Our Mission

The Mission of Friends of the JFK Birthplace is to join as partners with the National Park Service to promote, enhance, celebrate and help preserve the historic site at 83 Beals Street, Brookline, Massachusetts, as a community and national historic treasure shared by all.

 

Vision

Friends of the JFK Birthplace primarily supports the work of John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site in its preservation of the site and sharing the history of the place where the future President Kennedy learned values that inspired a life in public service.  His mother, Rose Kennedy, recreated her family's first home to share her memories of those early years of the family with visitors, present aspects of life in 1917 to future generations of Americans, and memorialize her late son following his assassination.  Today, the site continues commemorating not only JFK's early life, but the ideas and values he and his family left behind.

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Values

Together, we are committed to creating an inclusive and vibrant community that reflects the ideals that JFK and the Kennedy family championed:

• Legacy of Service -- We honor JFK's and his family's public service commitment by modeling the value of public service and actively engaging in our mission to educate and inspire others.

• Community Engagement -- We strive to build meaningful connections with diverse communities, ensuring that our programs and outreach resonate with all, including those historically marginalized.

• Respect and Inclusivity -- We embrace open-mindedness, collegiality, and mutual respect, fostering an environment where everyone feels welcome to share their perspectives.

• Lifelong Learning -- We are dedicated to continuous learning, including topics and ideas outside of our personal experiences and comfort zones, encouraging curiosity and growth among our members and the public.

• Sustainability -- We aim for financial and operational sustainability to ensure the long-term impact of our initiatives and the preservation of JFK's legacy.

 

Future Goals

Looking ahead, Friends of the JFK Birthplace will play a vital role in enhancing the site's visibility, expanding programming, and securing funding to support inclusive and impactful initiatives. We aim to:

• Promote civic engagement and cultural education rooted in the Kennedy legacy.

• Support programming that reflects diverse voices and experiences, including BIPOC communities, immigrants, women, and people with disabilities.

• Help realize the site's vision for robust educational and internship opportunities, especially for underserved schools and communities.

• Maintain a dynamic online presence to inform and engage the public.

 

The JFK Birthplace remains a powerful symbol of American history and democratic values. With the support of the Friends group, its potential as a cultural and educational resource can be fully realized for generations to come.