{"id":94794,"date":"2026-01-23T17:35:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T17:35:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/94794\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T17:35:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T17:35:09","slug":"jes-honors-american-heritage-discusses-local-progress-through-winter-programming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/94794\/","title":{"rendered":"JES honors American heritage,\u00a0discusses local progress through winter programming"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Dr.<\/a>Dr. Ferki Ferati announcing the upcoming 2026 season of lectures and events, Jan. 23, 2026. Photo by Joel Natalie, TalkErie.com.<\/p>\n

The Jefferson Educational Society\u00a0(JES)\u00a0is honoring the country\u2019s semiquincentennial with its own series of events and lectures,\u00a0kicking of\u00a0its Winter Schedule programming at its campus, 3207 State St., Erie, PA, on Feb. 10 with\u00a0a week full of USA 250 events\u00a0that mark the 250th\u00a0anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Beginning with\u00a0The Years Bring Enlightenment: The Friendship and Politics of Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson\u00a0at 7 p.m. on Feb. 10 after a 6 p.m. kick-off reception, visiting speakers Steven\u00a0Edenbo, portraying Thomas Jefferson, and\u00a0Kim Hanley, as Abigail Adams will bring history to life\u00a0with\u00a0two Founding-Era voices in conversation together.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Edenbo\u00a0and Hanley are world-class performers and educators from the American Historical Theatre. Hanley also\u00a0takes on the role of Betsy Ross, the famous Pennsylvanian who made the American flag, as they\u00a0present\u00a0Thomas Jefferson and the Boisterous Sea of Liberty\u00a0at noon on Feb. 11,\u00a0The American Flag Unfurled\u00a0at 7 p.m. Feb. 11,\u00a0\u2018Remember the Ladies\u2019\u00a0at noon on Feb. 12, and\u00a0\u2018All Men are Created\u00a0Equal\u2019 at 250: Thomas Jefferson\u2019s Perceptual Revolution\u00a0at 7 p.m. Feb. 12.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Together, Jefferson and Adams will explore their friendship and politics in a spirited debate on women\u2019s rights, Shays\u2019 Rebellion, sedition, immigration, presidential powers, supreme court appointments, and other issues. Apart, will speak to the progress made since 1800 and\u00a0the story of the American flag. To continue the excitement,\u00a0the JES will host a slew of other events that\u00a0reflect on\u00a0the past.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Other USA 250 events include:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Revisiting the 1976 American Bicentennial: \u2018It was a Really Big Deal!\u2019\u00a0by historian Richard Arthur at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at the JES\u00a0<\/p>\n

Erie County, Pennsylvania, in the Civil War\u00a0by George Deutsch, executive director, emeritus, of the Erie County Historical Society\/Hagen History Center, at 7 p.m. Feb. 17, in partnership with the Erie Civil War Roundtable\u00a0<\/p>\n

Exploring the Past and Present of Gerrymandering: How\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0Done, Why\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0Done, and What\u2019s Happening Now\u00a0by Dr. Robert\u00a0Speel, professor of political science at Penn State Behrend, at 7 p.m. March 3 at the JES, in partnership with the Brock Institute\u00a0<\/p>\n

The French Expeditions to Lake Erie: An American Legacy\u00a0by Dr. David Frew, JES Scholar-in-Residence,\u00a0at 6 p.m. March 9 at the Lincoln Community Center Library, 1255 Manchester Road, Erie\u00a0<\/p>\n

Exploring the Legacy of the Historic Eagle Hotel\u00a0by historian Richard Arthur at 6 p.m. March 10 at the Corry Higher Educational Council, 221 N. Center St., Corry\u00a0<\/p>\n

From Founders to Frontiers: 250 Years of Northwest Pennsylvania Innovation,\u00a0a conversation with Brian Slawin, Ben Franklin\u00a0Technology\u00a0Partner\u00a0Regional Director and Portfolio Manager, in partnership with the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, at\u00a01 p.m. March 13 at the JES\u00a0<\/p>\n

Songs That Remember: Oral Traditions and Cultural Resilience in Diasporic Families\u00a0by Dr.\u00a0Shreelina\u00a0Ghosh, director of the writing program at Gannon University, at 7 p.m. March 16 at the JES\u00a0<\/p>\n

From Deck to Deadline: B.S. Oshon\u2019s Civil War Naval Experience \u2014 How One Man Served in the Union Navy, Reported the War, and Illustrated the Conflict\u00a0by Brian Graff, retired geographer\/cartographer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at 7 p.m. March 17 at the JES\u00a0<\/p>\n

New this year,\u00a0Deutsch will host\u00a0A History of Rivalry between US Presidents and the Supreme Court of the United States,\u00a0a five-event course\u00a0that examines the long history of rivalry between Presidents and the Court from Dred Scott through Plessey to Presidential Immunity (Trump v United States 7\/1\/2024). The course begins at 3 p.m. Feb. 25 and runs Wednesdays at the JES through March 25.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In total, the Winter\u00a0Schedule\u00a0includes 30+\u00a0events with more than 10 hosted\u00a0at satellite locations,\u00a0and two\u00a0additional\u00a0courses \u2014\u00a0Great Conversations\u00a0and\u00a0Great Decisions\u00a0\u2014\u00a0installments of which the JES has hosted in the past.\u00a0The\u00a0events\u00a0will examine current issues, including\u00a0Multi-Generational Leadership: Guiding Age-Diverse Work Groups in Modern Business\u00a0with JES Raimy Fellow Bradley Thompson\u00a0on Feb. 24 and March 11;\u00a0Abundance vs, Scarcity: The Impact of Inclusive Investments in Erie County\u00a0by Gary N. Lee, Chief Administrative Officer at Diverse Erie, at noon Feb. 27 at the JES;\u00a0and\u00a0Infinite Progress\u00a0\u2014 Updates on How Infinite Erie is Putting Plans into Action\u00a0by Kim Thomas, executive director of Infinite Erie, at noon March 6, at the JES; and\u00a0The Black Presence in Erie\u2019s Public Schools\u00a0by Johnny Johnson, JES Scholar-in-Residence, at 6 p.m. March 19, at Erie Center for Arts & Technology (ECAT), 650 East Ave., Erie.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The JES will explore international relations with\u00a0Venezuela and the 21st\u00a0Century International Order\u00a0by Diane Chido, JES Scholar-in-Residence, and Nicol\u00e1s Bell, researcher and former JES intern;\u00a0Ukraine and Russia: Where Are We Now, Where Are We Headed?\u00a0a Brock Institute lecture with\u00a0Dr. Lena Surzhko-Harned, political science professor at Penn State Behrend and JES Scholar-in-Residence, at 6 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Lincoln Community Center Library; and\u00a0Global Demographic Trends and Population Policies\u00a0by Dr. Baher Ghosheh, JES Scholar-in-Residence and chair of the JES Board of Trustees,\u00a0at 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at\u00a0ECAT; among other\u00a0global-focused events.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Taking a step into nature,\u00a0Protecting Natural Spaces and Building Community: Asbury Woods\u2019 Impact in NWPA\u00a0as\u00a0Sarah Bennett, executive director of Asbury Woods, and Patrick Miller, director of development and marketing at Asbury Woods,\u00a0lead a community conversation\u00a0about one of the region\u2019s greatest outdoor assets\u00a0at noon Feb. 20 at the JES; or head over to the Lincoln Community Center Library for\u00a0The Grizzly Bears of Yellowstone National Park\u00a0by Dr. Steve Ropski, retired Gannon University professor, at 6 p.m. March 23.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Other partnerships include\u00a0Sole Talk: A Discussion on Foot Health\u00a0by Drs. Anthony Colonna and Colette Yori Tobia, and Alan Kidon\u00a0of LECOM Health at 7 p.m. March 22 at JES;\u00a0and\u00a0The MWRI-Erie Story:\u00a0World-Changing Medicine Happens Here\u00a0with leading local medical professionals in partnership with Magee-Womens\u00a0Research Institute and\u00a0Hamot Health Foundation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

More than 75% of the programs are free. To find more information about programs, memberships, or to make reservations, call 814.459.8000 or visit JESErie.org.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Speakers and the JES staff are available before and after lectures, discussions, and conversations for interviews. Media coverage is welcome at all events.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

For comments in advance, please contact:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chelsea Oliver, Director of Marketing and Community Engagement \u2013 Jefferson Educational Society<\/p>\n

814.459.8000 \u2013 Oliver@JESerie.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dr. Ferki Ferati announcing the upcoming 2026 season of lectures and events, Jan. 23, 2026. Photo by Joel…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":94795,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[136,138,137],"class_list":{"0":"post-94794","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-erie","8":"tag-erie","9":"tag-erie-headlines","10":"tag-erie-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94794"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94794\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/94795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}