An Opportunity to Help

If you have the space and time, join us!

Hi all:

As some of you may remember, I’ve been deeply involved in launching a program through the Maine Association for New Americans (MANA) that matches recent young adult immigrants with caring adults who want to provide friendship and support. The young adults (ages 18–22) in the program are primarily in Maine without family or a formal support system.

The role of a mentor is simple but meaningful:
a) to offer friendship and care
b) to spend time doing fun and supportive activities together

These young adults (I call them “kids,” though they’re not truly kids) often feel lonely, isolated, and overwhelmed as they adapt to a new community and culture. Having a compassionate adult in their corner makes a huge difference in their daily lives.

I currently mentor two young men from Angola—one just graduated from Deering High School this past spring, and the other is a student at Portland Adult Ed. Both work nearly full-time, and the recent high school graduate will attend SMCC this fall.

Here’s an example of what mentoring can look like: I picked them up at their apartment, we grabbed pizza at Otto’s in South Portland, and then headed to Kettle Cove. It was simple and easy, and I’m pretty sure they hadn’t seen the ocean from that spot before. I also have a call into SMCC to help Adão start the class registration process.

Partnering with MANA has been wonderful. This initiative fits beautifully within their long-standing Welcoming the Stranger program, which has been around for over 10 years.

We’ve launched two cohorts of mentors and mentees so far. Just the other night, the second cohort got together to play billiards in Portland—another reminder of the joy and connection this program fosters.

If you’re looking for a way to counter the harmful impacts of the current Presidential administration, consider becoming a mentor. I’ve said this before and still believe it: the most meaningful impacts we can make are at the local level, in this community we care so deeply about.

To sign up for the Young Adult Mentoring Program, you can follow this link. We’d love to have you.

Please feel free to share this with friends. I’m trying to expand our reach and connect with mentors who aren’t already in my immediate or secondary circles. Do you belong to a community that might be interested in sharing this info?

Happy adventuring,

Gillian