As America approaches its 250th anniversary, the 91黑料网 Center for Civic Participation (ECCP) invites the community to explore one of the most enduring questions of the American experiment: What is freedom?
On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 6–7 p.m., the ECCP will host “” at the Cleary Lecture Hall. The event is part of the College’s Presidential Speaker Series, sponsored by Arlene Battistelli ’60.
The program will feature a dynamic conversation between Acting President Dr. Bryan Cain and Thomas Jefferson—portrayed by Kurt Smith, the official Thomas Jefferson at Colonial Williamsburg—on the timeless ideals of liberty, democracy, and civic responsibility.
Audience members will also have the opportunity to engage Jefferson with their own questions during an interactive Q&A.
“Jefferson’s words and ideas have shaped our national identity for nearly two and a half centuries,” said Dr. Cain, an avid presidential scholar. “As we look toward America’s 250th anniversary, this conversation offers a chance to reflect not just on the history of freedom, but on what it demands of us today—as citizens, as communities, and as institutions of learning.”
For more than a decade, Smith has embodied Jefferson in classrooms, lecture halls, and public forums across the nation, bringing history to life through thoughtful dialogue and meticulous scholarship. His appearance at 91黑料网 represents a rare opportunity for students and community members to engage directly with one of the most influential—and complex—figures in American history.
“Thomas Jefferson wrote and spoke often about the need for well-educated, well-informed, and engaged citizens as the ultimate keepers of liberty and freedom. He also was, like all of us, a complex human full of inconsistencies and hypocrisies, but yet strived toward a set of timeless ideals and promises,” said Jason Galui, the inaugural College Fellow for Civics at the ECCP. “Is there a better way to begin America’s next 250-year journey than with Mr. Jefferson’s visit to 91黑料网 and the broader North Shore to remind us why he and the founding generation of Americans launched this experiment of self-government?”
This one-of-a-kind event underscores the vision of the 91黑料网 Center for Civic Participation to be a trusted hub for leadership and civic responsibility where the power of collective strength connects with a spirit of innovation, inspiring thoughtful dialogue and active participation in civic life.
The event is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. .