Cora di Brazzà Foundation plans 2026 Memory Parlor in Philadelphia

The Mt. Pleasant nonprofit will host its two-day 2026 Memory Parlor, Shadow of Intention, on July 22-23 at the Philadelphia Masonic Temple as the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The program will bring together scholars, jurists, artists, and public intellectuals to examine intention, conscience, and moral responsibility across history, law, philosophy, and the arts.

Why it matters: - The 2026 Memory Parlor aims to connect history, law, philosophy, religion, and art around a single theme: how intention shapes action and moral responsibility. - The event is timed to the U.S. semiquincentennial, giving the program a national anniversary frame with global parallels. - The gathering also links American founding ideals to nuclear ethics, international criminal law, Buddhism, Korean independence history, and abolitionism.

What happened: - The Cora di Brazzà Foundation will host Shadow of Intention, its 2026 Memory Parlor, on July 22-23 at the historic Philadelphia Masonic Temple. - The Mt. Pleasant, Michigan nonprofit describes the annual forum as a two-day effort to connect fragmented narratives of peace, justice, history, and philosophy. - Registration is required, seating is limited, and more information is available at shadowofintention.com.

The details: - The 2026 program is shaped by four anniversaries: the 25th anniversary of G. E. M. Anscombe's death, the 70th anniversary of her essay Mr. Truman's Degree, the 30th anniversary of the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on nuclear weapons, and the 125th anniversary of Ham Sok Hon's birth. - Sandra Weber, a historian and Foundation board member, said the year's Memory Parlor focuses on intention and its role in conscience and morality in public and private life. - Clifton Truman Daniel will reflect on his encounters with Hiroshima survivors and on preserving the legacy of Sadako Sasaki. - Dr. Hope Elizabeth May will examine Anscombe's theory of intention and its connection to Mr. Truman's Degree. - Stephen Rapp will discuss the role of intent in prosecuting genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. - Dr. Won Kwang Paik will present Power in the Nuclear Age, focusing on military, diplomatic, legal, and moral power in reducing nuclear risk. - Sandra Weber will examine John Brown's 1859 Declaration of Liberty and its link to ideals, intention, and action. - Dr. Guy Newland will examine the Buddhist principle of Right Intention and its significance for ethical conduct and moral responsibility. - Jun Bum Sun will introduce the first complete English translation of Ham Sok Hon's poem The Great Declaration and discuss its reflections on Asia's contributions to freedom, conscience, and social renewal. - The program will include a display of Violet Oakley's rare The Holy Experiment, a limited-edition folio reproducing her Pennsylvania State Capitol mural cycle. - Participants will also get a private guided tour of The Declaration's Journey at the Museum of the American Revolution. - The exhibition traces the history and influence of the Declaration of Independence through rare documents and artifacts spanning 250 years. - The Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation supported the tour by loaning Philip Jaisohn's historic travel trunk and materials tied to Korea's 1919 Independence Movement.

Between the lines: - The event is built to make a philosophical point as much as a historical one: moral questions recur across eras, but they look different in each legal and cultural setting. - By pairing Hiroshima, abolitionism, Buddhist ethics, Korean independence, and nuclear law, the Foundation is pushing a transnational view of freedom and responsibility. - The art and museum components suggest the organizers want beauty and artifacts to function as interpretive tools, not just background material.

What's next: - The Memory Parlor will take place over two days in Philadelphia on July 22-23. - The Foundation is expected to use the program to continue its public scholarship and international dialogue work. - Attendees must register in advance before the limited seating fills.

The bottom line: - The Cora di Brazzà Foundation is using the Declaration's 250th anniversary to stage a wide-ranging conversation about intention, conscience, and the moral costs of history.