Chestnut Street Playhouse Hosts Mashantucket Pequot Museum Cultural Intelligence Workshop as Part of Norwich’s America 250 Celebration Community Event Focuses on Cultural Understanding, Indigenous History, and Inclusive Leadership NORWICH, CT — Chestnut Street Playhouse is proud to partner with the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center to host a Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Workshop as part of the America 250 Norwich CT Celebration. The interactive workshop will take place on Friday, June 12, 2026, at Chestnut Street Playhouse and welcomes artists, educators, nonprofit leaders, volunteers, cultural organizations, and community members to gather for an evening of meaningful conversation, learning, and connection centered on cultural understanding, Indigenous history, and inclusive leadership. “As President of the Board of Directors of Chestnut Street Playhouse, I am honored to welcome the Mashantucket Pequot Museum’s Cultural Intelligence Workshop to our stage as part of Norwich’s America 250 Celebration,” said JoAnn Beguhl. “At Chestnut Street Playhouse, our mission is to use the power of storytelling to deepen understanding, strengthen community, and create space for voices that shape our shared history.” “Hosting this workshop is a meaningful extension of that mission,” Beguhl continued. “It allows us to stand alongside one of the region’s most important cultural institutions in recognizing the Indigenous history that predates Norwich itself, while fostering dialogue that moves our community forward with respect, awareness, and connection.” Representatives from the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center emphasized the workshop’s focus on both education and relationship-building within the community. “Our MPMRC Cultural Intelligence (CQ) workshops help people to strengthen personal cultural competence and then build their own cultural intelligence upon that solid foundation,” shared representatives of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center CQ Team. “We hope that sharing our traditional Pequot knowledge along with modern CQ science will inspire future learning about many cultures.” “Since the 1980s, the people of Norwich have been very strong supporters of our Mashantucket Pequot Tribal community,” the CQ Team added. “Bringing our MPMRC workshop to such a historic building in Norwich is just another reflection of our long-term and special community-to-community relationship.” The Mashantucket Pequot Museum’s Cultural Intelligence Workshop explores four key learning areas: Culture-Focused Knowledge Trauma-Based Knowledge Historic Knowledge Emotional Intelligence Participants will gain practical strategies for navigating culturally diverse environments while strengthening communication, empathy, collaboration, and inclusive leadership practices. The workshop also offers an opportunity to deepen understanding of Native American culture, Tribal communities, and the historical context that continues to shape southeastern Connecticut today. “This workshop is about creating space for people to listen, learn, and better understand one another,” Beguhl added. “We hope attendees leave not only with new knowledge, but with a stronger sense of connection to our community and to the stories that have shaped this region for generations.” On behalf of the America’s 250th Norwich CT Committee, Kari Wall shared the importance of including the workshop in the citywide commemoration. “This program reflects the heart of our commemoration: honoring the full and complex history of our community while creating opportunities for learning, dialogue, and connection,” Wall said. “Indigenous history is essential to understanding Norwich's story, and we are grateful to help support a program that encourages respect, awareness, and a deeper appreciation of the people and cultures that shaped this region long before the founding of the United States.” “We are honored to include this workshop as part of the America’s 250th Norwich CT celebrations and thankful to our partners for creating a space where history, culture, and community can come together in such a meaningful way.” The event is especially valuable for: Community theater organizations Actors, directors, and educators Nonprofit leaders and volunteers Cultural organizations and event planners Community advocates and civic leaders For Chestnut Street Playhouse, the workshop reflects an ongoing commitment to inclusive storytelling, arts education, community engagement, and building stronger cultural connections throughout southeastern Connecticut. “As a community theater, we want to be a ‘theater for the community’ — and that means embracing the often storied history of all of our community members,” said Lisa Bono, the Managing Artistic Director of Chestnut Street Playhouse. “Theater is the ideal place to learn about a lived experience in real time, with an open heart and mind, and with compassion for our storytellers. It is immediate and relevant. It’s important for any community, and it’s what we want to nurture in ours.” Event Details Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Workshop Presented by the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center Location: Chestnut Street Playhouse Date: Friday, June 12, 2026 Reception: 4:30 PM Workshop Begins: 5:00 PM The event is Pay What You Can with general seating available. To reserve a spot, visit: CSP.ludus.com