2026 Summer Conversational Series Daily Schedule

Hybrid Adult & Teacher Education

Sunday - Thursday

July 12 - 16, 2026

2:30 - 4:00 pm

Joint Session with The Thoreau Society Annual Gathering

“Artificial Intelligence Could Not Make THESE Mistakes:

Creativity and the Correct Errors”

Special Guest Panelists

JASON  GIANNETTI

Philosopher / Author / Academic

WILLIAM  J.  HEALEY III

Psychotherapist / Archdiocese of Boston / Framingham State University

ALICE  KENNEY

Psychotherapist / Labouré  Center (South Boston)

10:00 - 11:00 am     JULIA  DABBS

University of Minnesota - Morris / Art Historian / Author

“May Alcott:  Nurturing Creativity Through Community”

11:00 - 11:15 am     Break

11:15 am - 12:15 pm     KRISTI  LYNN  MARTIN

Scholar / Author / Historical Consultant-Interpreter

“Misadventure:  The Alcott Family and Creative Failure”

12:15 - 1:00 pm     Break / Lunch & Informal Discussion

1:00 - 2:00 pm     MARK  HAMILTON  OSTRANDER

Creative Technologist / Outdoor Educator / Public Historian

“Apples for Pegasus:  The Care and Feeding of a Creative Spirit”

10:00 - 11:00 am     GABRIELLE  DONNELLY

Journalist / Author

“Jenny Has Gone For A Soldier”

11:00 - 11:15 am     Break

11:15 am - 12:15 pm     CONNOR-MAY  KELLY

Composer / Multi-Instrumentalist / Scholar 

“‘The Angel in the House’ - The Life and Music of Elizabeth Sewall Alcott” 

12:15 - 1:00 pm     Break / Lunch & Informal Discussion

1:00 - 2:00 pm     JULIE  MORFEE

 University of California - Berkeley / De Anza College (Cupertino, CA)

“Sculptures and Scraps:  Learning from Louisa May Alcott’s Models of Creativity”  (virtual presentation)

10:00 - 11:00 am     AIDA  BENGOA

Master's Candidate

“Rose in Bloom:  Creative Genius and the Emersonian Philosophy of Vocation”

11:00 - 11:15 am     Break

11:15 am - 12:15 pm     ADRIANA  LANZI

 Universidad Nacional de Córdoba / Independent Researcher

“Jo March in South America:  How a Massachusetts Attic Inspired a Continent’s Pens”  (virtual presentation)
 

12:15 - 1:00 pm     Break / Lunch & Informal Discussion

1:00 - 2:00 pm     KYOKO  AMANO

Texas A & M University  - Corpus Christi 

“Alcott’s Genre-Fluid Creativity and the Reinvention of Rosamund De Clifford”

10:00 - 11:00 am     CATHLIN  DAVIS

 California State University - Stanislaus 

“Louisa May Alcott’s Creative Play”

11:00 - 11:15 am     Break

11:15 am - 12:00 pm     LORRAINE  TOSIELLO

Physician / Author

“Father Isaac Hecker:  Transcendental Missionary”

12:00 - 1:15 pm     Lunch & Informal Discussion

1:15 pm     CATHLIN DAVIS

Guided Tour of Orchard House

Free to Summer Conversational Series Presenters

Included in Thursday, July 16th Per Diem registration

Space limited to 13 persons

~ ~ ~

5:00 - 7:00 pm     “Evening Edifications”

Guided Tours from 5:00 to 7:00 pm

plus

Colonial Music Concert by

THE CONCORD MINUTE MEN

FIFE & DRUM CORPS

at 6:30 pm