In celebration of Juneteenth our office will be closed to the public today. Today we recognize, celebrate, and liberate black voices in our community in celebration of Juneteenth. Our organization mission, programs, and partnerships work to improve, uplift, and provide opportunities for BIPOC individuals, families, and communities everyday. Now more than ever it is important that we come together and support communities who continue to be targeted and marginalized by oppressive systems. Juneteenth serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for racial equality and justice everyday. Here are a few ways you can get involved today and join the Portland community in celebration, education, and resilience: Ancestral Echoes: Walking the Water, Singing the Land 3-5 p.m. Thursday, June 19. Congress Square Park, Portland, free - congressquarepark.org. Love Lab Studio and Portland Juneteenth invite visitors to gather in Congress Square Park to learn about the meaning and history of Juneteenth. Attendees can create a sculptural story flower. Community Day at Victoria Mansion - victoriamansion.org. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, June 19. Victoria Mansion, 109 Danforth St., Portland, free, reservations recommended. In observance of Juneteenth, Victoria Mansion is waving admission fees. The mansion will honor and tell the stories of the 27 individuals known to have been enslaved by mansion owners Ruggles and Olive Morse in New Orleans. Through posters in each room, visitors will learn about their lives and journeys before, during and after enslavement. Juneteenth Celebration at Riverbank Park in Westbrook - https://www.iccmaine.org/juneteenth Thursday June 19th, 11am-2pm Also check out these local organizations and partners who do amazing work in our community here in Portland everyday to black individuals and communities: Black Owned Maine, Portland Racial Justice Congress, Tender Table, BLACK POWER , Portland Empowered, Maine Youth Action Network - just to name a few ❤️ (fb)

School vacation is officially here, which means our Youth Growers Program will be In full swing starting next week! Every summer we welcome 24 high school interns into our Boyd Street Urban Garden space here in Portland. Two Cohorts of teens spend 4 weeks at a time learning about how to grow and prepare healthy foods and meals, while also learning about food systems, nutrition, and building lifelong leadership skills. Additionally, students run a CSA program for families in the community, delivering approximately 65 bags of fresh produce weekly to our East Bayside Neighbors. Each year we hire a "Youth Specialist" to support the program. These mentors are former Cultivating Community interns who have seen the value of this work and are ready to enter a new leadership position. This year we are excited to welcome Elisabeth Nkanga! Elisabeth Nkanga is originally from Angola, Southern Africa. She moved to the United States with her sister in March 2022. She is a recent graduate from Westbrook High School and has completed two years of business studies at Westbrook Regional Vocational Center. Her post-secondary education goals include getting an Electrical and Computer Engineering degree at the University of Southern Maine. Currently, she works as a Youth Specialist with Cultivating Community and has two years of experience in cooking at Sea Dog Brewing Company. Both of these jobs show her passion for cooking. When not working, she enjoys making clothes and doing clothing alterations. Her favorite vegetable is cucumber. We are so excited and fortunate to have Elizabeth here with us for the summer working with our Youth Growers! 🌻 (fb)