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MAIN
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A Joint Project of the Maine
Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods |
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Volume 10 No. 1 |
March 2006 |
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MAIN
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A Joint Project of the Maine
Association of Interdependent Neighborhoods |
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Volume 10 No. 1 |
March 2006 |
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M.A.I.N. 2005 Conference:
Inspiring Leadership to End Poverty(MAIN was fortunate to have Judy Guay at this conference particularly since it turned out to be her last. Thanks to Ted and Laura Moore for making it happen.)
“It was exciting to have so many people attend our November 15th Leadership conference in Lewiston, and to be able to attend myself. I hope that the conference inspired participants to share the information and skills learned with people in their own communities. MAIN hopes to offer some workshops around the state in the near future.
PTO, Girl Scouts/Cub Scouts, and Sunday school are the roots of my leadership. My passion came from wanting the best for my children, for all children. Eventually my involvement led me to a position on the Bangor School Committee. After that, I was part of creating M.A.I.N. because we knew that poor people needed to take the lead in ending poverty. I never intended to be a leader but once I got started, I realized that working together, we can make a difference.
I hope you will be inspired by all the leaders we heard from on the 15th to find what brings out your passion to speak up and step outside of your comfort zone. We must encourage and support each other as we 'learn as we lead.' Our work to recognize the dignity of every individual and meet the economic human rights of all must be led by us, the poor. Justice and goodness will win out if we all work together."
Judy Guay
“I got started by watching things around me. My compassion and conscience wouldn’t allow me to just sit by and not get involved. Nobody can make changes by themselves. We have to work together. Keep talking and talking and sooner or later someone will listen. Every little change adds up to make things better. My passion keeps me going.”
Nikki McLean, Portland Housing Authority; POWER
“Poverty is wrong and it ain’t gonna change unless you and I make it! We must stand up, come out and let our voices be heard. Don’t wait for others to do it. You have a responsibility as a human being to do it, and it makes you feel good!”
James Varner, President of Greater Bangor NAACP
“A little over a year ago I got involved through the Preble Street Consumer Advocacy voter project. I learned that we as individuals in Maine have a very unique situation in that we can actually go to Augusta and speak with our elected representatives. It makes me feel good about myself that even though I am homeless, I too have a voice--I too can and must be heard.”
Charles Veit, Preble Street Resource Consumer Advocate; Region 1 Homeless Council
“I knew that I lived in the richest nation in the world but it never occurred to me that I had any rights let alone that I should stand up for them. Then I heard a speaker from POWER who said that poverty in the U.S. is caused by our governments violating our economic human rights. That’s what made me get off my butt and get involved. POWER is part of the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign. My activism in these organizations gives me a reason to get out of bed every morning...to build a movement that includes EVERYONE but is led by poor people working to eliminate poverty by meeting everyone’s basic economic human rights 100% guaranteed...no means test or eligibility requirement to measure our entitlement to justice.”
Jesse Leah Vear, Portland Organizing to Win Economic Rights (POWER) and the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign 650-5092
“To be a leader, you have to start from a place where you can’t do anything else. Poverty makes you invisible because it makes others uncomfortable. Systems that are supposed to help us often trap us. Instead we need to empower people by working together to break out of the traps and the fear. We must be willing to change our beliefs about ourselves and other things. Say the truth that is your life experience and stand proud for speaking out.”
Melinda Davis, Advocacy Initiative Network of Maine, 1-888-375-5969
“I didn’t intend on being a leader but because I wanted to be a better father than what I had, I got involved when asked. I took advantage of every opportunity to learn, step out of my comfort zone and use these experiences to better my role as a father and to help other men.”
Dan Roy, Southern Kennebec Child Development Center Policy Council, Board of Directors, and the Increasing Men’s Involvement Project.
“Getting involved in MAIN helped me understand how we are governed, controlled and conditioned by government policies and other outside forces, and maybe this situation that I find myself in isn’t all my fault. Together we can make sure that the individual—their uniqueness and their needs – are not lost in the system.”
Russell Anderson, MAIN’s president and coordinator of Midcoast MAIN
“Part of leadership is friendships that are made. Our groups and spaces should be warm and welcoming to everyone. Fear of the unknown often keeps people apart. We need to lead through learning. Learn about our allies; be open to change; be open to learning all the time. Let your passions and interests move you to get involved.”
Steve Hoad, Leader on disability rights and ending poverty
Thanks to all of YOU who made the conference a success!
Thanks to the members of our planning committee for all their hard work over the summer and fall, to other volunteers who did set-up, clean-up, took photos and all the things that made this conference a big success. And a final thanks to all of you who attended, donated money, provided childcare and helped to get people to the conference by giving rides and getting the word out all over the state. YOU made it all possible! Thank you!
