Historian Laureate to speak in Easton on April 30th

Press Release – March 28, 2026 – Easton, CT

In celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary, the Easton CT Town Cemetery Committee presents Mr. Keith Stokes, Rhode Island’s Historian Laureate, to speak about “Creative Survival: African Heritage Enslavement & Freedom in Early New England” Thursday April 30th, 2026 at 7:00 pm at the Helen Keller Middle School Cafetorium at 360 Sport Hill Rd. Easton, CT. Mr. Stokes is Director of the State of Rhode Island Division of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. He has also been an Advisor for Rhode Island with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, served on the Preservation Society for Newport County, Touro Synagogue Foundation, Rhode Island Historical Preservation; Heritage Commission Historical Review Board, Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, Quonset Development Corporation, Rhode Island Foundation, and the American Antiquarian Society. He has appeared on national historical programs including C-SPAN, Fox News Legends & Lies, and Ted Talk, was the lead researcher and author of the publication “A Matter of Truth”, and recently appeared on the PBS series “Black and Jewish in America”. There is a $15 suggested donation. This venue is wheelchair accessible.