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February 10th, 2025
4:15 pm - 5:45 pm
Ernst Common Room, Blaustein Humanity Center, Connecticut College
This event brings together local community organizers in areas of housing, healthcare, government, and education to reflect on the meanings of 'unfreedom' in their work.
Moderator:
Associate Professor of Economics at Connecticut College
Panelists:
Mayor of New London
Executive Director of the New London Homeless Hospitality Center
President and CEO, TEAM, Inc.
Executive Director of Step Up New London
Executive Director, Beth-El Center
The panel sparked a powerful dialogue on freedom, opportunity, and systemic barriers within the community. The discussion centered on the stark contrast between affluence and marginalization in New London, with the Thames River Apartments symbolizing the division between those factors. Participant speakers explored how “unfreedom” manifests in disparities in housing, education, and healthcare, despite legal rights guaranteeing access. A recurring theme was that true freedom extends beyond economic opportunity; it encompasses dignity, agency, and equitable access to resources. Speakers emphasized the human cost of systemic barriers, highlighting preventable health disparities and cycles of poverty perpetuated by unequal access to education and housing. They stressed that freedom is both individual and collective, as the persistence of inequality undermines the well-being of the entire community. The discussion revolved around this main call to action of bridging the gap between privilege and marginalization requiring collective effort, intentional policy, and empathy-driven leadership. I felt I had a deeper understanding that freedom is not merely a legal status but a lived experience shaped by opportunity and inclusion.
–Gabriela Miotto Leal, CC ’26
Campus-Map.pdf* Parking available at South Lot. Shuttles available to-and-from South Lot to Blaustein. *
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