A mural honoring Carrie Saxon Perry was dedicated at SAND Elementary School in Hartford, commemorating her legacy as the city's first Black woman mayor.
On June 25, 2023, the Hartford Courant reported on the dedication of a new mural honoring Carrie Saxon Perry at SAND Elementary School in Hartford's North End—the very community that had been central to her political base and lifelong advocacy. The mural served as a lasting visual tribute to Perry's groundbreaking tenure as Hartford's first Black woman mayor.
The dedication ceremony brought together community members, former colleagues, city officials, and residents who wished to honor Perry's legacy of civil rights advocacy, housing reform, and progressive leadership. The mural's placement at an elementary school was particularly symbolic, ensuring that generations of Hartford schoolchildren would grow up learning about Perry's historic achievements and her commitment to the city's most vulnerable communities.
This public commemoration reflected a broader movement in Hartford and across the United States to properly recognize and memorialize the contributions of Black women political pioneers, whose achievements have often been under-documented in mainstream historical narratives. The mural stands as a permanent reminder of Perry's role in breaking barriers as the first African American woman elected mayor of a major New England city, ensuring her story continues to inspire future generations of leaders in Hartford and beyond.