During this free 6-part virtual series presented on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. from March 19th through April 23rd,
Join Frances Perkins Center Programs Coordinator Mary Reid on March 26, at 11:00 for an inspiring 1-hour free virtual presentation
Commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the signing of the Social Security Act at the Frances Perkins National Monument.
On September 7th, over 150 Frances Perkins Center supporters gathered at the national monument to celebrate this program’s historic achievements toward economic security in the United States, while also considering the opportunities–and challenges–for even more inclusive and supportive policies. To mark this significant anniversary, Frances Perkins Center honored:
James Roosevelt, Jr., former Associate Commissioner for the Office of Retirement Policy within the Social Security Administration and member of then-President-elect Barack Obama’s Social Security Administration transition team, in recognition of his work to strengthen and preserve social security programs. Throughout his career, Jim has worked across sectors to protect the most vulnerable Americans, tirelessly carrying forward the legacy and work of his grandfather, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Maine Women’s Lobby, a local, state, and federal public policy advocacy organization that works alongside the MWL Education Fund to convene organizations to meet shared policy goals, build feminist leaders, and advocate for an expanded and inclusive social safety net for Mainers. Their work was pivotal in securing Paid Family Medical Leave in Maine, a program that builds on New Deal-era economic and social reforms to support even more caregivers and Maine workers.
Photography by Kari Herer
Frances Perkins Center presented a virtual discussion of Derek Leebaert’s 2023 book Unlikely Heroes, in which Leebaert reexamines President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency by exploring the lives and achievements of his chosen inner circle: Frances Perkins, Henry Wallace, Harry Hopkins, and Harold Ickes. FPC Executive Director Amanda Hatch joined the author to learn more about these leaders and how they fostered the creative problem solving that led to the greatest policy achievements of the 20th century. This timely conversation was recorded on the heels of the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act—and as our nation faces some of the same issues that challenged the Roosevelt administration.
Meditation with AARP Maine
Join AARP Maine at the Frances Perkins National Monument to learn more about the practice of meditation. This event offers a unique opportunity to walk in Secretary Perkins’ footsteps and reflect on her contributions while finding solace in the serene environment of her family’s homestead. We will explore the practice of meditation and its benefits in navigating significant uncertainties, such as retirement security. Come and be part of this enriching experience that combines history, reflection, and personal well-being.
Rebecca Brenner Graham, Postdoctoral Research Associate at Brown University and author of Dear Miss Perkins: A Story of Frances Perkins’s Efforts to Aid Refugees from Nazi Germany, in conversation with Amanda Hatch, Executive Director of the Frances Perkins Center, at the Frances Perkins National Monument.
The Frances Perkins Center welcomed Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz to tour the Homestead and participate in a community meeting. During the meeting, state and local leaders voiced their support for a national monument designation.
An economy in turmoil, an angry and frustrated workforce, racial injustice, war and conflict threatening from abroad: these are just some of the issues that challenged the Roosevelt administration, and those we continue to face today.
We offer a recording of our conversation with Derek Leebaert, author of Unlikely Heroes: Franklin Roosevelt, His Four Lieutenants, and the World They Made, Giovanna Gray Lockhart, Executive Director of the Frances Perkins Center, and Scott Wallace, Co-Chair of the Wallace Global Fund. Panelists discussed how Frances Perkins, Henry Wallace, and FDR fostered problem-solving that led to the greatest policy achievements of the 20th century.
The Frances Perkins Center celebrated the opening of the newly preserved Frances Perkins Homestead National Historic Landmark and honored three individuals continuing in Frances Perkins’ footsteps by supporting the “best possible life” for all.
There is a detour posted on River Road in Newcastle, but the Frances Perkins National Monument is still accessible. We are open Thur-Sun 10am – 2pm. Visit us before we close for the season!
Our last day is Sunday, September 28th.
