Want to Make a Difference in Your Community? DCP Needs Your Ideas

Want to Make a Difference in Your Community? DCP Needs Your Ideas

Help DCP Assess Community Needs by Attending a Focus Group

Downeast Community Partners (DCP) is conducting its 2021 Community Needs Assessment in partnership with MeCAP and the nine other community action agencies serving Maine. An important piece of the work is to learn the ideas, insights, and perspectives of our community members.

When asked about the importance of the needs assessment, coordinator Kate Pielmeier said, “Providing DCP with your honest opinions about the challenges and needs within the community is a great way to help the people of Hancock and Washington counties. DCP needs to know what the most prominent community issues are.” She went on to say, “Your lived experience within this community helps us determine how to prioritize the use of our funding; in the end, this enables us to better serve you.”

DCP would like to invite you to participate in one of the upcoming community focus groups that will impact programs and resources in Washington and Hancock counties. Anyone residing in one of these counties is encouraged to attend. With your help, DCP will learn more about community strengths, resources, service gaps, and ideas about potential ways to address identified needs and gaps.

Each focus group will last approximately 90 minutes. If you cannot attend the full session, DCP would appreciate even 30 minutes of your time for this important project. If you prefer to attend via Zoom, please coordinate this using the provided email address.

Session Dates:

June 23, 2021 at 12:00PM in Machias. The specific location will be announced soon via https://www.downeastcommunitypartners.org/events/event.php/DCP-is-conducting-its-2021-Community-Needs-Assessment-and-needs-your-help-49/.

June 23, 2021 at 5:30PM just outside of Ellsworth at Big Cats Catering located at 163 Bar Harbor Road, Trenton, ME 04605

Please register for one of the above events by emailing focusgroup@downeastcommunitypartners.org. Light refreshments will be provided at the June 23 in-person focus groups.

Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration and for your participation.

For more information please contact Kate Pielmeier (she/her), DCP CSBG and Database Specialist at (207)-460-1796, Kate.Pielmeier@DowneastCommunityPartners.org.

Thank you Thursday for Scott Berry

Thank you Thursday for Scott Berry

It’s Thank you Thursday. Today’s shout out of Mission love goes to Scott Berry.

“As a volunteer and supporter, Scott Berry has been a driving force in the success of Maine Seacoast Mission’s Housing Rehab Program.” said Scott Shaw, Manager of the Mission’s Housing Rehab Program. “Scott and his team from South Portland have made an incredible difference in the lives of many of our Downeast Maine neighbors through countless years, days, and hours of construction projects he’s been involved with.

“Scott has a heart of gold. He always brings a team spirit and willingness to take on any project we provide. The Mission, and the folks Scott Berry has helped live in safe homes, want to send a huge thank you. Although we can’t be together this year, we look forward to a reunion with Scott and his team next year,” said Manager Scott Shaw.

This is what community looks like.

Gigi Georges & John Zavodny in Conversation, 6/29

Gigi Georges & John Zavodny in Conversation, 6/29

Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America
‘In Conversation’ author talk with Gigi Georges

Event Location: Online
Event Date: Tuesday, June 29, 2021 – 7:00pm

The public is invited to a virtual conversation on Tuesday, June 29, at 7 p.m., when Gigi Georges, author of the just-released nonfiction book Downeast: Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America, talks with John Zavodny, president of the Maine Seacoast Mission.

The free event is being co-hosted by Left Bank Books, in Belfast, and The Bangor Daily News. To register for the event: tinyurl.com/GigiGeorges

Over the course of four years, Georges followed the lives of five teenage girls who lived in Washington County in Maine’s far northeast corner. Although the villages and towns they grew up in were only an hour’s drive from the heart of bustling and famed Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, they lived a world away. The girls’ stories reveal surprising truths about rural America.

Full story.

Maine Seacoast Mission Awards $158,000 in 2021 Scholarships

Maine Seacoast Mission Awards $158,000 in 2021 Scholarships

Kaitlin Beal from Sumner High School is the 2021 Angus MacDonald Scholarship recipient.

NORTHEAST HARBOR, ME — Continuing a tradition that started more than 100 years ago, Maine Seacoast Mission welcomes 23 new Mission Scholars for year 2021. The Mission this year awarded $49,000 in new scholarships and $109,000 in renewed scholarships.

Mission Scholarships Director Terri Rodick said, “Our 2021 scholarship awardees are from 14 high schools in Washington and Hancock Counties and the islands we serve.”

The 2021 Mission scholars were resilient and able to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic to achieve their college aspirations. During the scholars’ interviews with the Mission, they told stories of deeper connections with teachers, guidance counselors, and community members supporting them throughout the year.

“Mission scholars are pursuing degrees in science, early childhood education, construction, fashion design, social justice, art, and education. One student is a first-generation American working to create fashion and clothing that illustrates the American Dream and diverse fabric of America. Another is a local student focused on building his Washington County community through repairing homes and building sustainable housing,” explained Mission Downeast Director Melvin D. Adams III, Ed.D.

“The beauty of the Mission scholarship program is the importance of supporting college aspirations — where youth can create change and ask us to think deeply about our community through fashion, teach future generations, and discover life-saving medications,” Director Adams said.

Among the Mission’s several scholarships, its Angus MacDonald Scholarship provides an award of $14,000 over four years to an exceptional high school graduate who has demonstrated superior academic achievement, leadership skills, integrity, and commitment to the community. This year’s Angus MacDonald Scholarship recipient is Sumner High School student Kaitlin Beal from Gouldsboro, ME.

Congratulations to all our 2021 Mission scholars.

Learn more about Maine Seacoast Mission’s Scholarships Program.

Thank you Thursday for Paul Bennett

Thank you Thursday for Paul Bennett

It’s Thank you Thursday. Today’s shout out of Mission love goes to Paul Bennett at Downeast Thunder Creations. Mr. Bennett describes himself on his Facebook page this way: “Engineer, Designer, Fabricator, and Maker [who] creates many items from a variety of materials at Downeast Thunder Farm in Milbridge, Maine.”

Mission Development Associate Anna Silver said, “I was first referred to Paul as someone who might help us create wooden awards for the Mission’s President’s Scholarship Celebration. He told me he was fan of the Mission and would be happy to help.

“After making the awards, Paul had a creative suggestion about making key fobs out of leftover mahogany from the Sunbeam refit,” Anna continued. Then, “He made me a lovely, completely unsolicited, office sign.

“While Paul and I have never met, he has been extremely good to the Mission. I encourage people to take a look at Paul’s work on his website,” Anna said. The Mission appreciates the many talented local business people who help us in so many ways.

This is what community looks like.

On the web: https://www.downeastthunder.com/

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