“Its hard not to be inspired when you see young people you work with grow into the best versions of themselves. It inspires me as I watch the resilience, the fight, the laughter and the courageousness of young people in a world that is often incredibly hard to navigate. It inspires me to push the boundaries of what is possible and hold true to myself. Young people inspire me to listen more, check myself and teach me what I need to do in order to grow in my own work and personal life. They also inspire me to remember the punch line for my jokes. I’m really terrible at that. As a new Dad myself I must do better!”
“I am encouraged every day I get the opportunity to work with young people and our adult partners on liberatory projects and programming. My hope is that, together, our work can make Maine a more equitable place.”
“In being a part of this team, I know I am helping to build a supportive network of adult allies that are responsive to the youth in their communities and together are working to shift access and decision making. “A better tomorrow” is what I work towards. Building these connections and supporting the foundational and administrative efforts to ensure that others can engage directly with youth are the best parts of my position here at MYAN. I am consistently inspired and pushed by young people. Their honesty and creativity remind me to continually learn and strive for a better understanding of myself and the world we all live in.”
“There is a lot to love about Maine. One of my favorite parts about MYAN’s work is traveling to the many unique communities and meeting with youth leaders who imagine a different future than we currently experience. Partnering with these young people and the many caring adults across the state to affect change offers me hope. It’s easy to believe in the power of authentic youth-adult partnerships when you get a front row seat to the action!”
“Young people who learn to communicate confidently and assert their talents where needed are a force. Our world needs thoughtful leaders, friends, citizens. That’s always my hope as we work together and through difficult conversations.”
“I believe that the ultimate goal of every generation should be to bring up young people that are more courageous, wise, and better equipped to take on the world than those who came before them. That is why supporting, educating, and advocating for youth voices is so important. In working alongside other young people, I am pushed to discover more about myself and what impact I have on the world, and am constantly inspired by the immense passion, creativity, and kindness that drives our discussions.”
“My experiences growing up in Downeast Maine shape my approach to youth engagement work today! I am deeply passionate about creating connections with Maine communities to expand development opportunities for young people and their adult allies. This process focuses on cultivating relationships and identifying the needs of individual communities while engaging local resources and problem solvers. I truly believe that young people need to be at the heart of this work and thus should be invited to co-create at every step. The values of Maine communities are a core component of my work in youth organizing and I look forward to any, and all, opportunities to work with the young people of my home state!”
“I love working in partnership with young people and community partners to bring about a more just, equitable society. Young people have the vision, passion, and knowledge to radically change our communities, and I am excited to work with community partners to amplify youth voice and create opportunities for youth leadership development.”
