Dear Friends,

Here at MaineShare, we are feeling the light and energy in the emergence of spring. There is more sunlight in our days, the sounds of birds greet us as we wake, and we are planning for exciting things to come. One thing that is very exciting and brings us energy is the addition of someone new to the MaineShare team. We are excited to welcome Birdie D'Agostino, Program Engagement Associate! Birdie will be spending half of her time at Maine Initiatives working with me and the MaineShare program, and half with other Maine Initiatives programs, and already has brought enthusiasm and laughter to the team. We are grateful to have Birdie's insight and experience and have no doubt that her addition will make MaineShare even better! Welcome, Birdie!

There is lots going on this spring in the worlds of our member groups, so please read on for events and updates! And don't forget to learn more about ROSC- Resources for Organizing and Social Change- in this month’s member spotlight!

Sending light and energy,

Support MaineShare and our members!

Maine Farmland Trust celebrates Agriculture Day at the Legislature

Last week, leaders at Maine Farmland Trust gathered together to celebrate Agriculture Day at the Legislature and brought state and community leaders together to discuss advancing solutions for the future of farming. Through lively discussions, Maine Farmland Trust proposed ways for community members to get engaged in shaping policy to better support Maine’s farmers and food economy. To learn more, read Maine Farmland Trust’s Policy Priorities for the year, and sign up for action alerts so you too can get involved.  



Pictured from left: MFT’s CEO Amy Fisher, Senator Stacy Brenner, Senator Craig Hickman, and Rep Laurie Osher

MECEP: Hot off the Press! Economic Insights for Maine

MECEP just released its interactive data maps with economic trends in Maine. Dig into the on-line map to compare counties or legislative districts or to see Maine as a whole. Zoom in on the map to find your neighborhood and click to see the trends in your House or Senate district. You can also download fact sheets with data by district.

Click here to explore the data or download a fact sheet!

Teach with the Bicycle Coalition of Maine!

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM) has launched a new instructor certification program for anyone interested in teaching Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety and Skills Education. Upon completion and certification, participants will be able to deliver on- and off-bike programming, such as skills clinics, bicycle maintenance classes, bike rodeos, and in-classroom safety presentations. Apply here!

Maine Equal Justice partners on efforts to expand access to MaineCare

Maine Equal Justice has been working with impacted communities and partner organizations so that everyone with low income can access MaineCare when they need to - no exceptions, no exclusions! We’re proud to partner with Presente Maine, New Mainers Public Health Initiative, Maine Center for Economic Policy, Consumers for Affordable Health Care, Maine People's Alliance, Maine Access Immigrant Network, Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, and Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition. Read more about this collaborative effort here.

Learn more about Malaga Island with Friends of Casco Bay

Do you know the story of Malaga Island? Malaga is one of hundreds of islands in Casco Bay. If you were to visit Malaga a little more than a century ago, you would have met the people of a small, mixed-race fishing community. Their story is one that we all should know and can continue to learn from today. Learn more about this important history here.

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association Seed Swap and Scion Exchange

Join MOFGA for the 40th(!) Seed Swap & Scion Exchange, rescheduled to Sunday, April 2, 12-4 at the Common Ground Education Center in Unity. Gardeners and orchardists are invited to bring seeds, scionwood and cuttings to share at this free event. We should have over 100-plus types of scionwood to share, including scions from MOFGA's orchards! The event will include pruning demos and workshops on orcharding, seed saving and more. Learn more and register here! 

Save the Date for Disability Pride!

Save the date! Disability Rights Maine will once again be hosting Disability Pride this July to celebrate disability. There will be speakers, music, dancing, and so much more. Updates will be shared regularly on our website and social media, so stay tuned for more information to come.

When: Friday July 21^st, 11am-3pm

Where: Mill Park, Augusta, ME 04330

Hardy Girls Op-Ed in the Press Herald and Registration for Spring Conferences Open!

We are pleased to share a recent Op-Ed published in the Portland Press Herald, co-written by Hardy Girls ED Adrienne Carmack and Kate Elmes, Chair of Maine's Permanent Commission on the Status of Women and Development Director at Trekkers. We invite you to read it here:

Commentary: Maine's girls and nonbinary youth deserve to be listened to

Registration is now open for the Be You Boldly spring conferences with Hardy Girls! These conferences are open to any self-identified girls and nonbinary youth (grades 4 to 8) and there are low- and no-cost options available for all registrants. Conferences will be held in April and have locations in Bangor, Waterville, and Portland. This is a day of celebration for our diverse identities and our brilliance, and has been planned by youth for youth. The conference will host workshops on identity, intersectional feminism, climate advocacy, LGBTQ+ support, and much, much more. More information and registration can be found here!

Updates from Sierra Club Maine

Sierra Club Maine is getting outside to enjoy our planet and give back in a 2-day Earth Day celebration! Join us April 21st & 22nd as we clean up our communities, hike the great outdoors, and march for environmental justice! Check out our Earth Day webpage to learn more and register for events.

30x30 Visioning & Strategizing with BIPOC/Frontline Communities: If you identify as a person of color, please join Sierra Club Maine's 30x30 visioning and strategic planning coalition centered around BIPOC Leadership and Frontline Communities. We will strategize how BIPOC communities will be centered in the State 30x30 conservation campaign. Please fill out this form with your availability.

Outings Leaders Wanted!: There is no lack of wonderful places to visit in Maine nor lack of interest in getting out to enjoy those places. Sierra Club Maine is looking for local outings leaders to help organize hikes, walks, and other outdoor adventures with the goal of engaging community members in conservation programs. Interested in becoming an outings leader? Training and support will be provided. Contact maine.chapter@sierraclub.org for more info.

Celebrate Earth Day with Film and Stories at Maine Audubon!

Maine Audubon is celebrating Earth Day for all ages in collaboration with both the Maine Outdoor Film Festival and Portland Stage .

The Earth Day Film Festival is a 21+ event on Friday, April 21, 7pm at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth. Join us for a selection of short independent films, curated specifically for this event,featuring the outdoors and environment. Films will be viewed outdoors. There will be heaters and a tent, but come prepared with hats, warm shoes, blankets, etc. Pre-registration is required ($12 members/$15 non-members) and admission includes 2 complimentary drink tickets.

Earth Day Play Me a Story is an event at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth for ages 4-10. This special theater event will be held Saturday, April 22, 10am – Noon. This Portland Stage performance brings together specially-curated Earth Day themed children’s stories, a poem from a Telling Room collection by young Maine writers, followed by an interactive acting workshop with Portland Stage’s Education Artists and Maine Audubon educators. Event takes place outdoors. 

Fee: $15/child with accompanying adult, $8 for each additional child

To learn more about both events, please click here!

Maine Alliance for Arts Education invites you to Show us your art!

Maine Alliance for Arts Education invites all to show us your art! If you are a Maine-based arts educator or teaching artist; a classroom teacher or school administrator; related to a student artist; represent a community-based arts organization, art school, or summer camp; or if you are a student artist-- join us! Let’s co-create a vibrant mosaic of the myriad of diverse processes, products, bodies, voices, students, teachers, and collaborators working at the intersection of arts and education in Maine. These ART-ifacts will be posted on the Maine Alliance for Arts Education Facebook page, included on our new, improved website (coming soon), and sprinkled throughout future newsletters. Please submit to: hello@maineartsed.org

Winter Break Fun and Food Pantry Updates with Mano en Mano

Mano en Mano provides educational services to students across the state through the Maine Migrant Education program (Maine MEP) which focuses on supporting students to reach their academic goals and foster socio-emotional growth.  Regional coordinators work alongside students’ families, teachers, and schools to foster academic growth and success and facilitate culturally relevant programming that celebrates students' identity and culture. This winter, regional coordinators distributed activity kits to all students in the program that included: the ingredients to make and decorate cookies, materials to make their own body scrub, and instructions to help guide their activities and fun! Read more about this program and its recent efforts here.

Mano en Mano is also excited to announce that after a brainstorming and voting process, community members selected the name “Our Mercadito” (Our Little Market) for their food pantry. The purpose of the pantry is to provide continual and reliable access to food, especially culturally relevant foods that are difficult to find at local grocery stores. While the Mercadito is small, it has already made a big impact on the Downeast community in its first year, distributing more than 105,113 pounds of food (about 126,136 meals)! Read more here!

Join Natural Resources Council of Maine at the State House Action Day May 4!

Please join NRCM in Augusta on May 4th for our annual State House Action Day! At the event, you’ll hear from NRCM's staff experts about the top bills we're working on to protect Maine's climate, environment, and communities, and we'll share tips on how to talk to your legislators to encourage their support. Then we’ll help you find your legislators in the halls of the State House so you can have a conversation with them. Advance registration is required.

FMI and to register: https://nrcm.salsalabs.org/shad2023/index.html 

Dates Announced for Maine Recycling and Solid Waste Conference and Trade Show

Mark your calendars for the 28th annual Maine Recyling and Solid Waste Conference and Trade Show, brought to you by Maine Resource Recovery Association. This year, the conference will be held May 8-9, 2023 at Sunday River in Newry. Attendee and vendor registration is now available at this link!

 Support the MaineShare and our members!