens at the Laurel Museum on February 4, 2018. From saving the Laurel railroad station, to the fight for integration of schools, to defeating the proposed Redskin Stadium, the timely exhibit demonstrates how engaged average citizens have shaped and continue to shape the story of our town.
Visitors to exhibit will be asked, “When something is deeply important to you, what can you do to bring about change in your community?” Each section of the exhibit describes an issue of importance to the community. Visitors obtain a window into how people who felt strongly about it participated in civic engagement to create change. Visitors learn what tools were used, and how they affected the final outcome. The exhibit lays out different points of view on each topic and visitors are challenged to think analytically about the topic and consider how THEY would respond. Visitors will also learn about the ongoing work in the community and how to personally get involved.
“At a time when people seem to be simultaneously more engaged than ever and more disillusioned with the system, our 2018 exhibit serves as a blueprint for civic engagement in Laurel. We look to our shared past and how average people have shaped our story and then invite visitors to learn the means through which they can create change around issues of importance to them today.” Notes LHS Board Chairman Jhanna Levin
We the People is broken into ten sections covering a variety of topics. Each section has one thing in common: the people of Laurel found each issue important enough to mobilize around. Visitors will find well known topics like the effort to prevent the Redskins Stadium in Laurel or the recent Save Our Stop efforts to preserve the Laurel train station. Other sections provide less familiar, but illuminating details on issues such as the importance of the Laurel Grove Improvement Committee following a 1967 summer filled with KKK activities in Laurel. Sections differ greatly and include the Laurel Library, school integrations, and the effort to save the Foundry building.
In the East Gallery of the Museum, visitors will learn about Civic Groups active in Laurel today. Fifteen different civic groups from the American Legion to the Lovely Ladies of Laurel tell their story and how they hope to impact Laurel today. For each group, visitors will find a “call to action.” This is something that they can do, upon leaving the Museum, to directly support the mission of each group. Some calls to action are things you can do yourself in your community, such as Laurel Cat’s request that you spay or neuter any cat you are caring for. Other calls to action involve direct support of the group’s work such as First Generation College Bound’s reminder that a $150 donation could assist as student with their enrollment deposit to a 4-year college or university.
In Civic Engagement 101, visitors are presented with some tools they can use to impact issues of importance to them. These include instructions on how to write a Letter to the Editor, how to register to vote, how to write to your elected official, and more. Visitors are encouraged to share stories of their own experiences with Civic Engagement and try their hand at writing a letter to their elected officials.
We the People runs through December 18, 2018. Admission is free. The Laurel Museum is open Wednesdays and Fridays 10-2, Sundays 1-4. Group tours by appointment. Admission is free. The Laurel Library and digitized Laurel Leaders and other items from the LHS collection are open to researchers by appointment Monday-Friday. The Laurel Museum is located at 817 Main Street, Laurel, Md. For appointments or for additional visitor information contact 301-725-7975 or info@laurelhistoricalsociety.org or visit www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org
