Dear Friends,
The world around us has been heavy- so heavy. Trauma, injustice and heartache abound. We are afraid; we are enraged. Yet still, we are hopeful. It is so important that our hope remains, because with it comes action.
I urge us all, in these times of turmoil, to be radically involved. Involved with the issues that move you. Involved with your communities. Involved in changing the systems that will make us a better state.
The involvement of our member groups in making positive change continues to grow. They have shared so many exciting and uplifting events and updates below, and I am grateful for us all to share in their hope and action.
With hope and gratitude,
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Amanda Langley (she/her/hers), Director of the MaineShare Program
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Exciting Member Updates and Events! |
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Resources for Organizing and Social Change is Calling All Artists! |
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Resources for Organizing and Social Change (ROSC) is excited to introduce SNAHP!-- Solidarity Network Against Hunger and Poverty. This group is built on lived experience and gathers every other week to build organizational and activist skills with each other, all while planning community care, mutual aid, popular education, and legislative and policy changes. SNAHP’s recent contributions to the Ending Hunger in Maine By 2030 plan helped bring impacted people into the fold of the planning and resulted in successful legislation that will address root causes of poverty and hunger. To read more about these policy contributions, click here!
ROSC is seeking a local artist to create the new SNAHP logo– submissions are open now through June 20th, and the chosen artist will win $100 and credit on the ROSC and SNAHP website! For more information on logo requirements or details, please contact rosc.maine@gmail.com.
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Viles Arboretum announces New Membership Benefits! |
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Viles Arboretum announces new membership benefits through the American Horticultural Society's Reciprocal Admissions Program. This program offers members free admission and/or additional benefits at more than 345 gardens throughout North America and the Caribbean. A current membership card from the American Horticultural Society or a participating RAP garden, such as Viles Arboretum, entitles members to special admissions privileges and/or discounts at many different types of gardens. For more information on this program, please read here. To learn more about becoming a member of Viles Arboretum, please visit their member page! |
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WERU Presents Live Music! |
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Mark your calendar for WERU’s summer event programming– both in-person and live broadcasts! The new Summer Concert Series features Maine musical talent and is funded in part by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission. In addition, the reggae festival is back after a two year absence! Upcoming events included below; visit the website for more info.
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June 18 – Firefly the Hybrid @ Bangor Arts Exchange 8PM. [Tickets here]
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July 8 – GoldenOak w. Caroline Cotter @ Franklin Street Parklet, Ellsworth, 7PM. [FREE!]
- July 23 – WERU’s Reggae on the Harbor @ Buoy Park, Rockland, 5PM. [Ticketed.]
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August 20 – Songwriters’ Round Featuring: Viva, Adam Nordell, and Jenny Lou Drew. @ Barncastle, Blue Hill, 7PM. [Ticketed.]
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September 10 –Roy Davis and the Tusk Audio Session Band @ Waterfall Arts Chalk Walk, Belfast. [FREE!]
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New Housing Support Programs at ProsperityME |
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ProsperityME is excited to begin their Housing Navigator Program, which has been launched with the recent passing of the Housing Navigator Pilot project under LD 1733. Housing navigators will work with families experiencing or at risk of homelessness by helping them obtain and maintain housing following the end of a lease. This program will complement other housing programs at ProsperityME which have served over 1,000 immigrant individuals and families at risk of homelessness amidst a housing shortage and competitive housing market. Read about other program updates and support their programs here! |
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Be a prepared voter with Maine Citizens for Clean Elections! |
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Be prepared before heading to the polls for the primary election on June 14! To look up what’s on your ballot, visit Vote411.org, an online voter database that’s a one-stop-shop. Vote 411 is a League of Women Voters project, and data on this site was gathered by dedicated League volunteers — real Mainers providing local information. To feel confident when heading to the polls, start by plugging in your address on Vote411.org, and then you can:
- See what’s on your ballot
- Check your voter registration
- Find your polling place
- See where candidates stand on the issues
And more! For more info or questions, contact info@lwvme.org.
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Mano en Mano celebrates El Día de Las Madres and other Updates |
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Mano en Mano held a special Mother’s Day celebration recently, planned by staff and community members of Nuestra Voz, to bring people together and share culture and tradition with all of the community. They focused on creating a space to share and uplift all of the mothers, single mothers, grandmothers, and parents that can’t be with their children due to borders, walls, bars and other barriers. This year’s event had activities for all, including performances of traditional dances from Michoacán and Jalisco.
Mano en Mano is also excited to share that their Estamos Aquí Fund, a mutual aid fund designed to support immigrants and farm workers in Maine encountering financial challenges, has successfully redistributed a total of $613,358 across the state. This fund has supported 2,991 individuals financially impacted by COVID-19, many of whom cannot access other government support.
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Join Friends of Casco Bay in celebrating the Clean Water Act |
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To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act, Friends of Casco Bay is hosting a series of events to celebrate this foundational law that has helped improve the health of waters in Maine and across the country. These watershed events include:
Head to the website to sign up for emails or learn more about these & other events!
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Join MOFGA for Bread & Brews and Upcoming Events! |
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The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) is hosting Bread & Brews: A Celebration of Grains from Maine on Saturday, June 25, 2022, 3-7 p.m. at the Common Ground Education Center in Unity. Join us on the MOFGA grounds for a celebration of Maine-grown grain and the people who use it to make bread and beer! Try beer from local breweries, learn about grain at demos & workshops, and enjoy good food and music. Local breweries will be sharing their brews alongside music, food vendors and workshops all afternoon. The Maine Grain Alliance (MGA) will be cooking up fresh breads in their wood-fired oven all afternoon. MGA is offering a special workshop on pizza right before this event, at the same location. Learn more about Bread & Brews and other upcoming events on the events calendar.
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The Genesis Fund: Helping Knox County Homeless Coalition Address Affordable Housing in Midcoast Maine |
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The Genesis Fund has long partnered with Knox County Homeless Coalition (KCHC), a homeless services organization and family shelter in Midcoast Maine. With Genesis Fund’s support, KCHC has grown from 2.5 employees to a team of 50, providing case management for over 500 community members. KCHC has also expanded to offer educational services, transportation assistance, and a food and emergency supply pantry– the needs are ever-increasing. Recently, KCHC and The Genesis Fund have partnered on two affordable housing projects in Rockland- the first purchased to be a “forever affordable property,” and the second with 20 units of affordable housing, 4-6 allotted for Habitat for Humanity homes. Please read on for more information! |
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Maine Audubon Native Plant Festival and Sale |
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Maine Audubon is pleased to announce their Native Plant Festival and Sale! Visit the Gilsland Farm Audubon Center in Falmouth on Saturday, June 11th from 9am – 3pm to see 50+ species of native wildflowers, shrubs, and seedlings. This event is free and will also include workshops, info tables, expert advice, books, and more. See here for more information.
And starting June 16th, order plants online for pick-up at Maine Audubon Sanctuaries at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth and Fields Pond in Holden!
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Events in full swing at Bicycle Coalition of Maine! |
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Event season is in full swing at the Bicycle Coalition of Maine—and there are options across the state! If you’re interested in free urban riding classes or trail riding clinics, there are those. If you want to make repairs to your bike, there are free Fix-A-Bike workshops. And for a free kid-friendly activity, don’t miss the bike rodeos!
Also upcoming is the statewide Women’s Ride on June 4, the Great Maine Bike Swap in Gorham on June 12, the BikeMaine Weekend in Lincoln from August 26-28, and the Maine Woods Rambler in Millinocket September 24-25. Check out this events calendar for more details & registration information!
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Join the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine at the Pride Portland Parade! |
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The Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine (HHRC) community is excited to join the Pride Portland! Parade on Saturday, June 18th at 1:00. They represent members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community and join together to celebrate and support human rights and equal rights for all by marching in this year's parade. The HHRC parade theme is LOVE IS MORE FUN. Those wanting to join are encouraged to arrive by 12:30 p.m. at One Monument Square to say hello, meet new friends, and get your t-shirt. The Parade begins at 1:00. Register to join us here!
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Hardy G*rls Healthy Wom*n seeking Feminist Action Board and Program Coordinator! |
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Hardy Girls Healthy Women's (free) high school program, the Feminist Action Board, is accepting applications through June 15 for the 2022-2023 school year. If you know a high school girl or nonbinary student passionate about activism and feminism, please share this info with them via this link! Additionally, HGHW is hiring a part-time program coordinator– interested folks can apply by June 10 and learn more here.
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Maine Center for Economic Policy shares ‘Best of the State Budget’ |
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The Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP) has summarized the state budget, approved in April. This summary highlights the historic investments in families, workers, and communities made by this bipartisan budget. It also shares how these resources will be used to expand child care, health care, education, emergency housing, and to boost incomes of households with low and middle income. Read the full MECEP budget summary here!
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New Ventures & CA$H Maine Helps Mainers Claim $850 Relief Checks |
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Inflation relief checks of $850 for Maine residents are one result of the Maine State Legislature’s
supplemental budget signed by Governor Mills in April. Checks will be mailed via the U.S.P.S. starting in June. Full-time residents who file a 2021 Maine income tax return by October 31, 2022 are eligible to receive the payments based on adjusted gross income, and do not need to take further action to receive a check.
Seniors receiving Social Security and others who do not typically file tax returns will need to file a 2021 Maine tax return to receive a check. To receive free help with filing a 2021 Maine tax return, please visit the CA$H Maine website!
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This is just a small sampling of the critical work MaineShare members do to build a better Maine. Please join us in supporting and learning from the great work of ALL our member groups.
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