The Lucy Burns Museum at the Workhouse Arts Center is proud to present the second season of Learning at Lunch, a series illuminating aspects of the former prison’s 91-year history. Each month, we invite an expert to tackle a topic from our complicated past. After a brief 30-minute talk, presenters answer audience questions, and all attendees are invited to visit the museum following the program. Table seating is provided and attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch; snacks and beverages are available for purchase.

The history of the Workhouse cannot be separated from the labor of those incarcerated within. Inmate labor transformed dramatically throughout the lifespan of the Workhouse, from dairy farms and bakeries in the early days to work release and office jobs. Join museum coordinator Jay Loy for an exploration of labor as a tool for reform as we use primary sources to discuss the strengths and failures of this historically groundbreaking criminal corrections project.