Day for Democracy

May 16, 2026
9:00am - 1:00pm (ET)

In-Person

Bailey Hall
University of Southern Maine

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Summary

The Day for Democracy is organized by a coalition of civic groups across southern Maine to bring community organizations and voters together for a full day of education, dialogue, and action. The goal is simple: come together, strengthen civic engagement, and empower people to protect our democratic institutions.

ACLU of Maine Executive Director Molly Curren Rowles will deliver the opening keynote. After the keynote, stick around for a variety of inspiring workshops, community speakers, and live music. It will be a powerful reminder of what is possible when people gather to work and learn together.

This is a crucial year for our democracy, with elections for governor, Congress, and the Maine State Legislature. But this is bigger than politics – it is always critically important to celebrate the power of voting, and to do all we can to safeguard our elections. The more information we have, the more we can understand the threats we face – and the opportunities available to protect democracy.

Workshop information:

For the first hour, you can choose among Youth Activism, Climate Justice, Peace and War, Affordability, or Public Schools. For the second hour, you can choose among Reconstruction, Community for ME, Election Safety, Unionizing, or Healthcare. Garrett Martin of the Maine Center for Economic Policy will focus on advancing equity and prosperity for all Maine people through issue-based analysis, education, and advocacy. Carlos Cueller will play us out with upbeat jazz.

Learn More & Register

Executive Director Molly Curren Rowles

Molly Curren Rowles

Executive Director

Molly Curren Rowles joined the ACLU of Maine as its executive director in May 2024. During this time of increasing threats to civil rights and civil liberties, she has focused on building an internal culture of belonging and excellence while helping to grow capacity, engagement, and sustainability at every level of the organization. Molly moved to Maine in 2008 for a Coffin Fellowship at Pine Tree Legal Assistance, where she trained as a litigator in complex family law cases and domestic violence advocacy. She then served as Pine Tree's York County Attorney, providing direct representation in consumer, eviction, public benefits, and habitability cases. In 2016, she took on the role of Intake Manager at Pine Tree and was responsible for building a statewide intake program that connected six offices around the state through training, support, technological resources, and infrastructure. Prior to joining the ACLU, Molly served as executive director of the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine for seven years, where she successfully completed a capital campaign, doubled the organization’s budget, and established a refugee resettlement program through HIAS that welcomed over 300 refugees to Maine between 2021-2024. As a child growing up “off the grid” on a small family farm in New Hampshire, Molly experienced the challenges of rural poverty and developed a deep connection to the natural world and a profound appreciation of the Bill of Rights. She is honored to serve the ACLU of Maine as it addresses some of the most contested and critical issues we face – from defending our democracy and the rule of law, to preserving bodily autonomy and combatting racial discrimination. Molly graduated cum laude from Cornell Law School, where she earned the Stanley E. Gould Prize for Public Interest Law and served as an Officer in the Cornell Legal Aid Clinic, Managing Editor of the Legal Information Institute Bulletin, and Editor of the Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Smith College, with a B.A. in Religion and Biblical Literature. Molly serves on the boards of the National Digital Equity Center and the Jewish Community Fund of Maine. She lives in Portland with her family.