Congratulations Class of ’22! This year 10 New Beginnings students graduated from high school, got their HiSet, or graduated from local Adult Ed programs. This number is growing because of a new partnership with Auburn Adult Education to offer Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems (CASAS) and HiSet testing on-site at our Educational Support Program at 134 College Street in Lewiston to reduce barriers to graduation for homeless youth.

Follow us on Instagram for our latest updates and THANK YOU for making a difference for runaway & homeless youth in Maine.

Join us for our first in person open house in YEARS! Learn more about all of our programs for youth and tour our Drop-In Center.

YOUTH STORY: Spotlight on Street Outreach

Ashley* was 17 years old when she found New Beginnings. “I had heard kids at school talking about New Beginnings. I wasn’t doing great so I decided to check out the Drop-In Center.” Due to family conflict, Ashley was living outside on her own. “I was really struggling when I found NB.” Ashley tried staying at Marian’s Place youth shelter for a bit and participating in family mediation but was unable to reunite with her family. “I like to be outside, I enjoy my freedom, so that’s where I live, free and outside.” She was equipped with a tent, sleeping bag, warm clothes, and food.

Like many street youth, Ashley moved around a lot to keep safe, but, “Jessy always somehow found me!” Jessy, part of our Street Outreach team, often found Ashley during weekday outreach in downtown Lewiston, making sure she had what she needed and stayed connected. Our Street Outreach team carries basic needs supplies such as hygiene and menstruation products, Narcan, first-aid kits, safer-sex supplies, and resource info to give to youth on the streets.

Although she was still living outside, Ashley and her case manager worked together to help her get food, housing, and health care. Ashley also began working on her diploma with the help of the Education and Employment Program.

Over the past five years, New Beginnings' Street Outreach and Drop-In Center have offered a safe, stable place for Ashley to work towards her goals. “I would have been damned had it not been for the Outreach and Education programs. I have an apartment lined up now, and 1.5 credits left until I graduate! I wouldn’t have done this without NB, this place is like a family.”

Ashley plans to graduate from high school this summer and is working toward stable housing and other goals. “Everyone at NB is so supportive and helpful, even if you just need someone to talk to, they’re there for you.”

*Youth name changed to protect privacy

For more information about the Outreach Program, call (207) 795-6831 or contact Outreach Program Coordinator Gabe Smith (gsmith@newbeginmaine.org). 

Adventure Challenge (AC) programming began as part of New Beginnings' Transitional Living Program (TLP) in 1989 with the very first trip to Sugarloaf Mountain. It has since grown to offer small groups of youth a chance to experience camping, hiking, urban exploration, fishing, whitewater rafting outings, and more during several trips throughout each year.

The first AC Trip of 2022 took youth to Acadia National Park in the Bar Harbor region. Three TLP residents participated and were able to enjoy their very first camping experience. Youth and staff hiked Cadillac Mountain where they ventured out to Jordan Pond and Otter Cliff. After an extensive hike, the group explored downtown Bar Harbor and enjoyed the sights.

New Hampshire's White Mountains offered the second adventure challege of the year. With the highest peak in the Northeastern U.S. and record for the fastest surface wind gust in the world, the White Mountains are not for the faint of heart! Several residents opted to give the hiking, fishing, and camping a try, despite the rainy weather. One attendee was completing their sixth AC trip before exiting the TLP and remarked, “I wish I had gone sooner.” Others expressed, “It’s great to get out of Lewiston and try something new!” and “When’s the next trip?”

Adventure Challenge is a great way for youth to learn new skills. Youth gain technical, hands on, interpersonal, planning, and communication skills while working as a team in the wilderness. They then bring these important skills back with them and apply them everyday living situations, like roommate conflict, pre-planning monthly expenses, and prioritizing things that are important and need to be taken care immediately verses things that can wait.

Adventure Challenge is immensely beneficial and exposes NB youth to new experiences they'd likely never have otherwise. Staff and youth are looking forward to their next AC trip to Flagstaff Lake in Franklin County where they plan to kayak and camp in Maine’s western mountains.

To learn more about Adventure Challenge contact Liz Sirois at lsirois@newbeginmaine.org. To donate goods or services for AC Trips, contact Development and Marketing Coordinator Nicole Pollock nicole@newbeginmaine.org.

The Maine Statewide Youth Action Board (YAB) continues to offer young people paid opportunities to consult and advocate to ensure youth/young adult expertise and voice is valued and ‘at the table’ where decisions are made that impact Maine youth. YAB is recruiting young adults with lived experience of being unhoused or utilizing systems of care (child welfare, corrections, etc.) – one position in Lewiston and more in other counties statewide.

Contact YAB Specialist Matthew Wyman at mwyman@newbeginmaine.org or call/text 207-402-9106 for more info or to apply.

As a result of a new contract with the State of Maine for homeless youth services, New Beginnings is expanding our outreach service area from 3 to 9 counties in the central and southwestern part of the state. We are hiring to expand both our Rural Outreach team and our Lewiston Drop-In Center team under this contract. Visit newbeginmaine.org/jobs regularly to find out about new opportunities to join our team.

Since our last newsletter we’ve been awarded grants including from City of Lewiston CDBG and Dept. of Education (Education & Employment services); United Way of Androscoggin County Program awards and Emergency Food & Shelter funds; Maine Community Foundation (Outreach breakfast program and COVID-19 response); Narraganset Number One and Reisert Foundations (Rural Outreach); The Hartford (street outreach safety kits for youth); Maine Association of REALTORS (outreach and youth housing assistance); and general operating funding from ME Health Access, Elmina B. Sewall, and John T. Gorman Foundations.

We are so grateful for all the support that makes our essential services possible!

We’re pleased to announce that Melissa Farinas of Androscoggin Bank has joined NB’s Board. Annual Board elections were held in May 2022 and the following officers were elected: Nancy Grenier (President), Steven McDermott (Vice President), Molly Shukie (Secretary), and Bethany Belanger (Treasurer). Thank you all for your dedication to New Beginnings!

PLEASE NOTE: We welcome in-kind donations of needed wish list items year-round.

Please contact Nicole with any questions: 207-795-4077.

newbeginmaine.org/jobs

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