PROP Begins Intergenerational Mentoring Program

Two PROP programs, Family Friends and Open Door Community Arts, have started 'Family Friends – Opening Doors,' an inter-generational family/mentoring project utilizing senior volunteers to support at-risk youth who are vulnerable to engaging in high-risk behaviors.

This new venture will provide youth, their families, and Family Friends with opportunities to develop and engage in art projects and other activities shown to enhance and strengthen personal resiliency characteristics, family bonding, and build a sense of community.

We are seeking individuals interested in volunteering in this unique inter-generational and multi-cultural arts program. Some of the exciting projects scheduled include a community art festival, monthly community service projects, printmaking, and workshops exploring physical improvisation, comedy and acting. If you are a senior interested in unique volunteer opportunities or know a young person who may benefit from the program, call 773-0202.

2nd Annual Maine Harvest Lunch

Gorham schools think global by eating local

Did you know that the average bite of food travels 1,400 miles before reaching your mouth using up to 17 times more fossil fuel energy than food coming from local sources ?  

Students in grades K-8 in the Gorham schools reduced that distance one day this fall as they ate Maine grown foods for lunch. This program is made possible by a collaboration between the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Gorham School Nutrition Program, Gorham teachers, Farm Fresh Connection and PROP’s Communities Promoting Health, a Healthy Maine Partnership .  

The effort to offer local foods in school cafeterias is part of a larger trend towards shortening the distance between field and fork.   Martha Putnam of Farm Fresh Connection adds, “This fits into a greater effort to bring more nutritious food to kids in school - nutrition that they need to do well.”

This year the program included Middle School students participating in activities to celebrate the harvest, including breaking ground for their new school vegetable garden. A guest speaker , Russell Libby, Executive Director for the Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association (MOFGA) ,   talked with students and faculty about the importance of locally produced food, and how the students play a significant role in helping others understand the importance of knowing the face of the person who grows their food, being connected to the place where it is grown, and the quality and taste that is enjoyed when food has a short distance to travel to reach the table. 

For the Maine Harvest Lunch, all students had the opportunity to participate in a creative poster contest to illustrate the importance of eating foods grown near their home.   Local producers were invited to the lunch, to provide a face to the food.   During lunch, each item was identified by the farm that produced it.

The goal of this program is to expand beyond the Gorham schools.   The Harvest Lunch Program was presented at the most recent Maine Food Service Network Conference in hopes of gaining the interest of other Nutrition Program Directors.  

PROP's A Company of Girls Program

Receives National Recognition

One of PROP's newest programs, A Company Of Girls, has received the 2003 Exemplary Award for Innovative Programs, sponsored by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention in collaboration with the National Association of State Alcohol & Drug Abuse Directors, the National Prevention Network, and Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America. It is the only arts program ever to receive this distinction.

The Exemplary Awards Program identifies and honors outstanding achievements in substance abuse prevention, determined through a rigorous national review process. Selection is an indication of the tremendous efforts put forth by programs and communities to prevent substance abuse. Program Director Odelle Bowman and assistant Avesha DeWolfe accepted the award at the National Prevention Network conference in Kansas City, MO.

PROP's Maine Youth Action Network

Holds Successful Peer Leadership Conference

Over 450 youth and adults from Fort Kent to York and everywhere in between came together at the Atlantic Oakes by the Sea in Bar Harbor to learn about advocacy, leadership, and community. Led by a team of youth who planned much of the Conference, this year’s theme was “It’s All About YOUth!” – a sentiment captured by the quote “I am in the world to change the world” by artist Kathe Kollwitz. The 2-day event was kicked off with a lively performance by Lydian Four, a band led by Open Door Community Arts’ own Kate Squibb. People grooved to the beat while gathering in the ballroom for the Opening Ceremonies. Thanks, Kate, for setting the upbeat tone!

The Youth Planning team welcomed the crowd and introduced Maine’s own Governor John Baldacci! It was truly an honor to have our state’s leader inspire youth to be involved in their communities. The message was taken up a notch by internationally known and super-energetic keynote speaker Wendy Lesko of the Youth Activism Project in Washington D.C. Check out www.youthactivism.org for more on her work!

Nearly half of over 60 workshops presented at the Conference were led by youth, and covered a range of topics – substance abuse, tobacco prevention, suicide, depression, dating violence, body image, healthy sexuality, nutrition, and physical activity, to name a few. Workshops also focused on teaching advocacy and activism skills, public policy, social change, speaking & media skills, and diversity awareness.

The Maine Youth Action Network truly could not have pulled this off once again without a group of hardworking volunteers. As always, PROP employees were at the front of the action! Thanks to John Navarra, Victoria Taylor, Merrill Abromson, and Jason Springer who staffed the Conference and to Bobbie Leighton, Debbie Lombardi, Sue Bonior, and Ben Dinglasan for helping out in preparation of the event. A special thanks to Grant Lee for his support this year!

If you’d like to learn more about PROP’s Maine Youth Action Network activities, check us out on the web at www.myan.org .