1: Maine Environmental Priorities Coalition: This non-profit initially caught my eye due to the fact that they are working on aiding the environment. Due to the fact that I feel strongly about environmental issues, and am an environmental science major, I believe that this will be a good place to start. They are in charge of 34 different organizations that are all working towards positively impacting the environment, and they heavily advertise their hands-on approach which I also really enjoyed.
2: Maine Conservation Alliance: This organization has a very well thought out and put together website. I find that their mission statement aligns heavily with something I would do in the future. I also admire their broad view on how many issues they plan to help and include in their organization.
3: Maine Clean Communities: This organization aims to limit the amount of fuel and find cleaner alternatives in the community. They provide various graphs and other helpful pieces of information to show what they have been able to accomplish as an organization.
1. Bon Appetit Meal Program (Biddeford, ME) is the first non-profit I’d like to be part of. This organization is a soup kitchen that I am actually actively volunteering at. With food being one of the essential human needs in life, I am passionate about contributing to hunger relief when it comes to community service. Being able to connect with the Biddeford community and helping establish a good reputation for the soup kitchen is a goal that our whole team works towards. The soup kitchen rents out the church and serves meals to 40-80 community members every weekday. I think funding for this non-profit could increase the capacity of people served.
2. Maine Summer Camps is the second non-profit I’d like to be part of. My first job ever was when I was 14 years old and worked as a camp counselor. Helping kids explore the world and have a fun time with others around them is crucial to their development as they grow. Working with children in general is something I’ve learned to do and hope to improve on as I transition into a healthcare setting.
3. Maine Oral Health Coalition is the third non-profit I’d like to be a part of. Dentistry is something that I have always wanted to practice since high school and what I want to study after my bachelor’s. Providing oral healthcare is a passion I hope to make a career out of. Improving access to oral healthcare is a mission that I can 100% get behind and I am motivated to work towards based on my interests. I firmly believe oral health education should have widespread access, as my current job as a dental assistant encompasses spreading awareness to promote good oral health.
1. Casco Bay Estuary Partnership – I’m interested in environmental conservation/restoration, which is what this organization deals with. Revolving around the Casco Bay, they monitor the water quality, restore marshes, and help restore native fish populations among other things. They’ve been operating since 1987 as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program.
2. Maine Environmental Priorities Coalition – Again, this organization also pertains to conservation, but broader and on a state-wide scale. They value community and advocate for environmental and climate solutions. I really like the emphasis they put on community and the importance of listening to those who are most directly affected by environmental issues in Maine, such as pollution.
3. Maine Affordable Housing Coalition – Unrelated to the environment, the MAHC aims to provide and maintain affordable housing for everyone in Maine to call home. I think the amount of people without a home is insane considering the world we live in where people just casually own 3+ houses. I feel passionate about issues that revolve around things like food insecurity and housing instability.
Thrive 2027: Labeled as a educational and child care nonprofit, Thrive 2027 seeks to accomplish three maine goals: reducing the reading proficiency gap for all children in Maine (especially those in marginalized communities), have only 30% of Mainers income be dedicated to housing while also increasing employment accessibility, and decrease the premature death rate by 10%. I would like to be part of a nonprofit such as this because it seeks to accomplish goals regarding various issues rather than one main focus. I also like that one of their overarching themes is wanting to better Southern Maine’s community as a whole for everyone and not just specific groups. https://www.thrive2027.org/
Portland Youth: This nonprofit focuses on providing children in the Portland area with access to various after-school, summer, day-time, and online programs that enrich their educational and extracurricular experiences. Some of these programs provide scholarships, free, or reduced fees for families and other individuals that may not be able to afford the cost of these programs. Overall, I would like to work with a nonprofit such as this because I truly believe that the first step to a better future is through empowering young people. This future starts with giving children experiences and education they may not receive due to their current livelihood or resources. http://www.portlandyouth.org
Maine Youth Action Network: This nonprofit seeks to connect young people across Maine with adults and communities to create a better future, full of strong youth leaders. To achieve this, they aim to mold and support young people throughout their development into adulthood through various programs. Some of them include modeling future employment, advocacy and leadership training, and equitable education. Similar to the previous nonprofit, if we want to see our communities succeed, it must involve young people. I would like to work with a nonprofit such as this because I myself display some of the qualities and skills this nonprofit aims to teach young people. Additionally, nonprofits such as this improve our current and future society and without them, we don’t grow or change. https://www.myan.org/programming/
When it comes to organizations there are many to choose from. For me personally, I think there are a few issues or organizations that stand out to me. For one, the Cultural Alliance of Maine is an organization that I found interesting. Culture shapes our society and preserving it is crucial to understanding who we are. Cultural organizations cover a wide array of topics like history, Native rights, Afro-Latinx communities, schools, etc. Another organization that I found interesting when snooping around was the Maine Conservation Alliance. They focus on a wide range of topics as well from equity to environmentalism. But I mostly looked at the Environmental Priorities Coalition. They mostly focus on land, water, and wildlife conservation/protection. Finally, the last program that I looked at was the Immigrant Welcome Center for Portland. Their goal is to make sure immigrants coming into Portland feel welcomed and safe. As well as making sure civic engagement is met in some capacity. Overall, the rights of people, the environment, and those who cannot fend for themselves like the homeless are causes that I truly care for.
1: Maine Farmer Resource Network – An organization that is designed to provide funding to small farms which provide jobs to people in Maine or create some kind of environmental or economic benefit. The network sends financial assistance, as well as technical assistance to farmers attempting to start their farm. It is a part of the University of Maine and is a collection of smaller organizations who all work together.
2: Maine Animal Coalition – An organization which seeks to educate the public about the proper care of animals, as well as the conditions that some shelter animals are living in. The goal of the coalition is to inform the public about the proper treatment of animals in order to minimize animal suffering, and to promote the compassionate care of all animals.
3: Northern Forest Center – This organization seeks to protect the Northern Forest, a 30-acre forest located in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. The forest is essential to not only the environment, but the economy of New England. Most of the forest is now privately owned, and lumber companies are seeking to get their hands on some of the land. The Northern Forest Center educates the public about the importance of this forest for both the environment and the economy, as well as providing funding to those seeking to protect this land.
I’d like to be part of a non-profit that helps promote and maintain arts and culture. My passion for journalism is partly rooted in a desire to log and record modern arts and culture for current and future generations. So, finding an organization whose mission aligns with that goal, even if it’s done differently, is important to me. For example, Main Street Maine preserves the culture and historic significance of the original Main Streets in our state. Although this is not done through journalism, it has the same general intentions (to an extent). I also think that the Maine Alliance for Arts Education falls into my interests. This organization is focused on teaching students about art and is similar to journalism, which is intended to educate and provide culture to readers. Finally, I found Maine Memory Network, which is an organization that documents and provides access to historical information. Again, I like that this organization’s intention is to record art and culture for current and future generations.
I am drawn to nonprofits that aim to connect our societies back to nature in mutually beneficial ways. Much of my learning at college has been about the interconnectedness between societal structure and actions and the natural cycles of the planet. Not only are our lives intertwined with the rest of the living world, but those most marginalized by our societies have the greatest exposure to the effects of the changing climate. I would like to pursue grant writing for a non-profit that has multifaceted goals that facilitate healthier societies that can be sustained through healing the earth. My love of this connection came from the non-profit I interned for over the summer and through books I have read about other nonprofits that have successfully supported human and ecological health. I went in searching for nonprofits that connect sustainable agriculture and food security which should both support marginalized populations in our communities.
The three nonprofits I found are
1. Cumberland County Food Security Council
2. Maine Network of Community Food Councils
3. The Ecology School
The first two both adress the intersection of sustainable food systems and food equity with a focus on racial and class justice. The third is the non-profit I worked for that is an educational camp that centers ecology as a main facet of life and has a farm that provides food to the on site kitchen and to local soup kitchens and food pantries.
Native Fish Coalition- As a marine bio major, and generally a student of UNE, this felt natural to me, as I know there are many people here, including me who enjoy fishing around this area, and while the NFC isn’t entirely a fishing organization to say that fishermen would benefit from this organization would be an understatement. But I bring up fisherman because like me they care for the native fish population and believe that it’s tied to the general ecological health of Maine. An organization that monitors and works towards the conservation of this ecological health, would clearly be one worth investing into.
Maine Conservation Alliance- On a similar boat to protecting Maine’s ecological health. Conservation itself plays a vital role to the ecological future, looking towards long-term sustainability. Conservation in it of itself is used for the long-term, something I believe is important to emphasize with most things. And facing broad things like the climate crisis, and even politics. Their organization does impress confidence in the future, or at least looking towards that confidence.
Thrive 2027-This is an unrelated one to my usual field of environmental expertise, but it’s still very important in my eyes. I’ve taken a lot of social classes about topics like this, and believe that the best method to start any meaningful full change in the world and ensure a good community is by working locally and reaching out to our youth who are still developing and need effective guidance that Thrive aims to give them.
i. Maine Alliance for Smart Growth (Community and Economic Development)
Over the past four years, I have fallen in love with Maine. I have a great love and passion for this state, and can see myself living here for the rest of my life. Along with this comes a passion to see this state thrive, while maintain the integrity and originality that we all love. Therein, this organization is something I’m passionate about. The mission to advance Maine’s business and economic growth and development in balance with the conservation and enrichment of the state’s greatest assets; and the beautiful and productive built and natural environments that are the bedrock of our cultural and economic heritage are objectives that are important to me.
ii. Realize Maine (Community and Economic Development)
Similar to the Maine Alliance for Smart Growth, Realize Maine has the mission of attracting (young) people to Maine to live, work and “play”. With the goals of raising awareness about career, civic and social opportunities for young people in Maine; adding value to other programs and initiatives that benefit young people in Maine; and informing policy makers about issues affecting young people in Maine, I believe that this organization aligns with the passion I have for fostering and maintaining a thriving Maine.
iii. Maine Animal Coalition (Environmental and Animal Related)
As somebody who grew up around rescue animals – and fully intend to live with adopted/rescued animals for the remainder of my life – I’ve always had a passion for having compassion for animals. In fact, over the span of my lifetime, my family has had over 20 rescue pets. Therein, I think it would be very rewarding to be a part of an organization works towards the same mission to create a community where our relationship with others, animals and humans, is guided by compassion, respect, and empathy.
10 thoughts on “JOURNAL # 4”
1: Maine Environmental Priorities Coalition: This non-profit initially caught my eye due to the fact that they are working on aiding the environment. Due to the fact that I feel strongly about environmental issues, and am an environmental science major, I believe that this will be a good place to start. They are in charge of 34 different organizations that are all working towards positively impacting the environment, and they heavily advertise their hands-on approach which I also really enjoyed.
2: Maine Conservation Alliance: This organization has a very well thought out and put together website. I find that their mission statement aligns heavily with something I would do in the future. I also admire their broad view on how many issues they plan to help and include in their organization.
3: Maine Clean Communities: This organization aims to limit the amount of fuel and find cleaner alternatives in the community. They provide various graphs and other helpful pieces of information to show what they have been able to accomplish as an organization.
1. Bon Appetit Meal Program (Biddeford, ME) is the first non-profit I’d like to be part of. This organization is a soup kitchen that I am actually actively volunteering at. With food being one of the essential human needs in life, I am passionate about contributing to hunger relief when it comes to community service. Being able to connect with the Biddeford community and helping establish a good reputation for the soup kitchen is a goal that our whole team works towards. The soup kitchen rents out the church and serves meals to 40-80 community members every weekday. I think funding for this non-profit could increase the capacity of people served.
2. Maine Summer Camps is the second non-profit I’d like to be part of. My first job ever was when I was 14 years old and worked as a camp counselor. Helping kids explore the world and have a fun time with others around them is crucial to their development as they grow. Working with children in general is something I’ve learned to do and hope to improve on as I transition into a healthcare setting.
3. Maine Oral Health Coalition is the third non-profit I’d like to be a part of. Dentistry is something that I have always wanted to practice since high school and what I want to study after my bachelor’s. Providing oral healthcare is a passion I hope to make a career out of. Improving access to oral healthcare is a mission that I can 100% get behind and I am motivated to work towards based on my interests. I firmly believe oral health education should have widespread access, as my current job as a dental assistant encompasses spreading awareness to promote good oral health.
1. Casco Bay Estuary Partnership – I’m interested in environmental conservation/restoration, which is what this organization deals with. Revolving around the Casco Bay, they monitor the water quality, restore marshes, and help restore native fish populations among other things. They’ve been operating since 1987 as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program.
2. Maine Environmental Priorities Coalition – Again, this organization also pertains to conservation, but broader and on a state-wide scale. They value community and advocate for environmental and climate solutions. I really like the emphasis they put on community and the importance of listening to those who are most directly affected by environmental issues in Maine, such as pollution.
3. Maine Affordable Housing Coalition – Unrelated to the environment, the MAHC aims to provide and maintain affordable housing for everyone in Maine to call home. I think the amount of people without a home is insane considering the world we live in where people just casually own 3+ houses. I feel passionate about issues that revolve around things like food insecurity and housing instability.
Thrive 2027: Labeled as a educational and child care nonprofit, Thrive 2027 seeks to accomplish three maine goals: reducing the reading proficiency gap for all children in Maine (especially those in marginalized communities), have only 30% of Mainers income be dedicated to housing while also increasing employment accessibility, and decrease the premature death rate by 10%. I would like to be part of a nonprofit such as this because it seeks to accomplish goals regarding various issues rather than one main focus. I also like that one of their overarching themes is wanting to better Southern Maine’s community as a whole for everyone and not just specific groups. https://www.thrive2027.org/
Portland Youth: This nonprofit focuses on providing children in the Portland area with access to various after-school, summer, day-time, and online programs that enrich their educational and extracurricular experiences. Some of these programs provide scholarships, free, or reduced fees for families and other individuals that may not be able to afford the cost of these programs. Overall, I would like to work with a nonprofit such as this because I truly believe that the first step to a better future is through empowering young people. This future starts with giving children experiences and education they may not receive due to their current livelihood or resources. http://www.portlandyouth.org
Maine Youth Action Network: This nonprofit seeks to connect young people across Maine with adults and communities to create a better future, full of strong youth leaders. To achieve this, they aim to mold and support young people throughout their development into adulthood through various programs. Some of them include modeling future employment, advocacy and leadership training, and equitable education. Similar to the previous nonprofit, if we want to see our communities succeed, it must involve young people. I would like to work with a nonprofit such as this because I myself display some of the qualities and skills this nonprofit aims to teach young people. Additionally, nonprofits such as this improve our current and future society and without them, we don’t grow or change. https://www.myan.org/programming/
When it comes to organizations there are many to choose from. For me personally, I think there are a few issues or organizations that stand out to me. For one, the Cultural Alliance of Maine is an organization that I found interesting. Culture shapes our society and preserving it is crucial to understanding who we are. Cultural organizations cover a wide array of topics like history, Native rights, Afro-Latinx communities, schools, etc. Another organization that I found interesting when snooping around was the Maine Conservation Alliance. They focus on a wide range of topics as well from equity to environmentalism. But I mostly looked at the Environmental Priorities Coalition. They mostly focus on land, water, and wildlife conservation/protection. Finally, the last program that I looked at was the Immigrant Welcome Center for Portland. Their goal is to make sure immigrants coming into Portland feel welcomed and safe. As well as making sure civic engagement is met in some capacity. Overall, the rights of people, the environment, and those who cannot fend for themselves like the homeless are causes that I truly care for.
1: Maine Farmer Resource Network – An organization that is designed to provide funding to small farms which provide jobs to people in Maine or create some kind of environmental or economic benefit. The network sends financial assistance, as well as technical assistance to farmers attempting to start their farm. It is a part of the University of Maine and is a collection of smaller organizations who all work together.
2: Maine Animal Coalition – An organization which seeks to educate the public about the proper care of animals, as well as the conditions that some shelter animals are living in. The goal of the coalition is to inform the public about the proper treatment of animals in order to minimize animal suffering, and to promote the compassionate care of all animals.
3: Northern Forest Center – This organization seeks to protect the Northern Forest, a 30-acre forest located in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York. The forest is essential to not only the environment, but the economy of New England. Most of the forest is now privately owned, and lumber companies are seeking to get their hands on some of the land. The Northern Forest Center educates the public about the importance of this forest for both the environment and the economy, as well as providing funding to those seeking to protect this land.
I’d like to be part of a non-profit that helps promote and maintain arts and culture. My passion for journalism is partly rooted in a desire to log and record modern arts and culture for current and future generations. So, finding an organization whose mission aligns with that goal, even if it’s done differently, is important to me. For example, Main Street Maine preserves the culture and historic significance of the original Main Streets in our state. Although this is not done through journalism, it has the same general intentions (to an extent). I also think that the Maine Alliance for Arts Education falls into my interests. This organization is focused on teaching students about art and is similar to journalism, which is intended to educate and provide culture to readers. Finally, I found Maine Memory Network, which is an organization that documents and provides access to historical information. Again, I like that this organization’s intention is to record art and culture for current and future generations.
I am drawn to nonprofits that aim to connect our societies back to nature in mutually beneficial ways. Much of my learning at college has been about the interconnectedness between societal structure and actions and the natural cycles of the planet. Not only are our lives intertwined with the rest of the living world, but those most marginalized by our societies have the greatest exposure to the effects of the changing climate. I would like to pursue grant writing for a non-profit that has multifaceted goals that facilitate healthier societies that can be sustained through healing the earth. My love of this connection came from the non-profit I interned for over the summer and through books I have read about other nonprofits that have successfully supported human and ecological health. I went in searching for nonprofits that connect sustainable agriculture and food security which should both support marginalized populations in our communities.
The three nonprofits I found are
1. Cumberland County Food Security Council
2. Maine Network of Community Food Councils
3. The Ecology School
The first two both adress the intersection of sustainable food systems and food equity with a focus on racial and class justice. The third is the non-profit I worked for that is an educational camp that centers ecology as a main facet of life and has a farm that provides food to the on site kitchen and to local soup kitchens and food pantries.
Native Fish Coalition- As a marine bio major, and generally a student of UNE, this felt natural to me, as I know there are many people here, including me who enjoy fishing around this area, and while the NFC isn’t entirely a fishing organization to say that fishermen would benefit from this organization would be an understatement. But I bring up fisherman because like me they care for the native fish population and believe that it’s tied to the general ecological health of Maine. An organization that monitors and works towards the conservation of this ecological health, would clearly be one worth investing into.
Maine Conservation Alliance- On a similar boat to protecting Maine’s ecological health. Conservation itself plays a vital role to the ecological future, looking towards long-term sustainability. Conservation in it of itself is used for the long-term, something I believe is important to emphasize with most things. And facing broad things like the climate crisis, and even politics. Their organization does impress confidence in the future, or at least looking towards that confidence.
Thrive 2027-This is an unrelated one to my usual field of environmental expertise, but it’s still very important in my eyes. I’ve taken a lot of social classes about topics like this, and believe that the best method to start any meaningful full change in the world and ensure a good community is by working locally and reaching out to our youth who are still developing and need effective guidance that Thrive aims to give them.
i. Maine Alliance for Smart Growth (Community and Economic Development)
Over the past four years, I have fallen in love with Maine. I have a great love and passion for this state, and can see myself living here for the rest of my life. Along with this comes a passion to see this state thrive, while maintain the integrity and originality that we all love. Therein, this organization is something I’m passionate about. The mission to advance Maine’s business and economic growth and development in balance with the conservation and enrichment of the state’s greatest assets; and the beautiful and productive built and natural environments that are the bedrock of our cultural and economic heritage are objectives that are important to me.
ii. Realize Maine (Community and Economic Development)
Similar to the Maine Alliance for Smart Growth, Realize Maine has the mission of attracting (young) people to Maine to live, work and “play”. With the goals of raising awareness about career, civic and social opportunities for young people in Maine; adding value to other programs and initiatives that benefit young people in Maine; and informing policy makers about issues affecting young people in Maine, I believe that this organization aligns with the passion I have for fostering and maintaining a thriving Maine.
iii. Maine Animal Coalition (Environmental and Animal Related)
As somebody who grew up around rescue animals – and fully intend to live with adopted/rescued animals for the remainder of my life – I’ve always had a passion for having compassion for animals. In fact, over the span of my lifetime, my family has had over 20 rescue pets. Therein, I think it would be very rewarding to be a part of an organization works towards the same mission to create a community where our relationship with others, animals and humans, is guided by compassion, respect, and empathy.