8th CT Poet Laureate Antoinette Brim-Bell
Poetry Remembers: Art, Empathy & the Shape of Our Shared History
Monday, July 13, 2026 at the HFFC Monthly Featured-Speaker Program
7:00 PM program. Hybrid meeting (in-person and virtual)
On Monday, July 13, 2026 Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County (HFFC) will feature Connecticut Poet Laureate Antoinette Brim-Bell in conversation about the power of poetry. Poets capture the soul of society, preserving what the historical record alone cannot. Poetry can curate voices and histories often underrepresented, thereby challenging our understanding of our common histories, enriching our understanding of the complexities of race, culture, and identity, and evoking empathy. Ultimately, poetry is both a literary exploration of an era and a conversation with its historical foundation.
Antoinette Brim-Bell (Antoinette Brim) has been Connecticut’s 8th State Poet Laureate since 2023. She is the author of three full-length poetry collections, most recently These Women You Gave Me, which was the inspiration for the ballet In Her Image (performed on the Alvin Ailey stage). Her poetry has appeared broadly, including in Poetry Magazine and Poem-a-Day. She was nominated for the Pushcart Prize in both poetry and essay. A sought-after voice, she is a Professor of English at CT State Community College, Capital, in Hartford.
This meeting is free and open to all. Join us in Wilton for the presentation and the social gathering beforehand. (We will supply the address after you register.) Gourmet pizza and refreshments will be served from 6:15-7:00 PM. The presentation will start at 7:00. We will also be recording and broadcasting this meeting virtually via Zoom for anyone who is unable to join us in person; check in is at 6:45.
Register at http://bit.ly/CTPoetLaureate to attend in person or to receive a link to participate online.
The Humanists and Freethinkers of Fairfield County, Connecticut (HFFC), espouses reason and compassion, and seeks to promote humanism and free thought in our community. It holds monthly featured speaker programs, film events, book discussions, solstice celebrations, charitable activities, and science roundtables. Learn more at hffcct.org