Major Projects:
- Continued to create connections and collaborate with National Governor’s Association partners including Maine Rural Water Association, Department of Outdoor Recreation, Maine Youth for Climate Justice, Bangor Municipal Water, Bangor Public Works, and the Department of Labor
- Hosted virtual mid-quarter Maine Climate Corps Network meeting
- Attended Career Pathways Summit with Volunteer Services Coordinator Maureen Kendzierski and made connections with university internship coordinators for potential partners with the NGA grant including Allison Jung from the Career Pathways Program
- Tabled at the Climate & ME Youth Climate Summit and connected with Glenn Cummings DOE Green Schools and Abigail Hayne
- Collaborated with Brenda Zollitsch of the University of Southern Maine to discuss developing trainings on skills that have been identified as important to employers through her research
- Reviewed funding requests from Climate Corps Network programs for the Green Employer Learning Cohort Training Fund and chose recipients
- Met with the full Commission Board and clarified definitions of “member” and “full-time” for eligibility in the Maine Climate Corps Network
- Reached out to Bowdoin and University of New England for participation in the Network as they have Fellowships
- Helped to organize the raffle for the Governor’s Service Awards and attended the Governor’s Service Awards
- Attended records assistant training
- Met with the CRRC to discuss NOAA trainings for Corps members
- Met with Kelsey Flores of the Penobscot Nation to discuss potential resources for their goals given that they no longer have the capacity for an AmeriCorps program
- Created the first Network Newsletter with the intent of distributing them monthly
- Maine Service Fellows site visit for Gianluca in Norway Maine
Issues to be aware of:
- The supplemental budget was not passed in March so funding for the Program Officer for Special Volunteer Initiatives position would not be available from July 1 to October 1, 2025
- AmeriCorps programs are being terminated by DOGE and the federal government
- Major focus of effort in new month/Ongoing:
- Recruit programs for the Climate Corps Network including current AmeriCorps programs
- Identify potential funding and training opportunities for the Maine Climate Corps Network
- Plan for the Maine Volunteer Leadership Conference including engaging more donors and developing a logo for the conference
- Take Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) Essentials training course