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STRIVE News & Updates
August 1st, 2023
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Image Description (ID): "We're Hiring!" flyer with position and contact information and 3 photos of staff working with STRIVE participants. | |
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Are you, or someone you know in the market for a new job?
We're hiring for a number of positions!
We have full time, part time, and per diem opportunities available- including weekdays, evenings, and weekends!
We are also offering a $1,750 sign on bonus (after 30 days of successful employment) plus an additional $250 bonus for those that are already DSP or MHRT certified!
Click Here to browse our open positions!
If you have questions about our current openings, contact Jennifer Boucher at jboucher@pslstrive.orgor at 207-879-0847.
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Here's what's happening in our programs! | |
STRIVE U students are beating the heat this summer by navigating to the beach and Peaks Island! We have spent time talking about staying hydrated and sampling different waters infused with a variety of fruits! The students look forward to enjoying the month of August and exploring new areas of Portland! | |
ID: 5 STRIVE U students grouped together and similing. Water, sand and an island are in the background. | |
ID: 2 STRIVE U students in matching shirts (green and blue with palm trees). | |
ID: A STRIVE U student sitting on a couch, holding up a plate of food. There are windows with white blinds behind her. | |
ID: A STRIVE U student sitting on a couch. He is holding up a cup in one hand and giving a thumbs up with the other. In front of him is a coffee table with a large jug of water and ice cubes. | |
STRIVE U is a comprehensive two-year residential, post-secondary educational opportunity for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To learn more about the program, schedule a tour, or get an application, please contact admissions@pslstrive.org or call (207) 774.6278. | |
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What's better than independent living themed courses with STRIVE WorldWIDE? MORE INDEPENDENT LIVING THEMED COURSES WITH STRIVE WORLDWIDE! Starting in August we'll offer THREE courses per session! Our 1pm EST time slot on Tuesdays and Thursdays has been a success, so it's a keeper! At 1pm in August we're offering Unwritten Rules: Social Skills Decoded. Practice learning community expectations about why people expect certain behavior and practice recognizing body language and messages that people give without words!
Another new time slot! We're offering an early evening time- 5:30pm, EST, also on Tuesdays and Thursdays! Since 5:30 to me says dinnertime- we're kicking off this new time with our fan favorite Cooking and Meal Planning course! Learn about food and kitchen safety and check out our Thursday seminar Food Lab- Sara will demonstrate how to make a meal, then you can use the recording as your own video recipe!
In our classic 7pm, EST time slot on Tuesdays and Thursdays we're going to give our brains a workout with Brain Fitness: our course on Executive Functioning! We'll share skills to build your working memory, self control and mental flexibility- and play SO MANY GAMES! It's going to be a blast!
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ID: 3 flyers for upcoming August STRIVE WorldWIDE courses. | |
STRIVE WorldWIDE is STRIVE's online program that teaching independent living skills. For more information about STRIVE WorldWIDE, contact Dr. Anne Ryan at Aryan@pslstrive.org or at
207-879-0847.
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TOPS’ 6-week Extended School Year (ESY) program is in full swing! Our group consists of returning and new students from 13 different sending schools. Our students are learning community safety skills, navigation, trying out new wellness options and learning about one another. We’re also making sure to enjoy the summer with leisure activities! So far we’ve visited Westport Bowling, Tie-Dyed t-shirts and took the METRO to the Portland Farmer’s Market! | |
ID: 6 TOPS students doing yoga on the floor of the TOPS classroom. They are all laying on their backs on yoga mats. | |
ID: 4 TOPS students smiling outside. They are in front of a METRO bus stop sign. There are also green trees in the background. | |
ID: 3 TOPS students sitting at a table outside doing tye dye. The all have on blue gloves. There is a blue mesh tent in the background. | |
ID: 2 TOPS students sitting together and smiling. They are on a teal and white bench inside the bowling alley. | |
Interested in TOPS? TOPS (Transition Outcomes Program for Students) provides transition programming for high school students from area school districts who are typically 18 years and older. For more information, please contact Ryanne Desjardins, rdesjardins@pslstrive.org or by phone at 207-879-0847. | |
This month at Bayside, we had another graduation to celebrate… Ella graduated from the Bayside program! We celebrated her by playing Disney trivia and having spaghetti and meatballs with cupcakes for dessert! Ella will be going on to STRIVE Active and we are so excited for her as she starts her new adventure. Congratulations Ella! | This month we have also had two new participants join our afternoon crew- Jack and Mary! They are settling into the routine of banking, grocery shopping, cooking, and navigating Portland and the surrounding communities They have been enjoying taking walks into the city, exploring new businesses, riding the bus, and trying new recipes. Participants and staff are also working on plans for a summer celebration BBQ right here on the patio at Bayside. We are looking forward to it! | ID: A group of Bayside participants together in the program sapce. They are grouped together and smiling. There are couches/chairs and windows in the background. | |
ID: Bayside participant standing with staff and smiling at the camera. They are holding a certificate. | |
ID: Bayside participant similing at the camera. He is in front of dark green wall.background. | |
ID: Bayside participant similing at the camera. Se is in front of dark green wall.background. | |
STRIVE Bayside is a unique community supports program that is dedicated to exploring and increasing independence. Some of the goals we work on are grocery shopping, budgeting, cleaning, navigating the community, cooking and social skills. We run five days a week, Monday through Friday and have two daily sessions, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm and 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm. We operate out of an apartment in down town Portland to simulate actual apartment living. If you would like more information about our program, or to schedule a tour please contact Kim O'Connor at koconnor@pslstrive.org. | |
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WAVES: This month we celebrated summer by heading over to Crescent Beach State Park for an extended day! While there, we played games like cornhole, ladder ball, Sorry, trivia, and more! We got to enjoy the beautiful beach and walk the trails around the park. We grilled up some burgers and hotdogs and got to enjoy a big picnic lunch. It was delicious! Spending time outside helps us to be happier and healthier!
ACTIVE: This month our yearbooks arrived! All year, participants in yearbook group have been working diligently to get the PSL/STRIVE Community Support Yearbook ready for production. Staff and participants both collected hundreds of pictures over the past year that have been featured. Participants ran surveys, designed page layouts, and even designed the cover! It is so fun to have created this yearbook as a reminder of all of the amazing things that we got to do last year, and of all of the friendships we made!
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ID: Staff and 2 participants standing at the beach. The sky is cloudy and you can see sand and water behind them. | |
ID: Participating holding up the yearbook. The front of the yearbook is very colorful. | |
Strive Studios has been busy this month making art in all forms. Our marketing group made posters to hang up around Foden road that help people know what goes in the recycling bin and what doesn’t! Other groups have collaged self-portraits and worked hard to glaze their ceramic pieces so we can fill up the kiln and run it soon. Our photography group has persevered through the heat and mosquitos to get some great nature photographs. | |
ID: STRIVE Studios participant holding up artwork. | |
ID: STRIVE Studios participant holding up artwork. | |
ID: STRIVE Studios participant holding up artwork. | |
For more information on PSL Services/STRIVE's Community Support Day Programs, ACTIVE, WAVES, and STRIVE Studios, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org. | |
Wednesday Night Educational Series | In August, Wednesday Night Education will focus on internet safety! We will learn how to spot scams and phishing attempts. the pros and cons of online communities, appropriate online interactions and how to evaluate websites! WNES will be meeting in person from 6-8pm on Wednesday - please us the registration form on the website to sign up! | ID purple background with an image of a purple computer in the center. | The Wednesday Night Educational Series is held every Wednesday in person for participants 15-24 years old. Series are between 4 and 8 weeks and topics vary from month to month! The price per series is $30-$40, depending on the series' length. For more information or for your link to join class, contact Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org. | | |
Camp STRIVE had an amazing and fun month of July! We visited the animals at Smiling Hill Farm and the Maine Wildlife Park, made solar oven smores, tie dyed t-shirts, and enjoyed the beautiful parks and trails in Southern Maine! We also enjoyed time at STRIVE, playing competitive games of Uno and showing off our creative art skills! We can't wait to see the fun that August brings us! | |
ID: two campers sitting and smiling. One camper is holding up a drawn picture of blue headphones over the word STRIVE. | |
ID: Three campers sitting outside at a table under the tent. There are Uno cards on the table. | |
ID: A camper standing up next to a sand pit with animal tracks at Maine Wildlife Park. | |
ID: Two campers sitting inside at a table smiling. One camper is holding up a peace sign and there is a Trouble board in front of them | |
Camp STRIVE is a day-camp experience for campers between the ages of 11-24. Camp STRIVE is held every school vacation (February, April, and the day before Thanksgiving) as well as for the full summer. For more information about Camp STRIVE, contact Alex Woodhouse at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org. | |
Our Tweens program is looking forward to a great month of August! We can't wait to see all our Tweens and make some summer snacks, play games, and make our very own fidget spinners! Yay! | |
ID: pink rectangle on a white background. There are three red, purple, and yellow flowers along the bottom | |
July was a lot of fun in Tweens too - we made slime and ice cream as two of our activities and had a blast! | |
ID: two Tweens making slime. One tween is pulling her green slime up in the air | |
ID: Tweens sitting inside a at table preparing to make ice cream in a bag | | |
Tweens is a safe and fun environment to build new friendships and learn new skills for folks 11-14 years old. We run every Friday from 3:30-5:30pm. We have a scheduled activity each week, with free time built in to maximize socialization. For more information about STRIVE Tweens, contact Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org. | |
STRIVE Night will also meet every Friday in August! We're excited for another fun month of socials and we always have the best time playing games, singing karaoke, and meeting new people! Stay tuned for more information about our August theme night - coming soon! | |
ID: white arch in the middle of blues, pink, orange, and red lines. Program information is in the center are there are two blue, black, and yellow spakles - on the top left and middle right | |
ID: STRIVE Night participants and staff at the art table | |
ID: three participants sitting on the couch | |
ID: One participant singing karaoke and one participant dancing | | |
Friday Nights at STRIVE, fondly referred to as "STRIVE Night," is a relaxed but fun evening of socialization for 15-24 year olds. New members are always welcome, and your first night is free! STRIVE Night is Friday from 6-9pm, with at least one special "theme" night happening each month. For more information, contact Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org. | |
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STRIVE 25 is excited to continue a fun summer of socials! Our next two meet ups will be Thursday August 3rd and Thursday September 7th! Both will be from 6-8pm at 28 Foden Road! We hope you'll join us for fun times and delicious food!
Mark your calendars - August 3rd will be a STRIVE 25 Talent Show!
| ID: white background with a yellow sun in the top left. There are blue waves along the bottom and two orange surfboards on the bottom right. There is a yellow star with a hand holding a microphone on the middle right. | STRIVE 25 is a social event for folks 25 and older. It currently runs in-person on the first Thursday of every month from 6-8pm For more information on STRIVE 25, contact Whitney at wwildes@pslstrive.org or Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org! | | |
The STRIVECast team had another great month! We got to talk to Cheryl Laz from the Maine Master Naturalist Program, hung out as a podcast fam, and played the Newlywed game with Maggie and Will! We also released an episode of bloopers from all 5 (!!) seasons of the show! We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed recording! Do you have a guest idea for an upcoming show or an Ask Jeff Question? Let us know! | ID: screenshot of a STRIVECast Zoom recording. There are the six member of the STRIVECast team and one guest. |
The STRIVECast is a podcast brought to you by the team at PSL Services/STRIVE in South Portland, Maine — bringing you engaging, hilarious, and thoughtful conversation through one interview week by week. Co-Hosted by two young men with Down Syndrome, the STRIVECast aims to change the voices we typically hear on the radio and through podcasts, as well as to provide meaningful dialogues with all sorts of public figures in our world. We are very proud to be both hosted, produced AND edited by people with disabilities! Like what you hear? Shoot us an email at strivecast@pslstrive.org!
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Thank you to our July Donors! | |
- Carolyn Carson
- Clyde Dyar
- Samantha Leavitt
- Susan and Anthony Mellon
- Andrew and Shannon Hagerty
- Roberta O'Brion
- Barry Dunlap- In Honor of Caleb Dunlap
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....and a huge thank you to everyone who has donated to STRIVE's Beach to Beacon runners!
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Image Description (ID): white background with a circle of colored flowers in the middle. Text in the middle reads "Thank You". | |
Thank you for your generous support of STRIVE!
With your support, we are able to continue our work each and every day.
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Happy Birthday to our STRIVE members with a birthday in August! | |
Image Description (ID): Black background with three cupcakes in the middle. Icing on the cupcakes is blue, yellow, and pink. On top of the cupcakes are lit candles that read "Happy Birthday." | |
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Linda Murray
Tiffany Farides
Ashley Gore
Dave Gardner
Lidia Woofenden
Anthony Giftos
Lucas Bonica
Cole Igneri
Chloe Britton
Alannah Barrasso
Noah Sullivan
James Raymond
Anthony Mains
Thatcher Kent
Tyra Gnade
Yasmine Ben Malek
Benjamin Trimble-Smith
Darren Robinson
Alli Brooking
Bre Parentaeu
Andrew Hall
Andrew Giannotti
Autumn Foster
Jeanelle Davies
Olivia McDermott
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ID: photo of member spotlight, Vaeha. She is wearing a pink shirt and holding up a piece of paper with the word 'STRIVE', blue headphones, and different colored triangles. | |
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Meet Vaeha! Vaeha is attending her first summer at Camp STRIVE! She says her favorite thing about Camp is "coloring and eating" We're so glad you've joined us this summer, Vaeha!
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Meet Ashley! Ashley is one of our Summer Camp STRIVE counselors! She says her "favorite thing about working at STRIVE is being able to meet so many new people and getting to know them. I end up laughing and smiling so many times a day with the participants and campers I interact with." Thanks, Ashley, we're lucky to have you!
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ID: photo of staff spotlight, Ashely. She is smiling and there is a colorful umbrella behind her | |
See the Jonas Brothers and support STRIVE at the same time! | |
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Are you looking for tickets to one of the summer's most popular concerts? You are in luck! A very generous donor has gifted STRIVE two tickets to the Jonas Brothers in Boston, MA!
We are putting these two tickets up for auction! If you are the lucky winner, you and a guest will be able to see the Jonas Brothers: FIVE ALBUMS. ONE NIGHT. Tour LIVE at the TD Garden in Boston on August 15th! The show begins at 7:30pm. Parking at a nearby garage is also included!
Bidding on this special item will be open until 4pm (EST) on Tuesday, August 8th. To place your bid, visit www.biddingforgood.com/strive/jonas. Good luck!
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Community Members Wanted!
Did you know that STRIVE hosts a monthly, free, networking group for those in our local community? The STRIVE Business to Business Networking Group is just one way that we try to be a mutually beneficial partner, with the hope of expanding the networks of our partners and local businesses.
We are looking to grow! The group meets at noon on the last Wednesday of each month (right now we are meeting virtually). Are you or someone you know interested in joining? Contact Pete (pbrown@pslstrive.org) or Whitney (wwildes@pslstrive.org) for more information about the group and your link to join!
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Image Description (ID): gray background with a dark blue border. The STRIVE logo is in the top right. Text is in black and reads "business to business networking group." | |
STRIVE Shop
Don't forget, STRIVE has an updated store! We've launched an online store to purchase all your STRIVE swag needs! Take a look at all the shop has to offer HERE! There are so many items to choose from AND you can customize any item by choosing the color and STRIVE logo that you want. Happy shopping!
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Image Description (ID): white background with two rows of swag. Top row from left to right is a gray backpack with the STRIVE WorldWIDE logo, a black mug with the STRIVECast logo, a white t-shirt with the STRIVE logo, and a blue baseball hat with a STRIVE U logo. Bottom row from left to right is a blue tote bag with a PSL Services/STRIVE log, a gray sweatshirt with a STRIVE U logo, and a white travel mug with a STRIVE logo. | |
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Have questions or comments about any of our programs and events?
New members: You will be asked to complete an updated information form upon your arrival to Tweens, STRIVE Night or STRIVE 25. Want to get a head start? Visit https://www.pslstrive.org/membershipform to submit your membership form today!
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