LEWISTON — Laura Fortman, executive director of the Frances Perkins Center, will be the featured speaker at the Great Falls Forum lecture series Thursday, April 18.

Fortman’s talk is titled “Frances Perkins: Lessons from a Maine Resident and New Deal Leader.” It will be held from noon to 1 p.m. April 18 in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library, 200 Lisbon St.

The Frances Perkins Center was established in 2009 to celebrate the legacy of Frances Perkins, the first female U.S. Cabinet member who served as Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Perkins was a principal architect behind much of the New Deal legislation in the 1930s, including the establishment of the Social Security system.

Fortman is a recognized leader on women’s rights, labor and employment issues, formerly serving as the executive director of the Maine Women’s Policy Center, leading advocacy efforts to improve opportunities for women and girls through state legislation. From 2003-2010 she was Maine’s Commissioner of Labor under Gov. John Baldacci where she was responsible for carrying out and enforcing many of the labor laws implemented by Perkins.

In her Forum presentation, Fortman will provide an inside look at the Frances Perkins Center, a living history resource on the Perkins’ family homestead, a 19th century saltwater farm in Newcastle. In addition, she will present an overview of Frances Perkins’ life, her Maine roots, and her role in shaping the New Deal.

Admission is free to all Forum events and no reservations are required.

Attendees are invited to bring brown-bag lunches, or to take advantage of the Forum’s partnership with Guthries cafe and request one of the eatery’s custom-made, gourmet sandwiches or salads to be delivered to the library in advance of the talk. Orders may be placed by calling Guthries at 376-3344.

The menu is available at www.guthriesplace.com. Coffee, tea and bottled water will be available on site at the library.

The Great Falls Forum is co-sponsored by Bates College, Lewiston Public Library and the Sun Journal.

More information on Thursday’s lecture or other upcoming events in the Great Falls Forum series is available by contacting the Lewiston Public Library at 513-3135 or www.LPLonline.org.