Empower Lewiston Hosts Annual Meeting... and Unveils GRANT-MAKING Process

At its annual meeting, Monday, November 17th, at LRTC’s Green Ladle, Empower Lewiston announced it would be soliciting grant proposals from non-profits and their partners dedicated to creating positive change in the downtown. In Empower Lewiston’s ten years, we have supported the creation of public spaces such as the B Street Community Center, the Marsden Hartley Cultural Center, Museum L/A, and the Kennedy Park Skate Park; the development of entities such as Outsource Works, a budding social enterprise dedicated to providing a flexible alternative work setting for downtown residents, and Lots to Gardens, now a successful community gardening, neighborhood beautification and youth leadership program; and partnerships dedicated to advancing the personal goals of individuals through the teamwork of the L-A CA$H Coalition, Casey’s Rural Family Economic Success Initiative, College for ME-Androscoggin, Coastal Enterprises IDA Home Ownership Program and the Downtown Education Collaborative. Today, Empower Lewiston is working in the community to address transportation capacity and accessibility downtown, the delivery and accessibility of nutritional food options downtown, housing and neighborhood education for residents and landlords, the digital divide through accessible community computer labs and the development of safer, healthier and stronger neighborhoods. Grant proposals that support Empower Lewiston’s current priorities will be welcomed as well as those proposing other positive benefits to the downtown. Grants in amounts up to $10,000 will be awarded.

Collaboration will be a key component of any successful proposal. And Empower Lewiston Board members and guests were pleased to hear the impact of one such collaboration, the Downtown Education Collaborative (DEC), and its effort to address the digital divide is having on all involved. Sherry Russell, Director, gave an overview of DEC and the digital divide initiative as it has evolved. Erin Reed, a Bates alumni and VISTA, is coordinating and doing outreach among the colleges to engage students in becoming involved, while Terry Howard and Marcy Winslow, Andover College students, have assisted users in filling out online applications, doing resumes, setting up email accounts and addressing a variety of other requests for assistance. Theresa Sirois, a computer lab user, engaged the audience by sharing her personal story of attending school through the 9th grade, returning years later to take classes at Lewiston Adult Education, and being drawn to the possibilities the computer lab next door offered her. Theresa is now a regular user at the computer lab developing various skills all of which she said has helped her become a more confident person in her life.

If you are involved in a downtown collaborative effort and are interested in submitting a proposal, please contact Empower Lewiston at 777-5144 or stop by our office at the B Street Community Center, 57 Birch Street.

Downtown Education Collaborative Opens Its Doors

November 18th, 4-6 PM
at 219 Lisbon Street

Downtown Education Collaborative (DEC)
DEC is a new collaborative dedicated to combining the resources, ideas, and energy of its member colleges and organizations to contribute in partnership with the community to the revitalization of downtown Lewiston. We have set up shop at 219 Lisbon Street and now that we have these beautiful photographs on our walls, we have officially opened our doors!

Photo-voice
This fall 15 people – youth, business owners, college students, grandparents – were given cameras and asked to photograph what Lewiston means to them. They photographed what they love about the city, what they value, and/or issues they’d like to raise. The result was hundreds of photos and stories. The photographers have narrowed the collection to 40 photographs to be framed and hung in the Downtown Education Collaborative center on Lisbon Street.

Downtown Education Collaborative Members
Andover College * Bates College * Central Maine Community College *Empower Lewiston *Lewiston Adult Education * Lewiston Public Library
*University of Southern Maine, Lewiston-Auburn College

EMPOWER LEWISTON TO HOLD ANNUAL MEETING

ANNUAL MEETING
ANNOUNCEMENT
November 17th 6:00-8:00pm
Location: The Green Ladle

Join Empower Lewiston in celebrating their accomplishments for the year passed and looking to the year forward at their Annual Meeting! The meeting will take place on Monday, November 17th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Lewiston Regional Technical Center’s Green Ladle, 156 East Ave.
Looking to our new mission, “Rooted in the downtown, Empower Lewiston serves as a critical and innovative facilitator – advocating for, with, and among downtown residents and businesses to determine our well-being, material security, and future together” we have taken on three major projects for the next year. These major projects include; collaborating with transportation agencies and committees to improve the transportation options for downtown Lewiston, facilitating meetings for residents to establish a downtown cooperative grocery store and creating a housing DVD for tenants, landlords and social service agencies.
New this year, we will be funding a grant-making process. More information and details will be unveiled at the Annual Meeting.
We will have door prize raffles and very delicious appetizers cooked by the talented students at the Green Ladle. For more information about the meeting and/or any of Empower Lewiston’s projects and to RSVP, contact Hillary Verrill at 777-5144 or hillary@empowerlewiston.org.

Have you ever taken a stroll to B-Street...

B-Street Community Center is just that … a community center! There are many things happening around here and you should come check it out and join in. Whether you need a social service agency or want to get involved with your community, it is happening here!

Organizations in B-Street

Advocates for Children:

They are a non-profit agency geared towards child-abuse prevention, awareness and education. They have a Parent Resource Center located in their B-Street office. The PRC offers times for parents to bring their children in to play with other children and an opportunity to network with other parents.

• Play Group: Mondays 10-11 a.m. for children under 5 to come and play with other kids
• Cookies and Crafts: Thursdays 10-11 a.m. for families to make crafts and share healthy snacks together.
• Open Play Time: Wednesdays 1-3 p.m. for kids to come and play with other kids and their parents (no AFC staff person staffing the room).
• They also offer classes and workshops for parents to learn discipline techniques and more! Come in to the center to find out more!!!

Androscoggin Head Start and Childcare:

Offering low-cost/no-cost to eligible families for pre-school and child care. There are opportunities to volunteer for Head Start as well. You can volunteer in the following ways:

• Join different committees
• Join the Policy Council
• Work in the classroom
• Help recruit for families for Head Start programs

B-Street Health Center:

A full service Family Practice center for the whole family to see a physician for any of their health care needs. They also have a limited use dental program.

Community Concepts:

During the fall and winter months, you can call the Auburn office of Community Concepts to set up an appointment for LIHEAP (heating assistance). If you live in Lewiston, you can actually request to have your appointment right here in B-Street.

Empower Lewiston:

We are a non-profit community development agency with three major projects at the forefront of what we do. Our focus is on transportation, convening meetings for residents to develop a Cooperative store and creating a housing dvd for tenants, landlords and agencies. We are involved with many of the initiatives in Lewiston. Want to learn more… come in and talk to us!!!

Lewiston Adult Education:

Offering on-site Adult Education classes. The College Transition Program is located here at B-Street. For more information, stop in and check it out!!!

Other B-Street Happenings:

• Computer lab available in the Lewiston Adult Education's lab. As a result of the Downtown Education Collaborative's hard work on the Digital Divide program, there are times when you could use the computer lab here.
• 2 Conference Rooms available for public use.
• Empower Lewiston's Board Meeting every 3rd Monday evenining from 6:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m.
• Androscoggin Head Start's Policy Council meetings
• WorkReady is held in B-Street
• Visible Community meets every Tuesday from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in Room B. Meetings are open to the public, and you are encouraged to attend. FMI contact the Maine People's Alliance (207) 782-7876
• The Downtown Community Action Group hosts their meetings and their Community Awareness Workshops in B-Street. FMI contact Officer Tom Murphy (207) 784-6422 ext. 6371

You simply must take a stroll down to B-Street to check out all of the excitement!!! Feel free to comment on your experience =)

Extra! Extra! Neighborly News is out!

Pick up the latest issue of you local newsletter the Neighborly News. In the fall issue you will find information on home heating, neighborly eateries and much more! If you don't know where to find an issue or you would like to be added to the mailing list, call or email me! Hillary@empowerlewiston.org or 777-5144.

Kennedy Park Fundraiser

If you were not at the Kennedy Park playground equipment fundraiser event this past Saturday evening, then you missed yourself a good time! The money from the fundraiser will be going towards new playground equipment for Kennedy Park in Lewiston. The park equipment was deemed unsafe this summer and has since been removed from the park. The group "Project Neighborhood" did a great job bringing all the pieces together to help make this event happen. The group was lucky enough to have Tina Bailey, Ward 5 City Councilor, rally the other city councilors and the Mayor for their participation.

The event raising more than $300 dollars was a success! The pie-in-the-face booth with Mayor Larry Gilbert even brought in some big donations according to the SunJournal. Officer Tom Murphy even donated $20 for such a chance!

[Mayor Gilbert wipes his face with a towel provided by his water girl, Councilor Bailey]

Also on hand at the event were clowns entertaining children with balloon creations!

Local musicians performed for the event bringing children and adults together for good times and dancing!

[Pictured above: fan favorite, Denise Dill]

And for the thrill of the evening, Lewiston City Councilors and the Mayor all gathered to sing "The Moose Song"!

Project Neighborhood truly has done a great effort to bring about a feeling of neighborhood in Downtown Lewiston! Thank you everyone!!! Now, lets raise money!!!

Circuit Breaker Starting Again... Claim YOUR $$$

Every year, the State of Maine provides a refund to eligible residents to help alleviate the cost of property taxes and rent in the state.

The program is starting August 1st for taxes/rent paid in 2007. It is very simple to apply. You can apply online at http://www.maine.gov/revenue/taxrelief/tnr.htm, or you can find a paper application at your local City office building or library.

According to the Maine.gov website, You may qualify for a refund if:

• you do not have a spouse or dependent(s) and your 2007 household income was $60,000 or less; or


• you do have a spouse or dependent(s) and your 2007 household income was $80,000 or less
  

AND

• Your 2007 property tax was more than 4% of your 2007 household income; or


• The rent you paid in 2007 was more than 20% of your 2007 household income.

Be sure to file for your refund!!!

Is a Cooperative Store a good choice for Lewiston?

On Tuesday, July 15th, Empower Lewiston convened a meeting to discuss the possibility of starting a Cooperative Store downtown in Lewiston. Some things we learned:

• Cooperative Store: Owners have stake, “shares”, vote. Bylaws. Can be for profit or not-for-profit.
  Three different types:

1. No Equity
2. Low equity: adjust for inflation/little profit (If trying to keep
affordable for all, this is the way to go)
3. Market Rate Equity

• There are models other than co-ops that should also be considered
  o Buying food in bulk
  o Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): Paying upfront for a share of produce from a farm. Usually involves once/week pick-ups or drop-offs. The produce is divided amongst the share holders and what is in harvest, is what you receive
  o Incentives to local stores who supply fresh produce
  
  So, what do you think??? We would love to hear your ideas. Are you interested in starting a co-op in downtown and being a member? Do you think a different model would work better? We need YOU! Your participation is what will make this successful for you and your community. Subscribe to our blog, post your comments, let us know what you think… and feel free to attend our next meeting:
  
  Next Meeting: Tuesday August 12th from 10:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
  Located at the Nutrition at 208 Bates Street

Imagine this!

Realizing that you aspire to attend college, you find yourself in the B-Street Community Center looking to speak with someone at Lewiston Adult Education. You want to sign up for their College Transition Program so that soon, attending college won't just be an aspiration but a reality. As you find yourself in this building, you accidentally stumble across activity already taking place. This activity is of course, Empower Lewiston's Blog-O-Thon. So now you're being approached and invited into the computer lab to join the festivities and even create a blog of your own. So, accidentally, you have become a participant, brought in by your goal to become further educated.

Paint the picture for yourself, because it gets even better... imagine that after all of this, you walk out with a brand new computer that you have just won from entering the drawing being offered from Empower Lewiston for participating in their day of blogging.

Well, this is the story of Hassan Shaleh. He fell upon us at the Blog-O-Thon with enthusiasm of learning something new and we were happy to have him. Hassan built his own blog that he can now share his own stories on from his own home with his brand new computer! Congratulations Hassan and Good Luck!

[Empower Lewiston's Hillary Verrill presenting Hassan Shaleh with his new computer, complete with the latest software and printer]

Live blogging!

Empower Lewiston hosted its first annual blog-a-thon (or, blog-o-thon), at B-Street Community Center. A small but dynamic group of residents, Empower Lewiston board members, community leaders, and bloggers assembled to talk about the what blogging is, and why it's important.

[B-Street Community Center, a downtown hub]

Hillary Verrill, Empower Lewiston's program coordinator did a great job organizing the event, and taking care of the logistics that always go into an event like this.

[Hillary busy at work, taking care of last minute details]

Hillary put together the agenda, sent invitations, and secured the Mayor to welcome the community to the event. Mayor Gilbert, a blogger in his own right, spoke about the importance of keeping communications open in the community, blogging's role in that, as well as tieing it to the city's past, when residents would voice their concerns about the narrowness of Main Street, to the city's first Mayor.

[Mayor Gilbert welcomes the public]

Blogger Jim Baumer (EL board member, and with the Local Workforce Investment Board) introduced blogging; what it is and why it matters. Mark LaFlamme (blogger extraordinaire, and local crime beat report for the SJ) spoke about his blog, and why he values the medium.

[(L-R) Jim Baumer, Ward 5 Councilor, Tina Bailey, and Mark LaFlamme]

[LaFlamme regales the crowd]

LaFlamme has been an important media voice in the downtown, particularly in his role as a local journalist, covering the downtown beat. Now, blogging gives him another orientation for getting his ideas out to a diverse audience, particularly one that may no longer read the daily newspaper. He spoke about his own experiences blogging (at 3 am), and why he invests the time posting his thoughts, ideas, and random musings.

[This post was a collaborative effort, carried out by board members Baumer, Tina Hutchinson, and downtown resident, Barbara Rankins.]

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLOG-O-THON!

Wednesday May 21st
9:30 AM – 4 PM
Location: B-Street Community Center
Computer Lab 2nd Floor
57 Birch St. Lewiston, Maine

9:30 am: B-Street Computer Lab opens. Refreshments will be provided.

10:00 am: Mayor Gilbert Speaks to launch the day

Jim Baumer presents Empower Lewiston’s Blog and addresses the following:
· What is a blog and how do you use it?
· Blogging vs. Traditional media
· Telling your story through words and pictures

Mark Laflamme crime reporter introduces his cyberspace knowledge

11:00 am: Internet Tips: from the very basic to the more advanced, this tutorial will surely teach you something!

12:00 pm: Light refreshments provided

1:00pm: How to add extras into your blog such as videos and more!

2:30 pm: Blogging for Teens… blogging on social networking sites

3:30 pm: Computer Give-way takes off

Rooted in the downtown, Empower Lewiston serves as a critical and innovative
facilitator - advocating for, with, and among downtown residents and businesses
to determine our well-being, material security, and future together.

Contact Hillary Verrill for more information: 777-5144 or Hillary@empowerlewiston.org
http://empowerlewiston.blogspot.com

Would a food co-op work in downtown Lewiston?

Would a food co-op work in downtown Lewiston? A walk in and around Lewiston’s downtown neighborhoods reveals several corner markets and convenience stores, but also, a glaring lack of options for residents desiring something other than processed foods.

What is a food co-op, or co-operative grocery store?

A cooperative (co-op) is a business that belongs to its members. A co-op is founded and organized voluntarily by people who want goods or services provided to them through a democratically controlled enterprise. It is owned by the people who support the business, use it, and invest equity into it. The member-owners share equally in the control of their cooperative. They generally meet once a year at an annual meeting. They also elect a board of directors from among themselves. The directors in turn hire management to run the day-to-day affairs of the co-op in a way that serves the members’ interest.

Are there other co-ops in our area, or in Maine?

[Fair Share Co-op, Main Street, Norway, Maine]

Fare Share Market, in Norway, is an example of a co-op. An integral part of their community, Fair Share is locally engaged, helping educate their neighbors about healthy food, sustainable agriculture, nutrition, and a host of other things. They also provide tangible demonstrations of democracy, cooperation, as well as fostering a spirit of self-reliance.

Another food co-op, around since 1976, is the Belfast Co-op, in Midcoast Maine. From humble beginnings, first operating out of a small storefront, in 1985, they moved to a building three times the size, their current 2,500 square foot location on Lower Main Street.

[Belfast Co-op, Belfast, Maine]

There are a number of resources available to learn more about co-ops, and the nuts and bolts of how to get one off the ground.

The CGIN (Cooperative Grocers’ Information Network) is a membership organization founded to support the growth and development of food co-ops. Given that the grocery market has grown increasingly competitive, CGIN offers help and support to co-ops, aiding them in maximizing their collective resources and keeping them, as independent groups, from being put at a competitive disadvantage.

They have an online how-to guide that’s worth checking out.

So what do you think? Would a food co-op work in downtown Lewiston?

One Voice, One Action

After years of waiting to get their park back, children living in downtown Lewiston will have a brand new park to play in. The former Maple Street Park will be rebuilt in its new location at 69 Knox Street by Memorial Day 2008! The groundbreaking took place on April 24th at the park's new location.

[Ward 5 Lewiston City Councilor Tina Bailey]

This is an active example of how much can be accomplished when people join together to make decisions for our community. The Visible Community in collaboration with the City of Lewiston, the Downtown Neighborhood Task Force, Connie and Norm Rousseau, and the L/A Fund, have made this experience possible. One voice! One action! Okay, well, maybe more than one “action”, but the example sets itself.

[Groundbreaking by members of the Downtown Neighborhood Task Force]
















The Visible Community, according to Craig Saddlemire, a resident of downtown Lewiston and spokesperson for the Visible Community, “was formed by downtown residents, local social service providers and community organizations in response to concerns that very serious development decisions were being considered for the downtown neighborhood without the input from the people that would be most affected, i.e. the downtown residents. To address those concerns, the residents and community agencies formed in order to overcome the communication gap between downtown residents and the decision makers at City Hall.” The “immediate threat” that brought together the formation of the Visible Community has since been resolved, but that hasn’t stopped them from remaining active in their community. “The Visible Community has been pro-active in their efforts to empower downtown residents and helped them to influence public policy before the decisions are made, as it concerns the downtown.”

So how is it, that one person, one action can make a difference in your community, Mayor Gilbert says it perfectly, “…through the cooperation of Lewiston’s elected officials, staff, members of the community, and generous donors, this new park is about to become a reality!”

One VOICE is all it takes, lets hear yours!

[Crowd gathered at groundbreaking]

Examples of community/Halal Store

[Halal Store: A key gathering spot, located at Chestnut and Lisbon Streets]
[Kennedy Park; where many downtown residents congregate]

In Robert Putnam’s book, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Arrival of American Community, the Harvard sociologist details how we have become increasingly disconnected from family, friends, neighbors, and our democratic structures. Putnam warns us that our stock of social capital—the essence and fabric of how we are connected within our communities—has fallen off and this poses grave danger to our nation’s long-term wellbeing.

Fortunately, Putnam doesn’t leave us teetering at the edge of the cliff, as his later book (co-written with Lewis Feldstein and Donald J. Cohen) provides examples of communities where residents are finding ways to reconnect and rebuild the store of social capital.

Interestingly, as cities like Lewiston have gone through difficult times, economically, many residents have fled downtown, for suburban enclaves. These communities, with large lots and spacious homes, make it difficult to connect with neighbors.

My own example, living on three acres, in Durham, with neighbors I rarely talk to and don’t really know, is much different than some of the vibrant examples of community that I’ve witnessed in downtown Lewiston.

Last Friday, I was invited by friend and follow Empower Lewiston board member, Ismail Ahmed, for lunch at Halal Store, at the corner of Chestnut and Lisbon Streets. Entering the market and restaurant, we ordered our lunches of Festival (a combination of pasta, rice, mixed vegetables, sautéed with goat meat and shaved steak), accompanied with salad, fruit drink and fresh banana. This provided a wonderfully different and hearty lunch, as well as the opportunity to have a needed conversation with one of my favorite local residents and a leader in the community.

While the food was very tasty, rich with pungent spices and seasonings, the goat meat was a special treat. Even better was the sense that this local store was the hub of the Somali community, as men were arriving for lunch, from the local mosque. Immediately, they’d enter the store and greet one another. I must have been introduced to close to 10 new people, as well as greeting a few other men that I knew from my work in the larger community. Everyone was glad to see Ismail and catch up on his news.

Afterwards, Ismail explained that Halal is a place where news is exchanged. When he hasn’t been there for several weeks, people grow concerned, as there is a sense of connectedness that exists here, in downtown Lewiston that doesn’t always exist in our more homogenous suburban areas of Maine.

Being of French-Canadian heritage, on my mother’s side of the family, with a Memiere that used to live within the boundaries of the two census tracts that make up the EC/EZ, I was familiar with the city and the vibrancy that it had 35 years ago. I was reminded of that time, by the sense of energy and the obvious community that I witnessed in and around Halal Store.

I have always believed that diversity adds to the social capital of a community and I got to witness it firsthand, last Friday.

There are many other positive examples of community that resides with the boundaries of the EC. I hope that Voices from the EC becomes a way to tell some of the stories that illustrate community in downtown Lewiston.

Blogging downtown

The new Empower Lewiston blog comes from conversations that our strategic planning committee, of our larger board, has been having. We recognize that giving residents of our community a voice is a good thing and we hope that the new blog does just that!

As a longtime blogger and someone who tries to stay current with Web 2.0 developments and models of communication, a blog seems like a vehicle that could provide a platform to capture the stories and vibrancy that exists in the two census tracts that make up the Enterprise Community (see definition). While print has been the typical means of non-profit information sharing, usually via newsletters, Voices from the EC gives us something that can be immediate, participatory and might help spur a revolution of sorts, in how news and the happenings of life in the downtown is disseminated.

In May (check back for specific details), Empower Lewiston will be hosting a blog-a-thon, where we will welcome members of the downtown community in to learn about blogging, the types of stories and techniques that make blogging "hot" (versus cool; see McLuhan) and get some budding bloggers up and running, telling their stories (that very day).

I'm excited to be part of the story and I hope many others will be, too.

Empower Lewiston enters the Blogosphere

BLOG-A-THON COMES TO THE EC MAY 21st

More details coming soon!!!

Empower Lewiston is a non-profit agency located in the heart of downtown Lewiston, Maine. As a way to improve our outreach to residents and businesses, we have as a group decided to launch a blog that we hope will become a vehicle for local residents to communicate.