What we are doing:
May is Preservation Month! We're kicking it off with free walking tours all around the state TOMORROW (May 3) through Jane's Walk ME! With eleven unique tours in Portland you can explore everything from ghost signs and cemeteries to parks and public spaces. Pop over to Westbrook to tour thrift stores, markets, and little free libraries. See Yarmouth's history through the eyes of poets. Or, get to know historic Gorham right after the opening day of the Farmers Market! Greater Portland is wide open for you on May 3rd! No tickets or registration required just be there!
Speaking of Preservation Month, May is the perfect time to show your support for our work. As the leading nonprofit advocate for historic preservation in greater Portland, we are funded by you, our followers and supporters. Every contribution is meaningful to us and adds your voice to ours as we advocate for historic places that tell full, honest history of our cities, towns, and country. Give today and be part of the movement.
May is also our Call for Nominations for our 2025 Preservation Awards! Anyone can nominate a person, project, or program that supports our historic preservation mission. Submission requirements are on the website- no fee for nominating. Nominations are due by May 30th. Contact Alison Frazee with questions.
The City of Portland has launched the Reimagining Franklin visioning and implementation process to make major changes to the Franklin Street corridor. Kate and Alison attended an open house on April 17th where they chatted about the project with team members and other attendees, including GPL Trustees Bill Hall and Chloe Martin. We feel like this initiative is off to a good start- the strong project team is asking the right questions and getting public feedback early in the process. We were glad to see a lot of public support for restoring Lincoln Park. Staff will continue to engage and provide background information about the history of the corridor and urban renewal practices as well as recommendations for improvements that honor and uplift the history of the area.
GPL Executive Director Kate Lemos McHale
and Board Member Chloe Martin
What we are thinking about:
Alison joined a webinar hosted by Nonprofit VOTE to learn more about the legal boundaries for 501(c)3 nonprofits regarding nonpartisanship. As a 501(c)3, we are permitted to share information about candidates and their platforms without promoting one candidate over another. Our job is to provide you with all the information you need related to our mission and encourage action. With that in mind, here is a resource where you can find timely information about what's happening with cultural policy at the federal level and ways to voice your opinion: Cultural Alliance of Maine. Stay tuned, stay alert, and stay active.
After the first meeting of the Maine Deconstruction Network, Alison is getting up to speed on local and state policies and guidelines, such as the Maine Won't Wait four-year plan for climate action. Historic preservation is an integral part of climate action and we're eager to be active in these conversations, strategies, and action plans.
