Full Lineup of Scranton’s Story Fall Events Announced

This fall, the “Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story” project, a National Endowment for the Humanities-funded initiative of The University of Scranton and community partner organizations, continues. A full lineup of community programming centers on three project themes: “From the Industrial Revolution to Act 47 and Beyond,” “From ‘Immigrant’ to Citizen,” and “The Indigenous History of NEPA.” 

Fall events begin with a focus on the area’s industrial heritage and how this continues to shape our region today. The first fall 2022 event, “The 1902 Anthracite Strike: Causes and Consequences, A 120th Anniversary Evaluation,” is a keynote lecture. It features anthracite historian and sociologist, Dr. Robert Wolensky, with respondent panelists, Dr. Melissa Meade and Mayor Paige Cognetti and discussion on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the Lackawanna County Courthouse. Registration is required at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/1902Strike

Industrial theme events continue will highlight the role of women in industry. “A Shop on Every Corner: Memories of the Garment Industry Film Screening & Discussion,” will feature historian Dr. Ken Wolensky and filmmaker Maureen McGuigan on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 7-8:30 p.m. at the historic Ritz Theater & Performing Arts Center. Registration required at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Garment2022

On Saturday, Oct. 15, “Weaving the Past into the Future: Scranton Lace Tour,” will tour the new Scranton Laceworks Village, considering its historical use by the Scranton Lace Company and its transformation into current residential housing. Resource speakers will include: Steve Friedman, University of Scranton History alumnus; Maria MacDonald, Executive Director of the Center for the Living City; and Donald Rinaldi, Builder & Developer, BEDA Construction. Event check-in begins at 1:30 p.m. with the tour from 2-3:00 p.m., at the Laceworks Village, 1315 Meylert Ave., Scranton, PA in collaboration with the Center for the Living City.  Registration required at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LaceTour2022

The Hope Horn Gallery also features a connected exhibition “Time and Lace: A History of the Scranton Lace Company,” open now through Sept. 30, 2022. A Curator’s Lecture takes place on Friday, Sept. 16, in Brennan Hall 228, The University of Scranton, from 5 to 6:00 p.m., followed by a Public Reception in Hyland 407 from 6 to 8:00 p.m.

In October, the project begins its next theme, "From "Immigrant" to Citizen” on Tuesday, Oct. 25 with “All the Places We Come From: Stories, Food, & Community.” This event will be an evening of story-sharing around the theme of migration, featuring nationally-acclaimed writers Anna Badhken, Angie Cruz, Chinelo Okparanta, and Joseph O’Neill. The event will begin with appetizers and sweets from Scranton's multi-ethnic restaurants, and a story-exchange facilitated by the artist-driven international empathy building organization, Narrative 4. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and event from 6 - 7:30 p.m. in Shopland Hall, Scranton Cultural Center. Registration will open in late September. Please visit www.scranton.edu/scrantonstory for updates.

Additional theme events include a connected Hope Horn Gallery Exhibition, Mayan Narratives: San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala, Photographs by Byron Maldonado, from Oct. 7 - Nov. 18. On Friday, Oct. 7 there will be a First Friday Scranton opening, an Artist’s Lecture from 5 - 6 p.m. in Brennan 228, The University of Scranton and Public Reception to follow from 6 – 8 p.m. in Hyland Hall 407, The University of Scranton. On Dec. 5 at 5 p.m., a roundtable “The Journey from ‘Immigrant’ to Citizen” will feature local resource speakers from a range of backgrounds, in collaboration with the Schemel Forum in Brennan Hall, The University of Scranton.

In November, the project will return to the theme of “Indigenous History of NEPA” with “Forced Removal of the Lenape People: History and Homecoming.” The keynote talk will feature Curtis Zunigha, enrolled member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians in Oklahoma and co-director and co-founder of the Lenape Center in New York. Now living and working in Lenapehoking, the Lenape ancestral homeland, Zunigha will share his experience and mission to heal the wounds of forced removal and colonization and his desire is to restore the circle of friendship, respect, and shared occupancy. This special event will take place on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. in The DeNaples Center Ballroom at The University of Scranton.

In December, the fall events will conclude with a roundtable discussion, “The Journey from ‘Immigrant’ to Citizen,” Dec. 5, 5 p.m., Brennan Hall, University of Scranton Campus, featuring local resource speakers from a range of backgrounds, in collaboration with The University of Scranton's Schemel Forum.

For more information and to view upcoming events and recordings of past events, please visit www.scranton.edu/scrantonstory.

Follow the Scranton’s Story, Our Nation’s Story project on social media at: Facebook and Instagram @ourscrantonstory and on Twitter at @scrantonstory

Questions? Contact community@scranton.edu or call 570-941-4419.