Bailey Hall
University of Southern Maine
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.
Executive Director
Molly Curren Rowles joined the ACLU of Maine as its executive director in May 2024. Prior to this role, she was executive director of the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine for seven years, where she worked to engage community, build programs, grow capacity, and strengthen organizational development. 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, parental rights, and habitability cases. In 2016, she took on the role of Intake Manager at Pine Tree and helped to build a statewide intake program that connected six offices around the state through training, support, technological resources, and infrastructure. As a child growing up “off the grid” on a small family farm in rural New Hampshire, Curren Rowles 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 civil rights and civil liberties issues we face – from strengthening our democracy and supporting the rule of law, to preserving bodily autonomy and holding government accountable. Curren Rowles is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Smith College, from which she earned her B.A. in Religion and Biblical Literature. She earned her J.D. from Cornell Law School with a concentration in public interest law. She serves on the board of the National Digital Equity Center and is a member of the Maine Artificial Intelligence Task Force. She lives in Portland with her husband, three children, two cats, one dog, and five chickens.
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