Newcastle, ME: Sunday, Aug. 16, 5 to 6 p.m., on YouTube at bit.ly/393QLYU: Inspired by Frances Perkins’ legacy, the Frances Perkins Center is rising to the challenges of our time. Each time she faced difficulty, Frances, ever a problem solver, would not merely carry on–she forged boldly ahead. In that spirit, we hope you’ll join us as we transform our traditional August garden party in Maine to a virtual event to host friends from around the globe.

Join friends from around the globe on Frances Perkins Center’s YouTube channel to celebrate and applaud:

A Major Milestone: 2020 marks the Frances Perkins Center's ownership of the historic 1837 Brick House – a National Historic Landmark – that was Frances' ancestral home. From the comfort of your home, plan to join us on a virtual tour through the home that Frances cherished and meander through the beautiful gardens and surrounding 57-acre saltwater farm where she found respite surrounded by nature.

2020 Intelligence and Courage Award Honoree Alice Kessler-Harris: Columbia University Professor Emerita and past president of the Society of American Historians, Kessler-Harris will present a compelling portrait of Frances’ role in reshaping the role of government as Americans faced the Great Depression. “What would Frances do?” has never been a more timely question as COVID-19 represents the greatest, most widespread threat to workers and economic security since the Depression. Solutions she forged then, including unemployment insurance, are the underpinnings of the safety net we’re relying on in this current crisis.

2020 Open Door Award Honorees -the founders of the Frances Perkins Center: Seven Lincoln County Maine citizens who recognized the need to honor and preserve the legacy of the woman behind the New Deal who believed that “The people are what matter to government, and a government should aim to give all the people under its jurisdiction the best possible life.” Founders include Frances Perkins’ grandson Tomlin Perkins Coggeshall; Mount Holyoke College trustee Elizabeth Allen; former Sr. VP of Coastal Enterprises, Inc (CEI) Carla Dickstein, PhD; landscape design architect Christopher Rice; the Honorable Leah Sprague; former professor of Economics and Women’s and Gender Studies Susan Feiner, PhD; and the late labor organizer Gretel Porter.

Come be inspired. Take in the atmosphere of the Homestead and the thoughtful perspective and inspiration of Professor Kessler-Harris. Enjoy company with Frances Perkins’ grandson Tomlin Perkins Coggeshall and the FPC’s founders, our board and staff, and the many supporters who have made preservation of this treasured landscape and the vital legacy of Frances Perkins a reality, for now and for future generations. Find us at bit.ly/393QLYU or search for “Frances Perkins Center” on YouTube.

To learn more about the Frances Perkins Center, call (207) 563-3374, email info@francesperkinscenter.org, or visit www.FrancesPerkinsCenter.org