|
Dear Friend,
There are many things this time of year that provide me wonder and inspiration. As I have spoken of before, lots of that is found in nature, such as the return of the hummingbirds and the abundance of fresh green leaves dancing in the first summer breezes. The gatherings that increase in frequency as the weather warms also bring me inspiration as I connect with others seeking a world that is more just and vibrant for all. I recently connected with peers at the Geo Funders National Conference, a community of folks nationwide working to transform philanthropy and advance justice and equity. I was particularly moved by a presentation from ALOK who encouraged us to lead with our soul and fall in love with being alive. And I was reminded of our partner organizations during a plenary by social entrepreneur Trabian Shorters, who spoke of the necessity in helping community organizations uplift and build on their aspirations.
This is why MaineShare is here. Our partner organizations have beautiful aspirations for a better Maine, and they are experts in getting it done. We strive to support them in their dreams, because we know that their dreams and actions make the community better for all.
Please read on for inspiration directly from our organizations, and consider donating to support this work.
With inspiration and thanks,
| |
|
Amanda Scarpone (she/her/hers), Director of the MaineShare Program
| |
Exciting Updates and Events! | |
MaineCare Postpartum Coverage Update | |
|
MaineCare has extended postpartum coverage to 12 months after birth. What is included? Medical expenses related to:
- Recovery from childbirth
- Follow-up on pregnancy complications
- Management of chronic health conditions
- Access to family planning
- Help for mental health conditions
- And much more
This coverage is automatically provided to current MaineCare members – you don’t need to do anything to receive this benefit. This coverage ensures that no one loses access to care and improves the health and well-being of Mainers during the postpartum period. Need help with MaineCare postpartum coverage or applying for MaineCare? Call Consumers for Affordable Health Care at 1-800-965-7476 or email at helpline@mainecahc.org.
| |
Red-backed Salamander Monitoring at Viles Arboretum | |
|
Join us for one of our weekly salamander monitoring sessions at Viles Arboretum where you’ll have an opportunity to learn how to identify salamander species and handle them safely, while helping us to record helpful scientific data.
Click here to learn more about this program and Click here to register for a monitoring session!
| |
MECASA celebrates partners during annual awards | |
|
On April 30th, MECASA held our annual awards, celebrating partners whose work had a statewide impact on the systems that support survivors in the past year.
Our Advancing the Mission Award honored advocates who achieved 5 or 10 years in the work: Shawna Austin, Nicole Watkins, Stephanie Harmon, Jenny Moody, Sarah Krajewski, Ashley Hayden, and Becky Reed - plus one surprise award for Bill Lowenstein, who has advocated for our cause for an incredible 50 years!
The Children’s Advocacy Center Award went to four people who were instrumental in implementing Maine’s new law allowing forensic interviews from Children’s Advocacy Centers to be admitted as evidence in court: Senator Anne Carney, Shira Burns, Wendy Gilbert and Chelsea Lynds.
Maine’s 2024 Visionary Voice Award was awarded to Representative Nina Milliken for her work advocating for survivor-centered policy, especially in passing Maine’s first law addressing the non-consensual removal of or tampering with a condom (also known as “stealthing”).
Our SAFE Award went to Katie Roberts for the trauma-informed ways she performs her job and the support she gives her fellow SAFEs across the state.
And finally, MECASA's Make A Difference Award was an incredibly special one this year, honoring a group of survivors who have courageously shared their stories, held powerful institutions accountable, and broken chains of stigma and shame for the next generation.
Each of our awardees has played a vital part in working to respond to and prevent sexual violence across Maine – we want to congratulate them once again on this well-deserved honor!
| |
Maine Veterans for Peace participates in Peace Walk 2024 | |
|
PeaceWalk 2024 is a walk from Maine to Washington, D.C. during May through July that raises awareness of the enormous costs of war. This walk also invites others to explore ways to nonviolently draw attention to the existential threats to life on our planet – nuclear war and destruction of our environment – and highlight the connections between militarism, the weapons manufacturers that profit, and climate change.
Maine Veterans for Peace joins the initiating organization, national Veterans for Peace, with walkers and participants. Walkers include veterans and allies dedicated to abolishing war, many of whom have seen war up close and have taken action to end war and the terrible human and environmental cost.
| |
Join HHRC at the 2024 Pride Parade | |
|
Join HHRC for the 2024 Pride Portland! Parade on Saturday, June 15th. We will have a trolley for our group, so everyone can join in the fun! This year’s theme is Life as Art. As members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community, we will gather to support human rights and equal rights for all people. Pride Portland! is an annual parade and festival to celebrate and honor the accomplishments of the LGBTQ+ movement, raise awareness of the community’s ongoing work, and foster an environment of inclusivity and solidarity. The parade begins at Monument Square, proceeds along Congress Street, down High Street and into Deering Oaks Park. It lasts about an hour. Afterward, a festival is held at Deering Oaks from 1:00 to 5:00. Register here!
| |
Discounts for Outdoor Recreation | |
Enjoy some of Maine’s premier sporting camps and outdoor recreation opportunities for a discounted rate. NRCM has been partnering with sporting camps, guides, and other outdoor recreation businesses for many years to offer a discount to NRCM members when they book their stay or adventure. Not an NRCM member? Not a problem! Join NRCM today, and you immediately become eligible for the discounts. See the full list of participating sporting camps and guides, then contact us for your discount voucher. What a great way to support local Maine businesses that care about the environment! | |
The Liberation Fund: Supporting Safety and Freedom from Abuse | |
|
Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence’s Liberation Fund is a flexible, low barrier funding source available to survivors of domestic violence in Maine. Offered through MCEDV, this fund helps provide access to financial resources that survivors often are denied by their abusers. Survivors who benefit from the Liberation Fund also receive a comprehensive array of supports through Maine’s Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC) programs. Advocates work closely with survivors to develop safety plans and reduce barriers that stand in the way of achieving safety.
The Liberation Fund can be used in a variety of ways, such as:
- Covering a security deposit on an apartment
- Paying for necessary car repairs
- Assisting with legal fees
- Obtaining copies of documents that have been destroyed or withheld by an
- abuser
Knowing that economic abuse is an overwhelmingly common control tactic, the
Liberation Fund seeks to assist domestic violence survivors by providing pathways to their needs. Since its inception in 2020, the Liberation Fund has helped over 1,400 Maine domestic violence survivors with over $511,000 in assistance.
To learn more or to support the Liberation Fund, visit: mcedv.org/domestic-violence-action-month-support-the-liberation-fund-invest-in-freedom/
| |
Be a Part of the Piece by Piece Mosaic! | |
|
Join us in a very exciting opportunity to support Mano en Mano and the new Rayitos de Sol Bilingual Childcare Center! As part of the work to support our migrant workers and their families, and our entire community, we are working to open the new Rayitos de Sol Bilingual Childcare facility in Milbridge! This center will increase our operating capacity to up to 64 families. As a way to raise money for our programming, and celebrate our community, you can be a part of our Piece by Piece Mano Mosaic!
As a way to celebrate the important role we all play in making our community shine, the new Rayitos de Sol center will install a colorful, 14 sq. ft., 5,000 piece mosaic. This piece of art will offer our Mano en Mano community the opportunity to show support for our services including bilingual childcare and become a physical piece of our new childcare facility. Please visit this link to learn how you can support and be part of this beautiful piece for as little as $10. We need 5,000 pieces to complete our mosaic, so consider contributing a piece and share this opportunity far and wide. Thank you for supporting Rayitos de Sol and bilingual, student-centered childcare services so that all kids can shine!
| |
Bring Your Business Idea to Life! | |
|
New Ventures Maine will offer Venturing Forth: Business Planning for Entrepreneurs , a free 60-hour
course in business planning, online starting September 3, 2024.
For new entrepreneurs or existing business owners, Venturing Forth helps businesspeople create a
written business plan from start to finish. The comprehensive course includes in-class activities, guest speakers, and homework assignments that lead to the completed business plan and road map for success. To learn more, contact NVME Microenterprise Specialist Alicia LaFosse at alicia.lafosse@maine.edu or
207-621-7457 or visit newventuresmaine.org.
| |
Save the date! Maine Animal Coalition is presenting Dr. Michael Greger to speak about his latest book, “How Not to Age.” The event will be held at the Westin Eastland Hotel in Portland, Maine on Sunday June 23rd at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Greger is a founding member and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and an internationally recognized speaker on nutrition. Ticket sales information will be on MAC’s website soon! | |
Native Plant Festival and Sale | |
|
All of the rain this spring has paid off; we’ve got lots of native plants ready for you! Our annual Native Plant Festival and Sale on Saturday, June 8 will be bursting with over 75 species of wildflowers, shrubs, and tree seedlings ready for your yards and gardens. Join us from 9 am to 3 pm, rain or shine, and take home a plant or two (or ten!) to start growing your own native oasis.
Along with plants, we’ll also have tables with workshops, books, native plant experts offering information and advice, and more!
For more information on the Native Plants Festival and Sale, and more Maine Audubon happenings in June, visit www.maineaudubon.org/events.
| |
This is just a small sampling of the critical work MaineShare's partner organizations do to build a better Maine. Please join us in supporting and learning from the great work of ALL of our partner organizations! | | | | |
