spring 2012

Pro football quarterback, Quinton Porter works with area youth at his First Down Football Clinic, a series of skill and agility clinics for kids in grades 3 through 12 at the Portland Sports Complex. Porter, who led Portland High School to a 10-1 record during his senior year in 2000, teaches footwork and agility along with leadership skills. Several youth who live in neighborhoods served by The Opportunity Alliance attend the clinics through scholarships.

opportunityalliance.org

Initiatives Supporting the Next Generation

Great Bay Foundation Funds Center for Career Exploration
The Opportunity Alliance has been awarded a grant of $256,000 from the Great Bay Foundation to fund The Center for Career Exploration, which will allow at-risk youth to explore career options by exposing them to a range of opportunities, including job shadowing and on the job training. In October of 2010, The Great Bay Foundation, headquartered in Portland, gave $75,000 to The Opportunity Alliance as a planning grant. In the letter awarding this one-year grant, Great Bay noted that the gift affords our agency the opportunity to create new programming or leverage or extend existing programming that is in alignment with our mission and that supports the vision of Great Bay. The Great Bay Foundation, founded in 1998, is committed to furthering individuals self-reliance, independence, and ability to influence ones world in order to improve the systemic experience of children, family and community. At the end of the planning period this past fall, The Opportunity Alliance submitted a fully developed business plan to Great Bay for The Center for Career Exploration. The Great Bay Foundation has given us a wonderful opportunity to further our work in neighborhoods, specifically in helping youth and their families to develop goals of self reliance and achieve their aspirations, said Mike Tarpinian, CEO, The Opportunity Alliance.

Introducing The Opportunity Alliance

Press Conference Features Undersecretary Kevin Concannon
Kevin Concannon, Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services; Kristen Farnham, Chair, Board of Directors, The Opportunity Alliance; Mike Tarpinian; Suzanne McCormick, President and CEO, The United Way of Greater Portland.

The Opportunity Alliance Community News and Notes

published biannually by: The Office of Development & Communications The Opportunity Alliance 50 Lydia Lane South Portland, ME 04106 For more information or address correction call (207) 874-1175 or visit: www.opportunityalliance.org

The Opportunity Alliance Board of Directors

Kristen Potter Farnham, Chair Thomas W. Saturley Vice Chair Dan Hunter, Treasurer Marc Doyan, Secretar y Carol Billington Crispin Bolese Anita Chandler Charles Day Anne Dinsmore Sheila Dobson Ann Donaghy Dawn Gay Jane Harmon Peter Harrison Chris Jerome Angus King III Deanna Nor ton Barbara T. Schneider Greg Shinberg Tom Smith Tim Soley Gerr y Vicenzi

A press conference on Friday January 27th at our Parkside Neighborhood Center announced the merger of PROP and Youth Alternatives Ingraham and introduced The Opportunity Alliance to the public. Kevin Concannon, Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services with the Federal Government, was the keynote speaker. Concannon addressed food insecurity issues in Maine, particularly as childhood nutrition pertains to successful early education and school readiness. The Opportunity Alliance administers the Womens Infants and Childrens program (WIC) and also runs Kids Katering, which provides nutritious meals to children through Head Start and preschool relationships, as well as to seniors and others in low income neighborhoods during the summer months. Suzanne McCormick, President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Portland, also spoke at the press conference about issues of heating assistance through LIHEAP (Low Income Heating Assistance Program), a program administered by The Opportunity Alliance. Other speakers included representatives from Senator Susan Collins office, Senator Olympia Snowes office, and Representative Chellie Pingrees office.

Business Leader of the Year

Maines Premier Business Publication Cites Mike Tarpinian
Mainebiz has selected Mike Tarpinian as a 2012 Business Leader of the Year! Mike was selected in the nonprofit organization category. We are delighted that Mike will be publicly recognized as a Maine business leader, said Kristen Farnham, Board of Directors Chair, and we join Mainebiz in celebrating his contributions to The Opportunity Alliance and its predecessor organizations.

The Opportunity Alliance Community News & Notes

spring 2012

Maine Youth Action Network (MYAN)

Hosting Maine Youth Leaders Alliance
Maine Youth Action Network (MYAN) promotes youth involvement in schools and community-based peer programs statewide. The program facilitates regional support networks, publishes youth created newsletters, a web page and implements other endeavors that help empower youth to affect positive change in their own communities. Since June of 2010, MYAN has engaged 26 high school youth in grades 9-11 in the Maine Youth Leaders Alliance (MYLA). The MYLA program accepts 12-16 applicants each year. They participate in four multi-day retreats throughout the year at which they develop leadership and advocacy skills and prepare to take action around the issues that matter most to them. MYLA participants are empowered as partners in the effort to create positive change in Maine, and are nurtured to develop into engaged, responsible, and effective citizens in their communities. Outcomes for MYLA participants include: personal and social development; strengthened moral reasoning & enhanced commitment to community service; increased motivation, assertiveness and interpersonal skills; increased self-esteem & self-efficacy; improved problem Youth involved in the Maine Youth Leaders Alliance solving, communication, teamwork, and public speaking skills; and fewer psychological problems and decreased risky behaviors. The MYLA program will be acceptKristin Bishop, pictured far left, began ing applications for participants as a member of the MYAN Youth Leadin the third year of the program, ers Alliance in 2010 as a freshman at June 2012-June 2013, beginning Madison High School. Today, she has March 15. Please encourage young grown not only from her participation in people you know in to apply! No previous leadership experience MYLA but also by taking advantage of is required, just a willingness to opportunities that opened up as a result learn new skills, connect with other of her involvement, including: planning youth from across the state who and hosting the 2010 Governors Youth want to create change, and become Debate; becoming a member of the Hardy a stronger, more confident leader Girls Healthy Women Girls Advisory and advocate! Visit www.myan. Board; joining the Youth Empowerment org/myla to learn more. Policy Project; and taking a lead role on her schools Civil Rights Team.

One Youths Vision to Keep Maine Warm

JoJo Zeitlin, a 7th grader at Cape Elizabeth Middle School, decided that she would like to give back to the community. So, instead of receiving gifts for her Bat Mitzvah, the 13 year old chose to have all donations sent to the Keep ME Warm Fund, a statewide partnership using public and private contributions, volunteerism and advocacy to help Maine people stay safe, warm and secure during the winter months. The Opportunity Alliance administers these funds for Cumberland County. Donations made in honor of JoJos Bat Mitzvah are providing emergency heating assistance to families in need. Contributions have so far exceeded $4000. Thank you, JoJo, for your community spirit and immense generosity!

The Opportunity Alliance Community News & Notes

spring 2012

The Opportunity Alliance Hires Chief Strategy Officer

Elizabeth Banwell began work in February in the job of Chief Strategy Officer. This position is the result of a national non-profit strategy initiative, Strategy Counts, through the Alliance for Children and Families. The Kresge Foundation has funded this initiative with a three year grant of $237,000. The Grant is a part of a multi-year national pilot project that will closely examine the impact of elevating the role of strategy in nonprofit human service providers. The Opportunity Alliance is one of 14 non-profits around the country chosen to participate in the Strategy Counts initiative. Each are testing strategy models to determine whether they will create more organizational capacity, thereby gaining opportunities to generate revenues for service delivery, expand successful core services, and achieve better resilience in the face of economic downturns. For the past five years, Elizabeth oversaw program development and strategic initiatives for the Maine Association of Nonprofits.

from left: Elizabeth Banwell, Chief Strategy Officer, with Christine Stelling, Sr. Vice President Development & Communications, and Andrea Paul, Vice President Advocacy & Strategic Initiatives.

A Clothing Connection for Homeless Teens

The Clothing Closet is located on the ground floor of the MaineStay residence.

Connecting Neighbor to Neighbor

PHOTO

Our Homeless Youth Services and MaineStay programs have teamed up to offer a clothing closet for youth and their families. Housed on the bottom floor of MaineStay and staffed by volunteers from the MaineStay program, the clothing closet receives donations of gently worn clothing from neighborhood consignment shops. The MaineStay volunteers sift through, organize, and craft an appealing presentation of the clothing to simulate a shopping experience. Teens and young adults served by our programs, as well as their families, can then choose items during designated hours of operation. Many teens come in with nothing and leave with a new wardrobe. Such a small thing can be a big boost to their confidence. Homeless Youth Services provides advocacy and case management for homeless boys and girls ages 15 and under. MaineStay, a Portland-based collaborative program, includes an eight-bed treatment facility and support services for young adults struggling with homelessness and mental illness.

Staff from Wright Express serve dinner to residents of the Redbank neighborhood of South Portland at Neighborhood Connection Night.

In an ongoing effort to strengthen communities and in keeping with our vision of connecting families to natural and community supports in their own neighborhoods, The Opportunity Alliance is organizing a series of Neighborhood Connection Nights. Sponsored by Wright Express, these evenings feature a buffet supper, organized play time for the children, meet and greet time for adults, and information tables and presentations about services and supports available in the community.

The Opportunity Alliance Community News & Notes

spring 2012

Holiday Gift Drive with Q 97.9 Claus for a Cause

Share Our Strength Benefits Kids Katering

As one of four beneficiaries of the Taste the Nation event (for Maine)Kids Katering received over $17,000 towards its summer food program. This event is part of Share Our Strength, a national initiative to end childhood hunger. This years Taste the Nation will take place Sunday June 24th on Great Diamond Island. http://www.strength.org/portlandme/

For the second year in a row, Meredith, Jeff, and Lori from the Q97.9 Morning Show adopted 50 teens for The Opportunity Alliances annual Holiday Gift Drive. Every morning for a month before Christmas, the Q Morning Team discussed on the air the needs of a young person served by our programs. Listeners would then call up to donate funds which were used to buy items the teen had requested. Walgreens chipped in many items from their shelves, and also had donation cans in their stores. Q staff also shopped at Renys, who offered a generous additional 20% off all items. In the end, 62 donors contributed $7,600 through Claus for a Cause, allowing for these teens to get everything on their wish lists, with plenty left over to help others.

UPCOMING
Sea Dogs Welcome Back Dinner - April 3, 2012
The snow has melted from Hadlock Field. Spring is here! Kick off the 2012 Portland Sea Dogs season with the Welcome Back Sea Dogs Dinner: Meet and greet the 2012 team; Help yourself to a delicious ballpark-style meal, including Sea Dogs Biscuits; Enjoy the raffles, balloons, games and so much more

Six children experienced a special holiday because of your help. Please extend my sincerest Thank You to all who had part in making it a better time for the children.
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Behind the Scenes - April 26, 2012

Youll have the opportunity to tour our facility and enjoy an informal look at the great work being done to support and strengthen individuals, families, and communities in Maine. At our Family Center, 50 Lydia Lane in South Portland Light hors doeurves will be served.

Barn Raising - May 31, 2012

We hope that you can join us for our second annual Barn Raising in support of The Opportunity Alliances programs. Our Family Center will be decked out for a great party, with drinks, music and food from local businesses.

Remaining funds were added to other donations, along with 80 donors who adopted specific families and donated their gifts directly. Overall, the Holiday Gift Drive was able to help over 600 people! Thank you to the over 140 individuals, community groups and local businesses who made it happen including Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, LL Bean Northport Customer Satisfaction, Oakhurst Dairy, Oldham Innovative Research, Payless ShoeSource, Re/Max by the Bay, Synernet, Trinity Episcopal Church, and the University of New Englands College of Pharmacy.

Secret Gardens of Portland - June 16, 2012

Our Senior Volunteer Programs host self-guided tours of the most beautiful private gardens in Portland, Maine. To benefit Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs. For more information on our events and to purchase tickets, visit our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/TheOpportunityAlliance or contact our fund raising department: (207) 523-5031

The Opportunity Alliance Community News & Notes

spring 2012

SPIRAL Arts Hosts Creating Peace Festival

Pihcintu (pictured here), Maines Multinational Childrens Chorus, sang for peace at the Creating Peace Festival in January. Held at The Opportunity Alliance Family Center in South Portland, this inter-generational festival was a community celebration for the Redbank and Brick Hill neighborhoods of South Portland. Orchestrated by SPIRAL Arts, with Mike Tarpinian as master of ceremonies, the festival attracted families from throughout the community who danced to the music of the Maine Marimba Ensemble, did Sound Meditation with Lisa V. Blake of the Maine Mindfulness Project, and were entertained by Pihcintu and street theater performers Dark Follies. People also painted peace flags, created Native American Talking Sticks, and enjoyed wonderful food presented by Three Chicks Catering.

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 662 Portland, ME

50 Lydia Lane South Portland, ME 04106

Please visit us online at:

www.opportunityalliance.org