The History and Implications of America’s Segregated Institutions

July 30 2026 @ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT

Much can be learned about human effort, societal forces of oppression and marginalization, and the possibilities for change by studying the rise and fall of “The Great Institutions.” This presentation will describe the founding of such institutions, with lofty and earnest aspirations, through the vast growth of segregation and congregation fed by eugenics ideology, and the eventual decline of the “total institution.”

Through photos, stories of people’s lives and narrative, we will explore the connections with today’s services, the insidious staying power of segregation, and the lessons we can draw from this. This workshop will be led by Betsy Neuville, who worked for many years creating community alternatives for hundreds of institutionalized people all over the world and has supported the settlement agreements at numerous facilities which have promised better lives for people.

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