Perkins’s legacy is everywhere today. Just last year, a record 48 million people found economic refuge through state unemployment insurance programs, up from just 5 million the year before the pandemic. It was a vital lifeline, allowing people who had lost their jobs to feed their families and heat their homes when the world’s economy shut down reports long-time Washington Post journalist and board member Kirstin Downey. Use our resources link to learn more. 

The Frances Perkins Center honors her legacy by sharing her commitment to the principle that government should provide all its people with the best possible life, and by preserving the place that shaped her character, The Frances Perkins Homestead National Historic Landmark. We convene leaders and future leaders in public policy, labor and related fields to generate creative solutions to today’s social and economic problems and teaches students of all ages about a remarkable woman whose work continues to improve the lives of ordinary Americans.