… Antonie Bikamba, who fled political persecution and torture in his native Rwanda in 2007, said he relied on General Assistance for roughly a year until receiving a federal work permit. He ultimately went back to school, earned a master’s degree in conflict resolution and now works as a caseworker at Preble Street, a nonprofit … Read more
I came to the U.S. as an asylum seeker from Rwanda in May 2011, having fled my country because of persecution, torture and the fear of being assassinated. I left behind my wife and four children, my assets, my culture and my job. I had served as a humanitarian worker for 10 years before opening … Read more
Combating sex trafficking internationally and in Maine. Guests: Ruchira Gupta, Founder and President of ApneAap Women Worldwide , a grassroots organization that has helped thousands of women access safe housing, education, job training and other resources. Meg Elam, Assistant District Attorney, Cumberland County Fiona Mason, Director of Social Work, Preble Street dee Clarke, trafficking survivor … Read more
Every night, hundreds of our neighbors across Maine have no place to call their own. Sleeping in the woods, under bridges, or anywhere they can, these forgotten souls are engaged in a constant fight for survival. But their fight is our fight, because here in Maine we understand the importance of working together to improve … Read more
"There are 87,000 children in Maine who may not know where their next meal is coming from," says John Woods. Woods, 49, is working to solve that problem-and he’s asking his friends to help. It is a rare person who leaves a conversation with Woods without an assigned task. This was the case when, on … Read more
While millions of Americans have health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act, Maine’s uninsured rate is increasing. Far too many still can’t afford coverage, go without needed medical care and face financial ruin if struck by unexpected illness. One large uninsured group is veterans. Brave men and women who defended our country and fought … Read more
The Task Force to End Student Hunger unveiled an ambitious five-year plan to end childhood hunger in Maine through activating public-private partnerships and capturing nearly $50 million in unused federal funding already earmarked for Maine nutrition programs. "We all are letting Maine’s children down. Today, in all sixteen counties, in every school district across our … Read more
AUGUSTA – Following months and months of research, the end student hunger task force revealed its report on how lawmakers and those in the community plan to tackle this growing issue in the state of Maine. The state of Maine ranks first in New England in terms of food insecurity and lawmakers want to make … Read more
Fifteen organizations have received a total of $902,910 from the Maine Health Access Foundation in an effort to help Mainers enroll on the federal health insurance exchange. The foundation announced the grant on Tuesday, ahead of the Affordable Care Act’s Feb. 15 deadline for health insurance enrollment in 2015. "Since the [ACA] became law in … Read more
I can still remember my first night at the Oxford Street Shelter. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I would be spending the next 15 months homeless in Portland, sleeping at Oxford Street and Florence House, and camping out in the woods. There were times when so many people were staying at the … Read more
