Summer Greetings:
Hello Friends,
Summer is a season of energy and optimism, and here at Maine Association for New Americans (MANA) we are feeling both! We’re excited to share the progress we’ve made and the opportunities ahead. From our one on one peer counseling, Community Wellness Programs “Things She Carries and #WEOUTSIDE to non- emergency medical related transportation program. Your support and collaboration have made all the difference. As we look ahead to the Fall season, we are excited to build on this momentum and continue watering seeds of change, joy and healing that will flourish well into the future of the people we serve. Thank you for being an essential part of our community and for believing in the power of our shared mission.
MANA Team
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MANA Transportation To Cancer Care
We would like to remind our community that even though our well known Transportation program winded down significantly due to our limited capacity, we are still able to offer trauma informed rides for cancer patients to and from their medical appointments that include cancer screening.
We are striving to continue providing this support because we strongly believe that transportation should never be a barrier to cancer care but unfortunately too often, it can stand in the way of life-saving treatment. Thanks to JT Gorman Foundation and Maine Cancer Foundation funds we are helping ease that burden and ensuring that no one in our community faces cancer alone.
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Youth Mental Health Community Gathering
In early May, MANA partnered with Intercultural Community Services and Gateway Community Services for a Family Summer Resource Fair focused on the topic of youth mental health.
All families of middle and high school students in the Greater Portland area were invited to discuss student mental health and wellbeing.
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Together we heal, grow, and thrive stronger
| | | WELLNESS & PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS | |
MANA’s “Things She Carries” program offers bi-monthly sessions to create safe spaces for women to metaphorically “declutter and dump their heavy bags.” Participants take a pause from their busy lives for self-care and for reflection on their life journeys. We have moved intentionally into 2025 and have been adding in dance, movement and art to balance our energy! See stories below!
Do you need to unpack your bag? Follow this link to sign up for “Things She Carries”
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We want to extend our gratitude to Indigo Arts Alliance for welcoming our Elders and Women's Groups into their creative space this past Spring for powerful sessions– clay bead workshops rooted in reflection, memory, and making.
We created clay beads of all different shapes and sizes, from golf ball size to as large as oranges. With every roll and press of the clay, our MANA program participants offered pieces of their stories to the earth, shaping not just beads, but belonging.
We were honored to have our hands included in In the Voice of Trees, a public installation by the brilliant Daniel Minter – where ancestral echoes meet communal art.
The beads we produced are now a part of a large, freestanding sculpture installed at the Maine Botanical Garden. We hope you will take time to visit to the garden this summer to experience it!
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Seeking Support
The Women's Wellness Group enjoyed an evening of connection and movement in collaboration with the dance instructor Veeva Banga @veevabanga. Participants explored the theme of "Seeking Support" – because asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness – and then wrapped up with an energizing Afro Dance class.
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Embracing Imperfections
The Women's Wellness Group met at Maine Tai Chi for an Afro Zumba class with Nuna Gleason @maineafroyoga. The session focused on "embracing imperfections" – which is about shifting our perspective to see our flaws as part of our unique story rather than as failures. This fosters self-compassion and resilience.
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Adventure starts with knowledge! On June 27th, MANA's #WEOUTSIDE program for youth orientation took place at Maine Audubon at Gisland Farm in Falmouth. The focus was on getting ready to thrive in the Maine wilderness. From tick checks to trail tips, we learned how to stay safe, respect the land, and look out for each other.
We're not just going outside – we're going out smart, strong, and together.
We are also so grateful to all of our partners and sponsors who make this program possible!
| | | | Gear Expertise with Simon Rucker, MALTA | | | |
#WEOUTSIDE WOMEN APRIL RETREAT
AT THE NOTCH HOSTEL, NEW HAMPSHIRE
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What is there to say when we give ourselves time to get away, refresh and reset? We enjoyed fresh air, good food, a little laughter and healthy competition, and were able to share our whole selves with other women.
Thank you to the Notch Hostel for hosting us again!
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At MANA, we are committed to combating the epidemic of isolation and loneliness experienced by older adults by creating spaces that foster connection, social interaction, movement, and creativity. We offer individual sessions, group activities, workshops and occasional overnight retreats in the nature.
Time together include activities such as light stretches, and arts and crafts — offering moments of joy, relaxation, and cultural sharing.
Activities are designed to encourage storytelling, meaningful conversations, and friendships, strengthening bonds within our community. 💛
| | If you know an older adult who would love to be part of this, please reach out to us! | | | In April, MANA's #WEOUTSIDE Elders Program enjoyed a wellness retreat hosted by The Notch Hostel in North Woodstock, NH. Participants shared stories, cooked meals, relaxed, and recharged together. MANA was one of two organizations that received grants from the Notch Hostel's (@notchhostel) project Summits in Solidarity (@summitsinsolidarity). | | | In May, MANA's #WEOUTSIDE Elders Program had a beautiful day to take a stroll with our Elders. We gathered at Sebago Lake for a refreshing walk in partnership with @loonecholandtrust. The sun showed up, the laughter echoed, and our hearts were full. We honored wisdom, connection, and the joy of movement. | | | | | |
Our Welcoming the Stranger mentoring program is now in its tenth year! WTS matches volunteers with asylum seeking individuals or families, to provide a warm welcome to the Greater Portland community. We are also piloting a youth mentoring program. Contact Amy if you're interested in learning more. Or apply to become a volunteer mentor or an immigrant mentee!
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Highlights from our 10th Anniversary Bash!
We celebrated the 10th anniversary of MANA’s “Welcoming the Stranger” mentoring program. For 10 years, we’ve been connecting community volunteers with immigrant families, building community one friendship at a time. We were joined by mentors, mentees, partners, supporters, and friends for a wonderful party at Maine Audubon. We heard fantastic storytelling by Antonio Rocha, very fun music performed by Kiatumua Lukebana, art therapy with ArtVan, and arts and crafts with WTS mentor Jen DeCristoforo.
| | Check our website and social media regularly for more information about our upcoming programs. |
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