Felt Estate hosting watch party Oct. 8

Facilitator, author Priya Parker talks about importance of gatherings.

The Felt Mansion, 6597 138th Ave.

The Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave., is hosting a watch party for Michigan Humanities’ Great Michigan Gathering Kickoff featuring Priya Parker on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at 7 p.m.

The watch party, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., will tune into the kickoff event’s livestream, featuring a conversation between Parker and Michigan Humanities’ President and CEO Jennifer Rupp. They will discuss the importance of gathering intentionally, why gatherings matter today, how individuals can build connection and community and why gathering is essential to the humanities.

Parker is a facilitator, strategic advisor, and author of “The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters” and “The Art of Fighting: The Transformative Power of Conflict.” She is executive producer and host of the New York Times podcast, “Together Apart.”

Trained in the field of conflict resolution, Parker has spent 20 years guiding leaders and groups through complicated conversations about community, identity, and vision at moments of transition.

This watch party is a part of Michigan Humanities’ free, three-year initiative, the Great Michigan Gathering. This initiative aligns with Michigan Humanities’ mission and values to unite communities across Michigan through a cohesive series of free programs, resources and partnerships.

Each year deepens the work of the previous year by using a framework that builds on connection, awareness, sharing, understanding, truth and growth.

The Felt Estate is proud to be a Gathering Partner, bringing three years of free programming to Laketown Township.

To RSVP to the event or for more information, click here or email operations@feltmansion.org.

About The Felt Estate

Located along West Michigan’s lakeshore, the Felt Estate is a historic estate and community resource committed to preservation, education, conservation, and connection.

Through public programs, events, and partnerships, the estate creates opportunities for residents and visitors to gather, learn, and build community. As host of the Great Michigan Gathering Kickoff Watch Party, the Felt Estate continues its mission of bringing people together in a place where history and meaningful connections thrive.

Construction on the mansion began in 1925 by Dorr Felt, inventor of the Comptometer, the first machine that could do all four math functions — add, subtract, multiply and divide. The building was finished in 1928.

Felt’s wife, Agnes, died in 1928, six weeks after the house was complete. Dorr died two years later.

The property went on to serve as a minor seminary for the Augustinian order (attended by Pope Leo XIV), a state prison, and a Michigan State Police post before the property was purchased by Laketown Township.

Today, following years of restoration by the Friends of the Felt Estate, the mansion is a top cultural, educational, and event destination, welcoming thousands of visitors annually.

About Michigan Humanities

Michigan Humanities strives to bring people together through stories, histories, cultures, and conversations. In carrying out this mission, Michigan Humanities builds awareness and excitement for humanities in everyday life, achieves best practices and sustainability for all humanities programs and services in Michigan, and upholds the following key values: uplifting all Michiganders; discovery and understanding; authentic conversation; respectful collaboration; and meaningful experiences. Michigan Humanities’ vision is a more thoughtful, connected, engaged, and informed Michigan.