About Us
The Lexington Lyceum
Vision
We envision a community gathering space that connects our past to our present, promotes democracy and justice, and bridges divisions through the respectful exchange of ideas.
Mission
Our mission is to build a modern Lexington Lyceum and History Learning Center at the renovated Stone Building, honoring its rich history while exploring connections to contemporary social justice.
We will create an inclusive and intercultural space in the revitalized Stone Building through interactive displays and workshops, community events, and outreach.
If you endorse our Vision & Mission, please add your name to our Lyceum Supporters list:
Seven Principles of Lyceum Participation
- Be respectful: Everyone who has chosen to be part of the conversation has a right to be heard, and a responsibility to hear others, on the basis of mutual respect.
- Listen to understand, not to debate: The purpose of the conversation is to explore the issues and understand each other’s views and values. It is not to win an argument. You can’t listen and plan your counterpoint at the same time.
- Share your perspective openly: The conversation is much more meaningful if all are sharing our actual views and values. Even if we have very different views, and even if sharing and hearing them makes us uncomfortable, we learn more and communicate more deeply if we share them honestly.
- Explore areas of agreement and disagreement: Asking why someone believes or wants something is a helpful way to understand; sharing our own beliefs and aspirations in response helps us find common ground and appreciate the reasons for our remaining disagreements. We might even learn something that changes our own minds.
- Make space for all to participate: It’s a richer, more interesting conversation if everyone has a chance to speak and a few people don’t dominate. A good rule of thumb: after you speak, let at least two people speak before you speak again. If you notice someone else is being quiet, consider asking them a question.
- Value the conversation as a way to build community: Getting to know each other better, especially on the level of our life experiences, values and views, is a great way to connect us more closely. Whether we agree or disagree, we have made a connection when we’ve had a good conversation about something that matters to us both.
- Share ideas, not who said what: Everyone will be more comfortable speaking freely if we all agree that we can share ideas that were discussed, but not say whose ideas they were.
News
LLA Wins Community Endowment of Lexington Grant
The Lexington Lyceum Advocates (LLA) has been awarded an $8,000 grant for strategic planning by the Community Endowment of Lexington (CEL), an endowed fund of the Foundation for MetroWest.
LLA president Mark Manasas commented, “We are honored to have the support of the CEL, which plays such a vital part in supporting Lexington’s community. This grant will enable us to set priorities, make effective decisions, and build broad-based support for reviving the Ellen Stone Building. We are looking forward to building a stronger, financially sustainable modern lyceum, history center, and community civic space in one of Lexington’s architectural and cultural treasures.”
The LLA is currently interviewing consultants to lead their strategic planning.
The Community Endowment of Lexington enhances the quality of life for Lexington citizens. CEL, an endowed fund of the Foundation for MetroWest, awards grants to nonprofits and town agencies working in the areas of health and human services, arts and culture, the environment, and community building; provides ways for donors to give back and leave a legacy; and encourages innovative and collaborative solutions to issues facing Lexington, MA.
Renovation Updates
Spencer Group Chosen for Building Plans
The Town of Lexington has hired the Spencer Preservation Group to prepare updated designs for renovating the Ellen Stone Building. Town Meeting voted to fund a new design and repairs in spring 2023.
According to the Town’s Request for Qualifications for this project, “The scope of work includes, up-to-date evaluation of the building and site, recommendations for further stabilization and historic preservation, working with community groups to determine the best modernization improvements that preserve the existing architectural character, but allow for present day public use.” (Emphasis ours)
The Town held an initial public kickoff meeting with stakeholders on April 12, 2024. The Town expects to bring the Stone Building project to Town Meeting for another round of funding in spring 2025
For updates, subscribe to our newsletter.
Our Board
Mark Manasas – President
Mark’s background is in building and leading engineering teams developing novel medical devices.
Mark is also on the board of LexFarm and Lexington Zero Waste. He served on the Stone Building Feasibility & Reuse Committee and is a Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member.
Janel Showalter – Vice President
She supports communications and manages web content for a large Federal agency. She became involved in efforts to restore and reimagine the Stone Building through Lexington’s Dismantling Racism in Our Town program.
Cristina Burwell – Clerk
Cristina and her family have been part of the East Lexington, Waldorf School and Follen Church communities since 1996. Cristina has chaired the Lexington Council for the Arts, and was an editor for the Town Report before her current position as Executive Director for the Munroe Center for the Arts. She was Clerk of the Stone Building Feasibility & Reuse Committee.
Meg Muckenhoupt – Treasurer
She is a writer and editor focusing on New England history and land use. She served as a liaison to the Stone Building Feasibility & Reuse Committee, and is a Precinct 1 Town Meeting Member.
Elizabeth Xu – Director
Elizabeth is a computational chemist, software engineer, freelance writer & editor, and dedicated volunteer. She works passionately to preserve Asian cultural heritage and introduce Western culture to Asian communities. Her focus is to enrich the cultural landscape, making a positive impact on both Asian immigrants and the broader US communities through collaboration and cultural celebration.
David Fairman – Director
David is a Senior Mediator at the Consensus Building Institute. He and his family have lived in Lexington for 21 years. He loves connecting people by facilitating good public conversations.
Rosemary Trowbridge – Director
Rosemary served as a national board member of the National Organization for Women. She was part of the lobbying team for the 1989 Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights Bill and was a trainer for MA Dept of Education’s Safe Schools Program for GLBT Students. She serves on the board of The Veteran Feminists of America. She is a member of Follen Church, where she served as president.
Carolyn Goldstein – Director
An historian of American technology and consumer culture, she coordinates the statewide Mass Memories Road Show program and teaches public history at UMass Boston. She served on the Stone Building Feasibility & Reuse Committee and is a Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member.
Sabine Clark – Director
Sabine became involved with Lexington Lyceum Advocates after participating in the ‘Dismantling Racism in our Town’ program. She co-chairs First Parish Lexington’s Racial Justice Team, and volunteers for events and communications at LexFarm. After a career in software sales and marketing, she spent five years as a co-owner/operator of a small retail shop in Lexington center.
Volunteers
Anne Grady
Is an architectural historian specializing in Historic Structure Reports and dendrochronology. She was an author of the 2009 Stone Building Report. Her current research focus is slavery in 18th c. Lexington. She is a member of the Follen Church and has lived in Lexington since 1965. She served on the Stone Building Feasibility & Reuse Committee
Kathleen Dalton
A biographer and public historian, she is the author of Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life (2002). She has worked as a history teacher, a professor, and as a public history consultant with the National Park Service and the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Dr. Jeff Howry
Has worked in real estate finance and historic preservation including historic property inventories, record documentation, and archaeology. He chaired the Stone Building Feasibility / Reuse Committee.
Margaret Micholet
Was a historian for the National Park Service. She served on the Lexington History Museums’ Slavery Interpretation Advisory Group and wrote the brochure, “Slavery in Colonial Lexington.” She is currently researching African American enslaved women in Lexington.
Melinda Nasardinov
Has a background in museums and historic houses. She served on the Stone Building Feasibility & Reuse Committee and has lived in Lexington since 2010.
Hui Chieh Jackson
Hui Chieh is a professional with a background in quality engineering and front-end web development. She actively seeks opportunities to contribute to local community projects and is currently the volunteer webmaster for Lexington Lyceum Advocates.