First things first: thank you for registering to join us last week at our second annual Maine Immigration Forum. We hope you had a meaningful and nourishing experience. 

Please take a moment to provide feedback that will help us plan for next year.

If you registered on behalf of others, we may not have their emails so please share this email with them. (If you registered but were not able to attend, please also use the form to let us know if there’s something we could have done to assist you in getting there.)

We don’t need to tell you that it’s been a challenging year for immigrants and refugees.

When we saw what was on the horizon last fall, we postponed our 2024 MiF event to put all hands on deck making sure voters in our communities were informed and engaged.

This year we decided that hosting the MiF was more important than ever, and while we know the current state of affairs doesn't inspire a celebratory mood, we know that gatherings like the MiF are a way of deepening our roots to prepare for the attacks coming from federal agencies. 

For this reason, we focus on a theme of rootedness, highlighting the work of food and farm projects that bring us closer to the land and to each other.

In this spirit, we want to be sure you're able to follow up with the many groups, vendors, performers, speakers, and panelists, to support and join their efforts, or just to drop a note of thanks to them yourself. 

So here’s your follow-up guide to the MiF 2025 experience ⬇️

Our food vendors nailed it with a variety of flavors to fill all our bellies.

Jaffa Mediterranean Grill 

Taj Indian Cuisine

Yardie Ting, The Ultimate Jamaican Cuisine



Our “digital spotlight” organizations, who shared their stories with you directly at their tables and in the crowd.

Somali Bantu Community Association

Khmer Maine

In Her Presence

Ummah Enterprises

Presente! Maine

InterRooted 

Our amazing performers all got us off our seats, cheering and dancing.

Adanna Kai Jones, aka Dr. of Winin,’ from Bowdoin College

Ambassadors from The Telling Room: Edna-Thecla Akimana, Julietta (Jules) Vázquez, Nazik Adam

Note: The Afro-Mexican blues musician Alejandro Graciano and The Huddled Masses brass band had both hoped to join us this year and were unable. We look forward to working with them on future events.

Our program was opened and guided by the vibrance of emcee Kayko Torres of Presente! Maine, who put smiles on our faces while calling us to action, and the brilliant historical analysis of MIRC Board President Charles “Val” Carnegie.

Our keynote speaker and panelists blew our minds with their deep knowledge and understanding of the moment we are in.

Dr. Marcelle Medford of Bates College as our inspiring Keynote Speaker

Co-founder of Luke’s Lobster, Ben Conniff

Maine Council of Churches board member, Jake Fahey, and 

Vice President for equity and inclusion at Bates College, Leana Amaez.

And we were closed out by the powerful words of MIRC Executive Director, Mufalo Chitam.

Our artist of the Beehive Design Collective and Moonbats Postershop, who drew, published, and distributed posters promoting the event, inspiring the colors you saw decorating the event space.

Our hosts with Halo at the Point and our event partners with AV Technik, Sea Glass Events, photographers John Ochira and KR Media, and all of our sponsors:

We have many more pictures and videos from the event, which we’ll be sharing with you all as well in coming weeks, so keep an eye out for those.

Thanks to all of you whose presence made the magic happen.

...And don't forget to give us your feedback in this form!