Dear Friend,

Do you need a dose of joy this morning?

One of our Board Members shared this sweet video with us and we can’t get it out of our heads! So, in addition to these updates below we share this delightful song with you that reminds us all to keep going on.

In community,

The Maine Initiatives Team

Sneak Peak: Racial Justice and …

Every day, grassroots leaders in Maine are challenging the ways that racism shows up in our community’s policies, practices, and culture. Through this multi-part series we will engage in a dialogue with inspiring leaders addressing these intersections of racial justice and other issues including housing justice, health equity, decarceration, and more.

We’re still finalizing dates and details but wanted to share this sneak peak with you in the meantime. Be on the lookout for the series announcement next month!

Grantmaking Re-Cap 

In September, we announced $270,000 in grants to 32 organizations through the Immigrant-Led Organizations Fund. These organizations have gone to extraordinary lengths to adapt and respond to the needs of their constituents throughout this pandemic. Learn more about their work HERE.

This month, we announced $105,000 in grants to organizations through the COVID-19 Community Care Fund. These organizations represent a community of activists and organizers who are turning the tide in the fight against systemic racism in our state. Learn more about their work HERE.

COVID-19 Issue Spotlights Re-Cap

Last month, our COVID-19 Issue Spotlight focused on education. Now that the school year has started, it’s more important than ever to support grassroots organizations that are fighting for greater equity in our schools. We highlighted inspiring grantees that are advocating for the removal of school resource officers (SROs), providing school supplies, creating safe after school programming, and more.

We encourage you to follow and support their work as teachers, students, and families try and navigate pre-existing equity issues inside and outside of the classroom. Check out the full article on our blog.

Maine Initiatives Nationally Recognized for COVID-19 Relief Fund

Last month, Maine Initiatives received a grant from the Momentum Fund, which is made possible by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and United Philanthropy Forum. We were honored to receive this national recognition and represent Maine among 129 recipients that are managing COVID-19 relief funds specifically for communities of color and other groups disproportionately impacted by the pandemic across the country.

This support allows us to continue collectively pooling money for organizations led by Black, Brown, Indigenous, and other People of Color through our COVID-19 Community Care Fund. Getting resources into the hands of grassroots and community-based organizations is essential in times of crisis. Trusting their leadership and wisdom is how we ensure that the needs of all Mainers are being met in the days, weeks, and months ahead!