What is your position at MYAN / What do you do?
Program Manager/ I manage the Gateway to Opportunity Youth Employment program and oversee the Youth Leadership Conference and the Youth Leadership Team. In addition, I support existing and emerging partnerships with organizations and youth programs for the MYAN network. I have worked at MYAN for over six years as a youth program coordinator, youth facilitator, trainer, and I am a founding partner of the young people’s caucus.
How are you impacting Maine communities through your work?
A major part of my role at MYAN is working on its workforce program Gateway to Opportunity (G2O). I have been part of G2O’s development and expansion for the past three years, which has grown from being implemented in 1 to 4 counties. I am hopeful its impact will continue long after me!
We know there is endless talent, potential, and innovation in young people across this state. But, we also must recognize that access to opportunities, such as meaningful and well-paid employment, is layered with inequities. I am confident and optimistic that we will continue to see more and more youth workforce programs thrive in Maine, and I’m thrilled to see the positive effects this will have on Maine communities.
The investment we are seeing in our future workforce will not only shape our present-day, but it will also create a better tomorrow.
What is your position at MYAN / What do you do?
Special Facilitator of fun! I tell my family that I support a team of smart folks who love young people and care about communities. My job is to help make their work possible.
How do you hope to impact Maine communities through your work?
MYAN’s work is to support youth-adult partnerships through educational opportunities, leadership development, and collaborative community programs to engage and impact their communities positively. We hope to be good allies, fiscal sponsors, co-collaborators, and facilitators through those processes.
What is leadership to you?
I was taught that leadership is walking the walk – living our values into action while being accountable to the people we are in a relationship with (including ourselves). Like many things, the key is doing it with consistency and grace. Practice makes permanence.
What is your position at MYAN / What do you do?
Program Facilitator
What led you to work with this non-profit / why do you work with MYAN?
I’m passionate about dialogue, conflict resolution, and positive youth development practices. MYAN has created a unique workplace with a supportive, honest, and welcoming culture.
How are you impacting Maine communities through your work?
Hopefully, my work with young people has helped boost their confidence, communication skills, and hope for the future.
What is leadership to you?
A good leader makes others feel taken care of, inspires them to be better, always remembers their humanity, and acts graciously. Our world needs thoughtful leaders, friends, and citizens. Room for thoughtful leadership is my hope as we work together, through difficult conversations.
What is your position at MYAN / What do you do?
Statewide Technical coordinator. I assist local Youth coordinators, train teachers, and stakeholders, and create curricula for youth programs.
What led you to work with this non-profit / why do you work with MYAN?
As a veteran teacher, I wanted to use my experiences working in education to help enhance youth programs in Maine and provide opportunities for learning and community connection which in turn, I believe, will help young people blossom into happy, healthy, and empathetic community members. I saw the abundant energy, desire to learn, and passion for making the world a better place in so many young people during my time teaching, and it has kept me motivated year after year.
How are you impacting Maine communities through your work?
I’m working to enhance learning opportunities in fields such as outdoor activities, team building, social justice, multicultural learning, and restorative practices. I’ve been fortunate enough to teach a variety of subjects, live in several states, four countries on three different continents, and in some very diverse and fascinating communities. I feel it’s my responsibility to now give back and do what I can to aid youth in building a fair, just, and happy world.
How do you hope to positively impact Maine communities?
Increase healthy living, help especially working to uplift those in vulnerable populations. Increase empathy and interest for people different from ourselves. Guide communities to seeing a healthy vision for children and families.
What is leadership to you?
Being of service to others
What is your position at MYAN / What do you do?
Program Officer for Training and Technical Assistance
How are you impacting Maine communities through your work?
I strive to be an ambassador and representative for Maine communities in the Public Health realm. Many decisions are made for rural Maine communities without local input and stakeholders present. My work is to ensure I listen to these folks and amplify their needs in spaces where decisions are made.
What is leadership to you?
Leadership manifest in a myriad of ways. For me, leadership is about modeling your own truth. It’s pursuing the vision of a future you believe in and inviting others to do the same. A quote stands out to me: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” the quote goes on to say “As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Leaders work to address their own fears while working to highlight the contributions of others.
How do you hope to positively impact Maine communities?
I hope to be a model for breaking stereotypes for young people across the state. I hope to invite young people to question their societies in hopes of changing harmful systems. I hope to make a difference for one young person. I hope to leave the world better than I found it.
What is your position at MYAN / What do you do?
Youth Engagement Coordinator- I help plan and implement MYAN’s youth programs like the youth health council, G2O, and the Youth Leadership Conference Leadership Team! In my role, I get to support young leaders while they craft and carry out their vision for the change they want to see in their communities!
What led you to work with this non-profit / why do you work with MYAN?
I’ve always loved the passion and creativity that young people bring to any problem they face, and I believe young people’s voices have to be at the center of our approach to problem-solving. I love the way MYAN centers young voices at every step of the programs we run, and I am so inspired by the network of adults we work with across Maine who are doing the same!
How do you hope to positively impact Maine communities?
I hope to provide Maine’s young people with the tools necessary to name and identify the challenges they see in their communities and the confidence to design and implement solutions to address them. Each community in Maine is unique, and at the heart of each community in Maine, you will find inspiring young leaders. My goal through my work with MYAN is to connect these young people to the resources and supports they need to help their communities thrive.
What is your position at MYAN / What do you do?
I’m a program facilitator. I work alongside Lauren and Alastair, helping where I can in putting together a strong team and creating a fun and productive environment for the high school students who will be participating in the G2O program this summer.
What led you to work with this non-profit / why do you work with MYAN?
I’ve been a part of the opportunity alliance for multiple years. I participated in the G2O program while in high school and have personal experience with it. So I know what MYAN is about and what they stand for, which has made working with MYAN a goal of mine.
How are you impacting Maine communities through your work?
As a writer, I use my literary talents to spread awareness about social issues that are prevalent in my generation and in society in general. However, through MYAN, I’ve learned that there is more than one way to give back. I’m choosing to give back this summer by working with G2O participants. I want to give what wisdom and guidance I can so they can confidently maneuver their projects this summer. I want to positively impact young people in my community by helping to facilitate activities and programs that help them realize their potential, which was once done for me through Gateway to Opportunity. The strong people around me inspire me. My immigrant parents, for example, came to a foreign country in search of opportunities and a better future for their family. I’m encouraged to work harder for a bright future because of the people who believe in me despite the odds. My values come from the things that money can’t buy (family and friends, faith, giving back to my community).
What is your position at MYAN / What do you do?
I am the social media facilitator, and I publish events and information on our social media.
How are you impacting Maine communities through your work?
I believe my work impacts young Mainers by providing them with accessible information about programs and activities that would educate them, provide them with opportunities, and connect them more to their communities.
Are there specific issues that you’re passionate about?
I care deeply about community wellness, education, and success. I believe that people can succeed and create healthy and well-rounded lives for themselves if they are simply given the tools to do so. Therefore, I want to help provide others with resources, safe spaces, and tools to help them grow, express themselves, and harness and direct their potential.
