CHERRYFIELD, ME — I wanted to pass along a few photos from last week’s Journey trip to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor.
Last week, Journey students spent the day hiking the trails in Acadia National Park with a park ranger, enjoying lunch at the seawall, and exploring Bar Harbor!
Want to learn more about this program? Contact Journey Program Manager, Dakin Hewlett, at [email protected].
NORTHEAST HARBOR, ME — In November 2017, Maine Seacoast Mission launched Journey, a six-year youth mentoring program. Journey was, and is, made possible by the Emanuel & Pauline A. Lerner Foundation and its mentoring-based initiative, Aspirations Incubator. That initiative is designed to raise and sustain aspirations of rural Maine middle and high school students.
This week, Aspirations Incubator launched its new website www.aspirationsincubator.org and social media pages. The new web presence will offer the public a glimpse into how Aspirations Incubator is working at the Mission and in other places.
Briana “Bri” West, is the Mission’s Journey Coordinator. Bri said, “The Journey program gives students support and relationships that help them navigate their challenges. Students get to experience college and career choices, near and far from home, with friends and mentors. Journey has given students support in-and-out of the classroom, while helping build resilience. In our small community, Journey has given students the motivation to be better, and to strive for what they dream,” said Bri.
“Through deep mentoring and outdoor based programs, Washington County youth are able to explore their strengths and build positive relationships with peers,” added Mission Downeast Director Melvin D. Adams III, Ed.D.
“This work increases college and career aspirations for youth to live and thrive in their communities. We are grateful for the coaching, mentoring, and financial support provided by the Lerner Foundation,” Mel Adams said.
We look forward to contributing to the success of the Aspiration Incubator’s new web presence.
This is a pre-Covid photo of Mission Journey students exploring the great Maine outdoors.
Mission Job Opening — Journey Program Manager
Position Summary
The Journey Program Manager (JPM) supports the Maine Seacoast Mission’s 7th-12th grade youth mentoring program, Journey, and nurtures its growth. Journey is one of six Maine sites funded through the Lerner Foundation to raise and sustain the post-secondary aspirations of students in rural Maine. The program upholds the Trekkers 10 Youth Programming Principles and the Maine Seacoast Mission goals of raising aspirations, improving academic performance, promoting responsibility for individual health and wellness, and contributing to the development of strong and nurturing family relationships.
Working within a collaborative team model, the JPM provides guidance, direction, and delivery for the entire Journey program, managing program logistics, administration, and community relations. The JPM offers leadership in college and career preparation and supervises the Journey Program Coordinator. In addition to Journey responsibilities, the JPM serves on the Downeast Campus and Student Pathways teams to support the Maine Seacoast Mission’s overall commitment to middle school, high school, and college students.
BAR HARBOR, ME — Congratulations Class of 2020 students and best wishes for high school!
Journey Program Coordinator Briana West ended the academic year with heart and spirit, delivering Graduations in a Box to our 2020 8th grade Journey graduates. Bri used this project to catch up with her students in person for the first time since schools shifted to remote learning as a Covid-19 precaution. The students loved their creatively decorated boxes that included leather journals, sweet treats and other celebratory bits!
Bri said she is looking forward to follow-up meetings, albeit physically distanced, with her students this summer.
Journey is a six-year youth mentoring program. Made possible by the Lerner Foundation and its mentoring-based initiative, Aspirations Incubator, Journey is designed to raise/sustain aspirations of rural Maine middle and high school students.
WASHINGTON, DC — Maine Seacoast Mission EdGE Journey Program Coordinator Briana West visited Washington DC the last week in January. Briana was with fellow Lerner Foundation Program Coordinators and staff attending the 2020 National Mentoring Summit.
This professional development opportunity was provided by the Lerner Foundation to honor Program Coordinators for their growth, commitment and passion as they work to support middle and high school students in the communities they serve.