On November 5th and 6th, Grace Farms Foundation will launch its justice initiative to disrupt and eradicate child exploitation. The Foundation's General Counsel & Director of Justice Initiatives, Krishna Patel, along with Director of Safety & Advisor for Justice Initiatives, Rod Khattabi, will spearhead the development of an integrated, multi-disciplinary model targeted at ending child trafficking. The two-day program will bring together experts working in a variety of disciplines from both the public and private sectors and introduce the Foundation’s…

Celebrate the season with Michael McElroy and the Broadway Inspirational Voices, featuring more than forty performers from shows including Les Miserables, Newsies, Wicked, The Lion King, Motown, and Rent. These stars will sing gospel choir versions of Christmas classics and other songs from their upcoming record, Great Joy II: Around the World, including McElroy’s arrangement of “Joy to the World,” which earned him a Grammy nomination in 2004. Seasonal soups, pastries, and beverages will be available for purchase in the…

Join us in the Library for the third installment in our Spring Book Group series. This month we will read the new novel by Don DeLillo, Zero K. DeLillo is one of America’s most acclaimed writers and Zero K has been called the wisest, richest, funniest, and most moving novels from him in years. Available for purchase in May, Zero K follows the story of Jeffrey Lockhart and his father, Ross, a billionaire who is an investor in a secret…

This August, millions of high school graduates will move into college dorms across the U.S. For many, it will be their first time away from the security of family and home. According the Association of American Universities, 25 percent of women and 8 percent of men who participated in a major survey of 150,000 students, reported being sexually assaulted during their college years. Students and their parents are invited to join a conversation with a panel of experts, including Annie…

Join Grace Farms Nature & Wildlife Ambassador, Mark Fowler, in a discussion about living in harmony with the diversity of native wildlife in your own backyard; including coyotes, bobcats, and bears. With the regrowth of our forests and the decline of agriculture, these predators are thriving in New England for the first time in nearly 100 years. Fowler, with the help of New Canaan Animal Control Officer Allyson Halm, will break down misconceptions about local predators and provide simple tools…

Join us for our July Book Group as we read Scott Russell Sanders' A Private History of Awe. In this coming-of-age memoir, Sanders captures moments of grandeur and beauty that have punctated the normal, even mundane, rhythms of his life. His tale opens in the arms of his father during a Tennessee thunderstorm and follows a moving story of life, beauty, and love set against the backdrop of the social and civic turmoil of the 1960's. While chronicling his movement…

Grace Farms is pleased to welcome the return of songstress, Kelley McRae, for our continuing series of Sunset Performances. A year before the Inaugural Celebration, Kelley joined the group of artists who helped to "warm up" the property, singing and strumming her guitar while floating aboard a small rowboat on Cattail Pond. Rare Bird 'Rare Bird' by Kelley McRae from her album THE WAYSIDE. Download or get the CD here: http://kelleymcrae.com/music/

Join us for an evening of summer sunlight and contemporary music as Grace Farms welcomes back songstress Kelley McRae for our next Sunset Performance. Set against the backdrop of the late summer sunset, visitors of all ages will enjoy the evening's acoustic entertainment. Light fare will be available for purchase until 7 pm in the Commons and can be enjoyed during the performance. Kelley's album The Wayside, released in April 2016, debuted at #7 on the Euro-Americana radio charts and…

Celebrate the one year anniversary of Grace Farms with special programming October 8-15, titled “Possibilities Are Endless,” beginning with the public unveiling of Moon Love Dreaming, a permanent piece of site-specific art from renowned Brazilian artist, Beatriz Milhazes. A colorful 108 foot-long wall painting extending the length of the West Barn hallway, Milhazes' piece joins other public art installations at Grace Farms by Thomas Demand, Teresita Fernández, Olafur Eliasson, and Susan Philipsz, all of which are freely available for viewing…

Grace Farms Foundation will present an evening of highlight experiences from Grace Farms’ inaugural year, in- and outdoors, among expansive fall vistas. The program, co-hosted with Grace Farms architects, Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa, of the Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese firm, SANAA, will support the advancement of the Foundation's collaborations for good and its five core initiatives. The evening will offer opportunities to: Support our American Kestrel rehabilitation and watch falcons fly over our 80 acres of open space Enjoy a…

Join our October Book Group in reading the acclaimed new novel by Colson Whitehead, Underground Railroad. In this New York Times best-selling novel, the Underground Railroad is no longer a metaphor, but an actual network of underground tracks for slaves who dare not risk an escape to the North. The narrative follows Cora, who flees the Georgia plantation where she is enslaved and embarks on an unpredictable, harrowing journey through various stops, all the while being hunted by a notorious…

Join us for an engaging conversation with renowned theologian, public intellectual, and Grace Farms Foundation board member, Miroslav Volf. Volf will discuss the Life Worth Living Program, an effort he designed to help universities and the broader culture engage the most important question of our lives: What makes life worth living? Life Worth Living, a course led by the Yale Center for Faith and Culture, will be offered for free at Grace Farms on Thursday evenings from February 2nd through…

Join Grace Farms and Dr. Roberta Seret, President and Founder of International Cinema Education, for a multi-disciplinary discussion about geography, history, human rights, and justice, highlighting Iran. The program will feature clips from A Separation, a 2011 Iranian drama film about an Iranian middle-class couple who separate, and the conflicts that arise when the husband hires a lower-class caregiver for his elderly father, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Roberta Seret is the director of Advanced English and Film for…

Join our volunteers in assembling holiday packages to benefit local immigrant families through Neighbor’s Link. Donate $20 to provide a box of blankets, toiletries, and other essential items, and spend the afternoon wrapping packages in the West Barn. $20 donations fully fund a box of goods for immigrant individuals and families through Neighbor's Link.

Bring family and friends together in teams of four for Grace Farms' Christmas Cup, a friendly basketball tournament in the Court for teens, returning college students, and adults. This free 3 vs.3 tournament will begin at 2 pm with 7-point half-court games in a double-elimination bracket, ending with a two-period, 30-minute game between the two final teams. Twelve teams are available to register. Advance registration is required. Please register your group of four players as a single team and include…

Grace Farms Foundation and the Norwalk Police Department are hosting an informative course designed to educate women and girls on how to protect themselves and reduce their chances of becoming victims of assault and/or domestic violence. The course—including a self-defense demonstration—will address the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses and the impact drugs and alcohol have on student behavior. The class will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays for five weeks. Admission is free, but registration is required for the five…

Join us as international bestselling author, Corban Addison, launches his new book, A Harvest of Thorns, at Grace Farms. A reading by Corban Addison will be followed by a discussion featuring Grace Farms Foundation Justice Initiative Director, Krishna Patel; Kilian Moote, Project Director for KnowTheChain at Humanity United; Ben Skinner, Principal and Founder of Transparentem; and Joseph Schmidt, CEO and Founder of Audacity Factory. The afternoon will introduce Grace Farms Foundation’s focus on supply chain transparency and its tie to…

Join Grace Farms Nature Initiative Director, Mark Fowler, and Justin Pegnataro, Executive Director of Two Coyotes Wilderness School, for an adventurous winter hike where visitors will learn how to interpret wild animal tracks in the winter. The group will traverse Grace Farms' 80 acres looking for signs of wildlife, including deer, birds, rabbits, and other woodland creatures.

The first in Grace Farms Foundation's Race & American Memory series, The Unexpected Journey of an American Woman will feature memoirist and domestic violence activist, Dede Bartlett, and Yale poet and author, Danielle Chapman, discussing their timely recollection of personal family histories. The Race & American Memory series at Grace Farms examines the ways in which Americans comprehend and recall national history, and seeks to revisit instances, ideas, and lives which have suffered negative revision or erasure. In 2017, Grace…

Explore how plants and animals survive the winter with Grace Farms Foundation Nature Initiative Director, Mark Fowler, and Yale School of Forestry graduate, Nick Olson. Participants will hike through Grace Farms' 80-acre preserve and learn how the flora, fauna, and wildlife that call the property home thrive in the winter months.

Join an important discussion about the impact of opiate addiction on our community. Experts in prevention, treatment, and law enforcement will address the challenges of how to effectively alleviate suffering, battle the stigma, understand the legal consequences, and develop preventative measures against one of the most dangerous drugs of our day. A dynamic panel will be moderated by Counselor/Pastor Stuart Knechtle, Mdiv, MA, MFT/MHC, who oversees mental health marriage and family counseling at Grace Community Church. The panel discussion will…

In the wake of natural disasters, social justice organizations are often called upon, not only to rebuild, but also to fight the injustices that can result from environmental devastation. In April 2015, an earthquake struck Nepal, killing thousands and destroying many more homes and businesses. The environmental damage caused by the earthquake resulted in increased crime, including human trafficking, and decreased health and living conditions. Join Grace Farms Foundation for a panel discussion about the important steps humanitarian organizations and…

Spend the evening with award-winning poet, Spencer Reece, who will be screening the film Voices Beyond the Wall: Twelve Poems from the Murder Capital of the World. The film follows his time spent living and teaching poetry at Our Little Roses, an all girls orphanage in San Pedro Sula, a Central American city infamous for its crime and violence. Voices Beyond the Wall, produced by James Franco, includes remarkable poems written by the young women of Our Little Roses in…

Grace Farms Foundation and the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut invite you to join us for an Interfaith Seder led by Rabbi Joshua Hammerman of Temple Beth-El, Reverend Mark Lingle of St. Francis’ Episcopal Church, and Dr. Kareem Adeeb of the American Institute for Islamic and Arabic Studies. Participants will share in historic Seder traditions and explore how different faiths represent the journey from darkness to light. The Seder meal will be symbolic. Light refreshments will be served.

Grace Farms Foundation's Arts Initiative invites visitors to join us for Opera in Motion, an open rehearsal of the University of Delaware's Opera Workshop Ensemble. A cast of vibrant young opera singers, under the direction of Dr. Isai Jess Munoz, Chair of the Sacred in Opera Initiative of the National Opera Association, will present contemporary interpretations of Baroque vocal masterpieces by Italian composers Claudio Monteverdi and Francesco Provenzale. The rehearsal will begin with a brief discussion with the University of…

Join Grace Farms in celebrating Earth Day with insightful programs for all ages centered around preserving open space, restoring wildlife, and exploring the natural world. 10 am - 12 pm | Discovery Stations Children and families are invited to participate in our Discovery Stations in the Plaza--The Art of Wind Energy, Wonders of Wildlife Painting, Co-Existing with Native Wildlife, and Living Sustainably. Each station offers a new way for young families to engage with nature and learn about wildlife and…

LiveGirl will host a leadership summit “Girls Can Lead” open to girls grades 5-8 (free-of-charge) on Saturday, April 29th at the gorgeous Grace Farms in New Canaan. The keynote speaker will be Caroline Simmons, the CT State Representative (D-144th District) and the youngest female legislator in Connecticut state office. Simmons attended Harvard where she played varsity lacrosse and worked on Barack Obama's Presidential Transition Team and the Department of Homeland Security before being elected to the CT House in 2014…

Celebrate Memorial Day with an outdoor Barbeque at Grace Farms, with free time to explore 80 acres of diverse natural landscape, and remember those who gave their lives with time for reflection. The day will include activities for families and individuals of all ages, as well as visitors looking to simply relax and enjoy time with family and friends. 10 am–12 pm | Open Art Studio for Kids | WB Art Studio Families with children of all ages are invited…

Grace Farms Foundation invites you to learn about local food sourcing and how individuals can make an impact on the environment through three workshops focused on edible and medicinal plants, growing your own garden, and sourcing food from small scale regional farms. Workshop 1 | Food Justice & Local Gardening Enjoy lunch in the Commons provided by Snow Hill Farm, during which Laura O'Donohue from Snow Hill Farm, Nicole Straight of Food Rescue U.S., and Grace Farms Foundation Commons Manager…

Learn how to identify different birds and discover the more than 40 species that make Grace Farms their home. During a guided walk of Grace Farms’ trails, Renee Hewitt and Daniel Samperi, Founders of @IntoBirds, will teach visitors of all ages about the specific bird species that thrive on our 80-acre preserve. Bring your camera and share your #GraceFarms bird photos with us @GraceFarmsCT.

Join Grace Farms Foundation, WPP agencies Geometry Global and J. Walter Thompson, Shazam, and Thomson Reuters Foundation for this immersive evening of community, justice, and new technology, culminating with an exclusive headlining musical performance from India.Arie, a 4 time Grammy-winning, multi-platinum singer, songwriter, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. You won’t want to miss this one-time opportunity to help launch Unchain, a global anti-human trafficking campaign to generate awareness of an issue that is often hidden in plain sight.

"Be brave" this Election Day and join girls from across Fairfield County for leadership development and girl empowerment. Keynote speakers are Heather Cabot, author of NY Times bestseller “Geek Girl Rising”, and Sarah Edwards, Queen of Diamonds race car driver. The event will also feature teambuilding, lunch, and an opportunity to explore Grace Farms. Open to girls grades 5-8 | free-of-charge | space is limited. High School mentors needed for this event. Sponsored by Vennue Foundation.

The New Canaan Land Trust invites its members and the community to its annual membership meeting on November 9th at Grace Farms. Founded in 1967 by Jack Gunther, Elise Latham and Mary Lib-Katzenbach, the Land Trust will recognize the milestone of its 50-year legacy of acquiring, protecting and stewarding open space in New Canaan at the meeting. Now comprised of 70 properties and easements, totaling just under 400 acres, the conservation organization will review its recent accomplishments and outline its…

Join Grace Farms Foundation for Race & American Memory | The Langston Hughes Project, a concert performance of “Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz”, one of Hughes’ literary masterworks. Led by trumpeter Ron McCurdy, The Langston Hughes Project embodies the poet’s testimony to the struggle for artistic and social freedom at home and abroad at the beginning of the 1960s. Through this special event, Grace Farms Foundation joins in commemorating the 50th anniversary of Hughes’ death. Race & American…

Celebrate the season with Grammy-award-winning group, Roomful of Teeth. The eight-voice ensemble has studied with masters from singing traditions the world over, continually expanding its singing vocabulary with techniques like Georgian singing, Korean P’ansori, Hindustani music, and Persian classical singing. The Season of Light Concert will celebrate the joy of the holiday season with a special set of songs developed at Grace Farms.

In observance of Anti-Human Trafficking month, Grace Farms Foundation and Senator Chris Murphy will host an important discussion about modern day slavery, featuring a panel of experts dedicated to fighting this crime. The panel, moderated by Grace Farms Foundation Justice Initiative Director, Krishna Patel, will include Senator Chris Murphy and Vincent Nappo, Partner at Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala, PLLC, and activist Nacole S., a passionate advocate for child sexual exploitation survivors and their families. Join us to learn more about…

Join us for a work-in-process presentation of Cellular Songs, the newest in a series of music theater pieces by Meredith Monk that explore our interdependent relationship with nature while seeking to evoke the ineffable. Performing with the women of her acclaimed Vocal Ensemble (Ellen Fisher, Katie Geissinger, Allison Sniffin, and Jo Stewart), Monk combines some of her most adventurous and daring vocal music to date with movement, light, instrumental music and film. The presentation will be the culmination of an…

Join Grace Farms Foundation and Live Green Connecticut for the first annual Regional Convening for Sustainable Development (RCSD). Thought leaders from around the world will discuss wide-ranging strategies for sustainable development, with regional case studies demonstrating how some of those strategies have been implemented locally. Learn how we can come together to make Connecticut a leader in community-driven sustainable development. Convening Schedule: 9:00 am Welcome: Adam Thatcher, Grace Farms Foundation Director of Operations, and Daphne Dixon, Co-founder and Executive Director…

Grace Farms Foundation welcomes families to an open and hopeful discussion about overcoming the stigma and isolation of addiction. Moderated by Community Pastor Stuart Knechtle, Mdiv, MA, MFT/MHC, of Grace Community Church, the discussion will feature Tom Hedrick, one of the founders of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, who brings 30 years of inspiring hope in people caring for a loved one suffering from substance abuse; Dr. Frank Bartolomeo, PhD a therapist and addiction specialist; and Paul Reinhardt and Kim…

Join Grace Farms Foundation in welcoming Kevin Young, Director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, and Poetry Editor of The New Yorker, to discuss his latest book Bunk: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News, which was recently longlisted for the National Book Award for Nonfiction. In Bunk Young traces our country’s long history of “hoaxing” and uncovers the considerable racial anxieties and delusions often underlying the practice. He explores figures…

Join Grace Farms Foundation in celebrating the biodiversity of nature this Earth Day. Explore Grace Farms’ 80-acre preserve and enjoy programs and activities highlighting the importance of preserving woodlands and wildlife. 10 am – 12 pm Native Plants, an interactive station where families can learn more about how our area’s local plant species contribute to biodiversity 10 am – 12 pm Managing Meadows, a conversation with Penn Marchael, Project Manager at Larry Weaner Associates, about how to grow and nurture…

Join Grace Farms Foundation and New Canaan Library for an insightful conversation about global policy and America’s potential for growth and leadership with retired United States Army General Wesley Clark. In his remarkable 38 years of service in the US Army, General Clark rose to the rank of four-star general and NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. Since retiring from the military in 2000, he has not missed a step while using his extraordinary talents as an investment banker, businessman, commentator,…

Learn how to elevate your voice and views to create change! Held in partnership with Grace Farms Foundation. Nonprofit staff and board members are invited to join us for Fairfield County’s Advocacy Day to: • Boost your advocacy skills • Hear success stories from local nonprofits • Build your network

Join Grace Farms Foundation and Jane Doe No More for a powerful discussion about sexual assault, victim support, and the importance of accurate police reporting. The evening will feature guest panelists Donna Palomba, a survivor of sexual assault and President and Founder of Jane Doe No More, along with Neil O’Leary, Mayor of Waterbury and the former Waterbury Police Chief involved in the investigation of Donna’s assault. Additional panelists include Dylan Farrow, who will speak about the 1993 investigation of…

Join Grace Farms Foundation for an inspired conversation about how religion is portrayed in the media today. Journalists Wajahat Ali (New York Times and CNN contributor) and Michelle Boorstein (The Washington Post) will share insights from writing and speaking about faith in American life and discuss how each of us can contribute to civil discourse and expand our capacity for greater compassion in our pluralistic society.

Wildlife trafficking generates more than $10 billion a year for transnational organized criminal networks. Join us to learn how a unique collaboration between our Nature and Justice Initiatives is providing expert training to law enforcement task forces working to dismantle the transnational organized crime syndicates responsible for wildlife trafficking. Hear from Robert Mande, Chairman of the National Anti-Poaching Task Force and Assistant Director of Anti-Poaching Wildlife Division in Tanzania and Sean O’Regan, Director of Freeland Africa, alongside Grace Farms Foundation’s…

“Girl Powerful” featuring Mariam Gates, NY Times Bestselling Author & Founder KidPower Yoga Our leadership summits bring together middle school girls from across Fairfield County for a variety of empowering learning experiences that encourage girls to explore their potential and believe in themselves. All summits feature a keynote speaker, mentoring, & fun team-building activities. Open to grades 5-8 | free of charge | space is limited

Watch the vibrant Geminid Meteor Shower over the expansive skies of Grace Farms. Join Nature Initiative Director, Mark Fowler, and Tim Haag, Director of the New Canaan High School Planetarium, to learn about the history of the Geminids and enjoy the peak of the famous and bright meteor shower. Telescopes will be available, but visibility is dependent on the weather. The event is open to all ages.

Enjoy a special meal with friends and neighbors, featuring local performing artists. This affordable dining experience promises expansive views and excellent company. The evening will take place in the River building’s Commons—a 6,900 square foot glass room appointed with social community tables built from trees harvested on the grounds, comfortable sofas, and a coffee bar serving our very own Heavenly Roast. Join us after the December Community Dinner for Gifting for Good, a fun-filled, charitable evening assembling packages of blankets,…

Enjoy a fun-filled, charitable evening assembling packages of blankets, toiletries, and other essential items for local families and children in need. Listen to live music from Big Yachty, wrap gifts, and create cards to bring cheer during the holiday season. This year, we are collaborating with the Walter E. Luckett, Jr. Foundation to distribute these boxes to local families during the holiday season.

Enjoy a moment of peace and tranquility this holiday season with improvisational arrangements of seasonal music performed by local musicians. These calming selections, along with expansive winter views of our 80-acre preserve, will create an environment for reflection and contemplation. Schedule of Musicians: December 19: Lisa Lynne Kirkpatrick December 20: Karen Nisenson December 21: Joyce DiCamillo December 22: Tod Hedrick December 26: Tod Hedrick December 27: Doug Hartline December 28: Doug Hartline

Explore Joy, still., a site-responsive installation in the River building at Grace Farms with artist Julianne Swartz and Arts Initiative Curator Pamela Ruggio. Joy, still. is comprised of three new, collaborative, site-responsive works in the River building at Grace Farms. This project is part of the Arts Initiative’s Practicing series, which since 2015 has brought together interdisciplinary cohorts of collaborators to explore empathy, awe, silence, and joy. Please note that this tour accommodates 18 participants, and reservations are accepted on…

Enjoy a special meal with friends and neighbors, featuring local performing artists. This affordable dining experience promises expansive views and excellent company. The evening will take place in the River building’s Commons—a 6,900 square foot glass room appointed with social community tables built from trees harvested on the grounds, comfortable sofas, and a coffee bar serving our very own Heavenly Roast. Menu: Butternut Squash Soup Mushroom, Sausage Bourguignon Herb Israeli Couscous Pistachio Chocolate Cookie Advance registration is required for the…

Protecting Wildlife | Saving the Cheetah Join us for an in-depth look at cheetahs—the most endangered cats in Africa. Grace Farms Foundation’s Nature Initiative Director, Mark Fowler, and Richard Wiese, President of The Explorers Club and Emmy Award-winning Producer, will lead a discussion about what’s being done to save cheetahs from extinction. Following their conversation, watch a one-hour special featuring Richard Wiese as he travels to Namibia and talks with Dr. Laurie Marker, founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, to…

Join Master Birder, Frank Mantlik, and Grace Farms Nature Initiative Director, Mark Fowler, for a guided walk of Grace Farms’ Walking Trails in search of winter bird life. Birdwatchers of all ages and experience are invited to learn more about our local natural world and discover the winter species that make Grace Farms their home. We’ll be walking on mown trails, which may be wet, so please wear appropriate footwear, dress for the weather, and bring your binoculars.

Join us at Grace Farms as distinguished artist Carrie Mae Weems presents a captivating lecture on her extensive body of work, which includes photographs, text, fabric, audio, digital images, installation, and video. Described by The New York Times as “… a superb image maker and a moral force, focused and irrepressible….” Weems investigates violence, family relationships, cultural identity, sexism, class, political systems, and the consequences of power through her art.

Join us for a gardening workshop focused on early spring gardening and garden planning. Grace Farms Foundation’s Master Gardener, Nick Mancini, will give a presentation on seed starting, early seed sowing, and planning your garden, followed by a seed sowing demonstration of peas and other early spring vegetables in our Community Garden.

Critically acclaimed artist Carrie Mae Weems, deemed “one of the more interesting artists working in the gap between art and politics” by The New York Times, presents Past Tense, a new performance-based work featuring singers Eisa Davis, Francesca Harper, and Imani Uzuri; poet Carl Hancock Rux; dancer Vinson Fraley; and musicians Craig Harris, Eddie Allen, Calvin Jones, Adam Klipple, James Brandon Lewis, and Tony Lewis. Through music, text, projection, and video, the performance explores the enduring significance of the iconic…

Our leadership summits bring together middle school girls from across Fairfield County for a variety of empowering learning experiences that encourage girls to explore their potential and believe in themselves. All summits feature a keynote speaker, mentoring, & fun team-building activities. featuring CWEALF & State Representative Caroline Simmons Open to grades 5-8 | free of charge | space is limited

Grace Farms Foundation and the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut invite you to join us for an Interfaith Seder led by Rabbi Joshua Hammerman of Temple Beth-El, Reverend Mark Lingle of St. Francis’ Episcopal Church, and Dr. Kareem Adeeb of the American Institute for Islamic and Arabic Studies. The Seder meal will be symbolic. Light refreshments will be served.

Grace Farms Foundation and the Interfaith Council of Southwestern Connecticut invite you to join us for an Interfaith Seder led by Grace Farms Foundation’s Faith Initiative Director Matt Croasman, Rabbi Joshua Hammerman of Temple Beth El, Reverend Mark Lingle of St. Francis Episcopal Church, and Dr. Kareem Adeeb, former Board President of the American Institute for Islamic and Arabic Studies. Following an abbreviated Passover Seder, we will discuss how our religious traditions teach us to respond to the current moment,…

Join Grace Farms Foundation and The Nature Conservancy for a conversation about the importance of restoring natural habitats. Pascal Mittermaier, Global Managing Director of Cities at The Nature Conservancy, will present the work he’s done to transform how the world’s growing cities are harnessing nature’s power to build resilient, livable, thriving communities. Following his presentation, Mittermaier will join a panel moderated by Grace Farms Foundation’s Nature Initiative Director, Mark Fowler, and featuring LaTresse Snead, Deputy Director of Global Cities at…

Join Grace Farms Foundation and The Nature Conservancy for our annual Earth Day Celebration! Explore Grace Farms’ 80-acre preserve and enjoy programs, activities, and expert-led discussions on the importance of restoring native habitats. 10 am – 5 pm Interactive Meadows Plaza featuring native plants, children’s activities, and demonstrations from Pollinator Pathway about the importance of ecosystems to pollinators. 10:30 am – 2:30 pm Open Arts Studio for Families | Habitat and Home, facilitated workshops for children ages 3 to 10…

Join us for a discussion about the role that companies and consumers can play in supporting ethical supply chains. Grace Farms Foundation’s Justice Initiative Director, Krishna Patel, will lead a panel discussion featuring Doug Guiley, Senior Vice President of West Elm Global Sourcing and CSR Williams-Sonoma, Inc., Rebecca van Bergen, Founder and Executive Director of US-based non-profit Nest, and Pete Spain, Co-founder and COO of eye heart hand, on innovative strategies that can promote transparency in supply chains. The Demand…

One of two meteor showers created by debris from the Halley Comet, the Aquarids offers a long stretch of spectacular shooting stars. Learn about the meteor shower from New Canaan High School Planetarium Director, Tim Haag, and Grace Farms Foundation Nature Initiative Director, Mark Fowler, and join us as we search for the shower in the night sky. Please bring your binoculars. Telescopes will be available, but visibility is dependent on the weather.

Enjoy a special meal with friends and neighbors, featuring local performing artists. This affordable dining experience promises expansive views and excellent company. The evening will take place in the River building’s Commons—a 6,900 square foot glass room appointed with social community tables built from trees harvested on the grounds, comfortable sofas, and a coffee bar serving our very own Heavenly Roast. Menu: Strawberry Arugula Salad Roasted Shredded Pork with Chimichurri Sauce Baked Potato and Apple Rice Crispy Please note: We…

Join Grace Farms Foundation, Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI), and Save the Children for an important conversation about the global refugee crisis. Moderated by Anne Richards, the former Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, and featuring Claudia Connor, President and CEO of the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants; Casey Harrity, Senior Director of Humanitarian Programs at Save the Children; and Mohamed Almasri, a refugee from Syria resettled in Norwalk in 2016, the discussion will…

Harvard researcher and best-selling technology writer, David Weinberger, joins us for a conversation about Artificial Intelligence. Discover the complexities hidden in the seemingly simple idea of fairness and learn how A.I. can lead us into difficult but necessary discussions about the conflicting values we support and the sort of world we want to build. The Demand for Ethical Supply is a series of conversations exploring emerging strategies in the fight against labor trafficking in our supply chains. Other conversations include…

While many constellations are seasonal, circumpolar constellations can be seen throughout the year. Join New Canaan High School Planetarium Director, Tim Haag, and Grace Farms Foundation Nature Initiative Director, Mark Fowler, as we learn about Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Drawco, Ursa Major, and Ursa Minor. Please bring your binoculars. Telescopes will be available, but visibility is dependent on the weather.

Wharton School professor and author, Kevin Werbach, discusses his book The Blockchain and the New Architecture of Trust, an often-misunderstood technology that has the potential to help us overcome the crisis of trust that has engulfed our world. In doing so, blockchain technology can become a powerful force for social good, enabling open business models that could contribute to transparent supply chains.

Domestic violence affects more than just the survivors – entire families and communities feel the impact. Learn how law enforcement, the legal system, and the medical community are working with survivors and community members to diminish the far-reaching effects of these crimes. L.Y. Marlow, author and survivor of five generations of abuse, joins Rod Khattabi, Director of Law Enforcement & Risk Officer at Grace Farms Foundation; Assistant United States Attorney Alina Reynolds, District of Connecticut; Karen Jarmoc, President and CEO…

Enjoy a special meal with friends and neighbors, featuring local performing artists. This affordable dining experience promises expansive views and excellent company. The evening will take place in the River building’s Commons—a 6,900 square foot glass room appointed with social community tables built from trees harvested on the grounds, comfortable sofas, and a coffee bar serving our very own Heavenly Roast. Menu: Mexican Street Corn Salad Tilapia Tostadas Mint and Lime Bars Please note: We always have a vegetarian option…

It is estimated that the Amazon produces 20% of the world’s oxygen, and releases 55 gallons of water into the Atlantic Ocean every second. With no deforestation, mining, or poaching permitted on indigenous land, the last few tribes living there are the frontline guardians of an ecosystem crucial for life all over the world. Céline Cousteau—filmmaker, environmentalist, and granddaughter of the legendary Jacques Cousteau—has spent the past 5 years respectfully documenting, filming, and curating the story of all the Indigenous…

With a culture increasingly focused on developing effective strategies to achieve whatever it is we want most, sometimes the question dawns on us: What if what we want most isn’t actually worth wanting? Join Grace Farms Foundation’s Faith Initiative Director Dr. Matthew Croasmun for a conversation about identifying and focusing on the important question that so often alludes us: What’s worth wanting?

As Earth passes through the path of Comet Swift-Tuttle, the Perseid Meteor Shower lights up the sky. Join New Canaan High School Planetarium Director Tim Haag and Grace Farms Foundation Nature Initiative Director, Mark Fowler, to learn about the famous and bright shower, and search the sky as we look for the bright Perseids. Please bring your binoculars. Telescopes will be available, but visibility is dependent on the weather.

Enjoy a special meal with friends and neighbors, featuring local performing artists. This affordable dining experience promises expansive views and excellent company. The evening will take place in the River building’s Commons—a 6,900 square foot glass room appointed with social community tables built from trees harvested on the grounds, comfortable sofas, and a coffee bar serving our very own Heavenly Roast. Menu: Beet and Goat Cheese Salad Ginger Honey Chicken Orzo and Summer Vegetables Rhubarb Ginger Tart Please note: We…

Discover Master Gardener and author Nick Mancini’s approach to sustainable organic gardening. Nick will join Grace Farms Foundation’s Director of Operations, Adam Thatcher, for a conversation about his experience, the methods he uses to achieve a productive and healthy garden, and how he’s helping to cultivate and expand the Community Garden at Grace Farms.

Enjoy a special meal with friends and neighbors, featuring local performing artists. This affordable dining experience promises expansive views and excellent company. The evening will take place in the River building’s Commons—a 6,900 square foot glass room appointed with social community tables built from trees harvested on the grounds, comfortable sofas, and a coffee bar serving our very own Heavenly Roast. Menu: Kabocha Squash Soup Lamb Korma Turmeric Rice Chi Bread Pudding Please note: We always have a vegetarian option…

With a culture increasingly focused on developing effective strategies to achieve what we want most, sometimes the question dawns on us: What if what we want most isn’t actually worth wanting? Join Grace Farms Foundation’s Faith Initiative Director Dr. Matthew Croasmun for a presentation about identifying and focusing on the important questions that guide our actions and reflections, and open our minds to encourage new shifts in our thinking, our motivations and our values.

Join 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Nicholas Kristof as they discuss the urgent need to combat sexual violence against women and girls in conflict zones. Dr. Mukwege, a world-renowned gynecological surgeon, founded Panzi Hospital in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1999 to provide the women in his community with access to high-quality maternal health care. Many of his first patients, however, were not delivering mothers, but instead…

Although human rights advocates have begun to raise awareness of the pervasiveness of forced labor in construction projects around the world, the use of raw and composite materials produced by forced labor in the built environment largely continues with impunity. Join experts and industry leaders across the ecosystem of the built environment, for an illuminating panel on modern slavery in the architecture and global construction industry, one of the largest industrial sectors in the world. The discussion will address the…

We invite you to join us for Our Sustainable Future, Grace Farms Foundation’s fourth annual benefit on October 19, 2019. Enjoy an immersive evening in the River building with an elegant zero-waste dinner and entertainment by DJ ELEW featuring saxophonist Marcus Miller. The evening will feature Parisa Khobdeh Dance Company, and a spotlight on the cocoa industry with Tony’s Chocolonely. We will be highlighting auction items with sustainable and ethical supply chains and championing change together. Our Sustainable Future relates…

Associated with the Comet Encke, the Taurid Meteor Shower offers bright, spectacular shooting stars. Join New Canaan High School Planetarium Director Tim Haag and Grace Farms Foundation Nature Initiative Director, Mark Fowler, to learn about the Taurids, and search the sky as we look for shooting stars. Please bring your binoculars. Telescopes will be available, but visibility is dependent on the weather.

Discover the secrets to growing garlic with a hands-on workshop led by Master Gardener Nick Mancini.

Participate in a New Canaan tradition by joining Grace Farms Foundation, Pura Vida, and its local high school club to make holiday mailbox decorations. “Make and take” your own decoration in exchange for a suggested donation or help to make decorations for others. All proceeds support Pura Vida’s efforts to raise awareness for hungry, orphaned, abandoned, or trafficked children and will help to pay for meals the organization distributes to starving children. Pura Vida’s volunteers have packed and shipped close…

Participate in a New Canaan tradition by joining Grace Farms Foundation, Pura Vida, and its local high school club to make holiday mailbox decorations. “Make and take” your own decoration in exchange for a suggested donation or help to make decorations for others. All proceeds support Pura Vida’s efforts to raise awareness for hungry, orphaned, abandoned, or trafficked children and will help to pay for meals the organization distributes to starving children. Pura Vida’s volunteers have packed and shipped close…

Participate in a New Canaan tradition by joining Grace Farms Foundation, Pura Vida, and its local high school club to make holiday mailbox decorations. “Make and take” your own decoration in exchange for a suggested donation or help to make decorations for others. All proceeds support Pura Vida’s efforts to raise awareness for hungry, orphaned, abandoned, or trafficked children and will help to pay for meals the organization distributes to starving children. Pura Vida’s volunteers have packed and shipped close…

Enjoy a special meal with friends and neighbors, featuring local performing artists. This affordable dining experience promises expansive views and excellent company. The evening will take place in the River building’s Commons—a 6,900 square foot glass room appointed with social community tables built from trees harvested on the grounds, comfortable sofas, and a coffee bar serving our very own Heavenly Roast.

As part of our Community Initiative, Grace Farms Foundation invites you to join us for an evening of gift-making merriment. Together as a community, we will assemble winter care packages of blankets, toiletries, and other essential items for local families and children in need. Enjoy music and games as we wrap gifts, write cards, and create crafts to bring cheer during the holiday season. Winter care packages will be distributed in collaboration with the Walter E. Luckett, Jr. Foundation.

Enjoy a moment of peace and tranquility this holiday season with improvisational arrangements of seasonal music performed by local musicians. These calming selections, along with expansive winter views of our 80-acre preserve, will create a serene environment for reflection and contemplation.

Join us for a panel during National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month to discuss the critical role that public-private partnerships play in eradicating modern slavery. Local and federal law enforcement are crucial partners in combatting human trafficking, yet there are few organizations that focus their resources on collaborating with these agencies by providing the tools and knowledge required for effective prevention, investigation, and prosecution-related measures and policies. This program will provide an opportunity for the public to hear directly…

As colleges become ever more competitive, the admissions process can generate an enormous amount of pressure and anxiety. In the midst of these pressures, the initially motivating desire to pursue a college education – a flourishing life – can be subverted. Join Dr. Matthew Croasmun, Grace Farms Foundation’s Faith Initiative Director and Lecturer of Humanities at Yale University; Dr. Karen E. Eshoo, Head of School at King School; and Dr. Frank Bartolomeo, Director of Adolescent Services at Silver Hill, for…

Girls, ages 8-13, are invited to an interactive workshop, led by wellness expert Pilin Anice, guiding them through mindfulness, self-expression, and discovering the power of themselves and their communities.

Experience Temporal Shift, a new site-responsive sculpture that interacts with natural light, animating an interior courtyard of the SANAA-designed River building at Grace Farms. Join the artist Alyson Shotz and curator Pamela Ruggio for a conversation about the Arts Initiative’s interdisciplinary study of time.

Join Nature Initiative Director Mark Fowler and visiting explorer Richard Wiese from the renowned Explorers Club, where Mark serves as Vice President of Conservation, Wildlife and Sustainability, for an engaging conversation on topics ranging from preserving forest, protecting wildlife and restoring our climate, among many others.