Sculpture Reveal: Ithaca's Iconic Women

Join INHS, Southside Pride, and GIAC for the unveiling of two statues honoring Frances Perkins and and Lucy Brown by world-renowned sculptor Meredith Bergman!

The event will begin in the parking lot at Breckenridge Place Apartments (100 W Seneca St, Ithaca) and move along Cayuga Street to Henry St. John School (301 S Geneva St, Ithaca), guided by a procession celebrating local change-making women throughout history.

About the Women

Lucy Brown dedicated her life to advancing racial justice, educational equity, and affordable housing. As a co-founder of INHS, Lucy Brown was instrumental in the nonprofit’s long-term growth and commitment to affordable housing, especially in Ithaca’s  Southside neighborhood. She was a longtime board member of INHS and served on the Ithaca City School Board, the Board of Public Works, and Urban Renewal Agency as a strong advocate for neighborhood residents, ensuring that resident issues are central in all decision-making.

Frances Perkins was a lifelong advocate for working people  and social reformer. She was the first female presidential cabinet secretary and the driving force behind Franklin D. Roosevelt’s historic New Deal. She brought to life Social Security and public works programs that helped bring millions out of poverty during a pivotal time in history. Perkins taught at the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell from 1957 to 1965, residing at the Telluride House.