Dear Friends,

As the ground thaws, flowers emerge, birds rejoin us to wake with the sun, and the other signs of spring greet us, it indeed feels like the oft quoted time of awakening.  As my calendar fills with in-person events with our members, as well as personal opportunities to gather in the warmer weather, I also feel the reawakening of community and take such joy in being in space together.  As we come back to life after a season of dark and cold and join in gathering, it provides a valuable opportunity to recommit to our values within our communities.  Recommit to a more just, more equitable, and safer Maine for ourselves and ALL of our neighbors. Recommit to the work it takes to achieve these values. Recommit to supporting the amazing organizations in our state who show us the way toward real, sustainable change for good.

Several representatives from our member groups recently recommitted to their racial justice and equity values by participating in a training from the Groundwater Institute, offered in partnership with Maine Initiatives. This 1.5 day immersive workshop provided deep learning and personal work around institutional and structural racism, while also providing a great opportunity to bring MaineShare members together in deeper relationship.  Our participating members greatly appreciated this opportunity– here is some feedback from participants:

• “I have long recognized the importance of equity and inclusion work, and I was grateful to have had this time away from my other responsibilities to attend this terrific training. The time to reflect on what I learned only reinforced that this work takes time and is well worth the effort.”
• “The presentations were different, thought provoking, and gave me new language. Using the term ‘white advantage’ (as discussed in the training) has been a total game changer.”

Thank you again to those who participated, to the Groundwater Institute and their skilled facilitators, and to Maine Initiatives for providing this opportunity for MaineShare members.

Please read on for other exciting member news and updates, and also check out our recent member spotlight on the work of ProsperityME!

With energy and gratitude,

Support MaineShare and our members!

Maine Hospice Council and Maine State Prison Chapel "Sounds of Comfort" Album

In 2017, Maine Hospice Council made prison reform history three times. First, by professionally recording a band of prisoner hospice volunteers in the Maine State Prison Chapel; then by producing the band's self-titled music CD, "Sounds of Comfort"; and then by hosting a CD launch with a first-ever Maine State Prison concert open to the public. In spite of near blizzard conditions, the concert was sold out.

Executive Director Kandyce Powell, at the time the "Sounds of Comfort" CD was produced, had devoted 15 years with Maine Hospice Council funding only to train certain prisoners as certified hospice volunteers. In turn, these men cared for and treated fellow prisoners with terminal illness or dying in the prison Infirmary. The Sounds of Comfort band is no more-- but their music is available on CD while supplies last. Learn more and order here: https://mainehospicecouncil.org/resources/sounds-of-comfort-cd (All proceeds will support outreach to underserved and disenfranchised populations.)

Maine Women's Lobby Education Fund: Girls' Day at the State House

On March 20, MWL hosted 85 incredible 8th grade students at the State House in Augusta. These students heard inspiring words from powerful woman leaders, including the Governor, Speaker of the House, and Secretary of State. Students were able to learn hands-on how to participate in a public hearing and the process of how a bill becomes law. Girls' Day is where young people are able to envision their potential and the possibilities for their future, and where they learn that they can have a voice and a say in their community regardless of their age and experience. To learn more about efforts and programs with MWLEF, please click here!

Join the newest ride with Bicycle Coalition of Maine!

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine is excited to introduce their newest ride, the Trust to Trail Joy Ride! We'll start and end this 18-mile ride at the beautiful Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, take scenic stops for treats along the way, and finish with a catered box lunch, local beer, and live music from the Ideal Maine Band! Proceeds from this ride support the BCM's education and advocacy programs, so come enjoy a fun summer day for a great cause! Sign up here and join the fun on Sunday, June 25!

Maine Calling episode highlights mental health of girls and young women

Earlier this month, Maine Calling on Maine Public Radio devoted an episode to the public health crisis of girls' mental health. These concerns have been highlighted recently by Hardy Girls, and members of their Feminist Action Board were included as panelists for this show. To hear the episode, listen here, and to learn more about the State of Girls in Maine, visit here.

Friends of Casco Bay hosts Water as Inspiration

Friends of Casco Bay recently hosted a thought provoking conversation at Water as Inspiration: Art and Casco Bay. Staff Writer Robby Lewis-Nash was joined by three regional artists – Anna Dibble, Mitchell Rasor, and Jan Piribeck – to address questions like: What are the connections between creativity, the environment, and climate change? How can art convey powerful ideas when words fail us? Hear the answers to these questions and more by checking out the event recording on the Friends of Casco Bay website. 

Anti-Bias Education with Holocaust and Human Rights Center

Aimed at educators and others in Maine, the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine (HHRC) offers a robust anti-bias toolkit, as well as four educational programs that help students understand and confront bias: “Diversity Identity Bias;” "Hate Speech in Schools;” "Speak Up At School;” and "Understanding and Confronting Bias.” These programs have been in high demand as schools wrestle with hate speech and bigotry. When teachers create safe classrooms, students feel calmer, happier, and they learn more from one another.

In their 2023 Summer Seminar, HHRC also offers an intensive 2-day, 14-hour dive into many aspects of anti-bias exploration and education. Topics include: identity; equality vs. equity; justice; hate speech and hate symbols; curriculum choices; identity awareness; and managing classroom dynamics. Learn more here. If you know faculty who could benefit from this and related programming, visit this link, and click on the Request A Program button.

MECEP urges strong protections for Maine consumers

Maine has a long tradition of consumer protection, drawing on a shared commitment to transparency and fairness for borrowers. Lawmakers recently extended Maine’s track record by shoring up protections from short-term lenders that charge exorbitant rates to small-dollar borrowers. As people struggle with the high cost of housing, energy, and other essentials, these standards protect Maine residents from predatory lenders and prevents usury laws from being undercut.

Predatory lenders intentionally target vulnerable populations, luring people into taking out loans they can’t afford, with the ultimate goal of trapping them in debt. They also lobby to change state laws, like Maine has in place, to overturn consumer protections. To learn more about how Maine protects its vulnerable consumers and the outside threats to these protections, read MECEP’s new predatory lending explainer.

The Birds are Coming! The Birds are Coming!

May is when bird migration really ramps up in Maine-- and so do Maine Audubon’s many bird walks and programs throughout the month, including our popular guided bird walks at Portland’s Evergreen Cemetery! These walks take place Monday-Friday, May 8-12 and 15-19 from 7am – 9am. Join Maine Audubon’s Staff Naturalist Doug Hitchcox for free bird walks at one of the best places in southern Maine for a close view of migrating songbirds-–particularly warblers. At the height of the migration season in mid-May it’s possible to see more than 20 warbler species in a single morning!

The walks are free and no registration is required. Join us for a morning of watching some of North America’s most beautiful birds as they stop to feed in this city-surrounded oasis, before moving on to their breeding grounds.

FMI, https://maineaudubon.org/news/events/warbler-walks/

Bill tracking with Natural Resources Council of Maine

Is Maine’s environment important to you? The Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) tracks bills that could impact our land, waters, clean air, and wildlife. This legislative session, currently underway, we’re following more than 100 bills that address environmental or energy issues. These include issues related to offshore wind, modernizing Maine’s Bottle Bill, the Maine Trails Bond, and more. You can read learn more about them, including ways you can get involved, by downloading a copy of our 2023 Legislative Priorities newsletter, available on our website. To find out the status of each bill and read NRCM testimony, visit our bill tracking page.

Reminder: May 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 MaineShare and our members!