Mano en Mano is hosting its first Community Potluck of the New Year! 

We invite you to our Potluck on Wednesday, January 25^th at 6 p.m at our office in Milbridge. We have potlucks each month to bring the community together in one place. In a friendly space, meet new people, talk, and find out what’s happening in the community! Take this opportunity to share a meal and your favorite dish with others.

We look forward to seeing you!

Everyone is welcome!

Please call 598-8926 with any questions or for more information.

Outreach Worker Edith Flores sends off a blindfolded teen in a game of pin the tail on the burro at last year's Posada!

Mano en Mano Invites You to our Posada!

We are excited to host our 2nd Annual Holiday Posada and Potluck on Friday, December 9^th at Milbridge Elementary School’s Gymnasium. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the potluck dinner begins shortly after, followed by the evening’s activities. Guests are asked to bring a dish to share.

A posada is a Mexican cultural tradition that takes place in December in the days leading up to Christmas. In context it means “hospitality” or a space to stay—welcoming friends in for a meal and festivities. The evening will include traditional Mexican children’s games like El Burro, Las Sillas, and Los gallitos, with music, a potluck supper, prizes, and a piñata.

The practice of the posada persists in Mexico and Latin America because it is a symbol of unity, signifies the meaning of friendship, and at the end of the year is a way to do a good deed for someone else. As an organization, we are so excited to share this unique and fun tradition with the community!

This event is free and open to the entire community. Contact Bethany Woods at (207) 598-8926 for more information.

Each region, and sometimes each town, have their own specific rituals and variations on the holiday, which makes the festivals even more exciting! Traditions include building private altars honoring the deceased, using candles, decorated sugar skulls, marigolds favorite foods and beverages as gifts for the departed. A common symbol of the holiday is the skull (in Spanish calavera) which celebrants represent in masks and in foods like sugar or chocolate skulls. These are gifts that can be given to the living and the dead.

Attendees at the potluck, after enjoying dinner, were able to decorate sugar skulls to place around a small altar that was put together by visiting students from the College of the Atlantic. Messages were written, candles were lit, and small decorations and gifts placed around the space. See below to take a look at pictures from this event!

“The Blueberry Circle Go Kart”

“A Fall for Memories”

How to Make Tortillas (no sound)

“A Day At Work With Ronald” (Click Below to Start)

“My Life at Wyman’s” (Click Below to Start)

We look forward to sharing more projects with you again soon!

A layout of information and changes to healthcare laws in Maine.

Mano en Mano Hosts its First Charla!

We were very pleased to host a ReINFORMA Charla last Friday, September 23^rd at Mano en Mano in partnership with the Maine Migrant Health Program (MMHP), Maine Health Access Foundation, and Maine Equal Justice Partners. This ReINFORMA charla(or chat) is a project to inform immigrants to the U.S. about the recent changes to federal and Maine health care laws, and most importantly to provide information about how the changes affect them. In total, 24 people (parents and children) attended our evening charla.

Executive Director Ian Yaffe presented in Spanish on the changes in benefits to MaineCare, Emergency Medical Assistance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Familes, and Food Supplements. Our presentation included 3 information sheets in Spanish and a flowchart that detailed the changes from the recent

A group of attendees assembled for the evening's presentation.

healthcare reform and the qualifications for benefits. Outreach Worker Edith Flores assisted Ian in the Q&A session following the presentation, where they fielded a number of questions from attendees. The overwhelming benefit of the charla was giving clear information so that our clients understand what the new changes in state healthcare laws mean, and where their families now stand.

“As an employee of Mano en Mano, I feel like we accomplished something very big and important,” commented Edith. “Even though it may seem small, it’s important for us to let the community know what’s going on and any changes happening in the area that apply to them. Hosting a charla or similar event is important for us at Mano en Mano, because it’s another way to serve our resident community and assist in explaining these often complicated and confusing changes in healthcare laws.”

We’re grateful to all of the individuals that attended our presentation, and appreciate the support of the Maine Migrant Health Program, Maine Health Access Foundation, and Maine Equal Justice Partners in sponsoring these sessions.

This year’s editions features letters from Chloe Dowley (2010 Board President) and Ian Yaffe (Executive Director), highlights from our Educational, Affordable Housing, Outreach/Advocacy, and Volunteer Programming, as well as key selections from our Audited Financial Statements (pdf).

We’d like to extend a warm thank-you to all of our donors for making everything mentioned in this report possible, for believing in our mission, and for continuing to help us build a stronger Downeast Maine.

Abby Hernandez, our 2011-2012 Latino Scholarship recipient.

Congratulations Abby!

Mano en Mano is pleased to announce Abby Hernandez as the recipient of our 2011 Latino Scholarship! The Scholarship grants $1,000 for the 2011-2012 academic year, and is renewable for three more years. Abby graduated from Sumner High School on June 9^th and just began her freshman year at Husson University in Bangor, enrolling in their nursing program. “I’m excited but nervous to start college,” Abby said. “I’m most looking forward to starting something new, meeting new people and traveling to different places.” Abby liked Husson for its small size, and felt comfortable right away when she visited the campus and classes during last spring.

With an interest in taking care of children and in health, Abby decided her junior year of high school to pursue nursing – and she hopes to specialize in pediatric nursing. She’s already a step into the field, having gained her CNA certification during her senior year of high school. Abby participated in Varsity Track in grades 10-12, which was a favorite experience from high school. “Track gave me an opportunity to meet more people when I was new to school, and our coach taught me a lot about setting goals to achieve, and showed me how to be determined,” she said. In addition, Abby was on the Student Council Committee in grades 11-12.

“Abby is an exceptional student and person, and has impressed all of us with her enthusiasm and drive,” said Programs Manager Bethany Woods. “I have every confidence that she will accomplish the goals she has set for herself, and I can’t wait to see where she’s headed.”

We wish Abby every success and all the best!

Mano en Mano’s Latino Scholarship Fund, an affiliate of the Northeastern Dollars for Scholars Program, is established to provide renewable financial aid to both traditional and non-traditional students from Washington and Hancock Counties who self-identify as Latino and who wish to pursue post-secondary education opportunities. The Fund also currently supports University of Maine at Orono nursing students Olivia Pérez Zamora and Leticia Pérez Zamora. 

Executive Director Ian Yaffe stands in the lobby of Hand in Hand Apartments during the last weeks of construction. Mano en Mano File Photo, June 2011.

For a limited time, you may access the full article at this link.  Afterwards, it will only be available to subscribers at this permanent link.

The article discusses a challenge made by Senator Max Baucus in 2006: for foundations to double the amount of funding that they make available to rural areas.  The article continues to describe the challenges faced by Coastal Enterprises, Inc. of Wiscasset, one of the key funding organizations for Hand in Hand Apartments, Maine’s first affordable housing project for farmworkers.

Hand in Hand Apartments is open to permanent residents or U.S. citizens who earn a substantial portion of their annual income from agriculture or aquaculture work. Detailed qualifications and applications are available from Fickett Property Management in Cherryfield.  Rent is subsidized at 30% of income which includes utilities and an electricity allowance.  Major funding is through a $1,005,722 USDA Rural Development Farm Labor Housing Grant and $176,778 Farm Labor Housing Loan, as well as a $220,000 loan from CEI.

Mano en Mano is pleased to announce 100% occupancy for this building, less than two months since it was commissioned!

“The Obama Administration is committed to resolving all claims of past discrimination at USDA, so we can close this sad chapter in the department’s history,” said Pfaeffle. “We want to make sure that any Hispanic or women farmer or rancher who alleges discrimination is aware of this option to come forward, to have his or her claims heard and to participate in a process to receive compensation.”

According to USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel, she and her staff will be reaching out to individuals, as well as farmer and community organizations to underscore the USDA’s commitment to resolving allegations of past discrimination and ushering in “a new era of civil rights.”

If an individual feels that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) improperly denied them farm loan benefits between 1981 and 2000 because of being Hispanic or female, they may be eligible to apply for compensation. Potential claimants can register to receive a claims package by calling the Farmer and Rancher Call Center at 1-888-508-4429 or visiting www.farmerclaims.gov.

The program USDA announced earlier this year with the Department of Justice provides up to $50,000 for each Hispanic or woman farmer who can show that USDA denied them a loan or loan servicing for discriminatory reasons for certain time periods between 1981 and 2000. This claims process offers a streamlined alternative to litigation and provides at least $1.33 billion in compensation, plus up to $160 million in farm debt relief to eligible Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers. Hispanic or women farmers who provide additional proof and meet other requirements can receive a $50,000 reward. Successful claimants are also eligible for funds to pay the taxes on their awards and for forgiveness of certain existing USDA loans. There are no filing fees or other costs to claimants to participate in the program. Participation is voluntary, and individuals who decide not to participate may choose to file a complaint in court. However, USDA cannot provide legal advice to potential claimants, and persons seeking legal advice may contact a lawyer or other legal services provider.

Under the leadership of Secretary Vilsack, USDA is addressing civil rights complaints that go back decades and through these outreach meetings, we are taking steps towards achieving that goal. USDA is committed to resolving allegations of past discrimination and ushering in “a new era of civil rights” for the Department. In February 2010, the Secretary announced the Pigford II settlement with African American farmers, and in October 2010, he announced the Keepseagle settlement with Native American farmers.

Audio and video public service announcements in English and Spanish from Secretary Vilsack and downloadable print and web banner ads on the Hispanic and women farmer claims process are available at: http://www.usda.gov/PSAs_Print_and_WebBanner_Ads.xml.

USDA Rural Development has Area Offices located in Presque Isle, Bangor, Lewiston, and Scarborough, as well as a State Office, located in Bangor. There are 83 employees working to deliver the agency’s Housing, Business, and Community Programs, which are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, and farmers, and improve the quality of life in rural Maine. In Fiscal Year 2010, USDA Rural Development invested over $450 million, including leveraged funds, in the state of Maine. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural Development’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/me.

Mano en Mano Staff at the June 27 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (L-R): Bethany Woods (Program Manager), Edith Flores (Outreach Worker), Taylor Escajeda (Summer Management Intern), and Ian Yaffe (Executive Director). Not pictured: Ana Blagojevic, Educational Programs Director.

“Hiring an intern to learn about and develop our basic infrastructure as well as plan for a Community Needs Assessment will allow us to bring a set of unbiased eyes into the process which will help offer fresh ideas about ways we can better serve our constituency,” said Ian F. Yaffe, Mano en Mano’s Executive Director. Mano en Mano’s Nonprofit Management Intern, Taylor Escajeda, has had a busy first two weeks, spending time learning about the community, starting new projects, and immersing herself in the challenging world of nonprofit administration. Escajeda is a senior at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine where she is a History major and Teaching minor.

Mano en Mano was established to assist farmworkers in Washington County and foster a diverse community by building bridges of understanding and joy through programming. Its mission is to “build a stronger and more inclusive community in Downeast Maine by working with diverse populations to provide educational and affordable housing opportunities, remove barriers to healthcare and social services, and advocate for social justice.”

A statewide organization with offices in Ellsworth and Portland, the Maine Community Foundation partners with donors and nonprofits to strengthen Maine communities. The Washington County Fund is a competitive grant fund which supports projects that meet the following criteria: use of existing community resources, ability to strengthen community life, and sustainability. Awards are made by a regional committee comprised of community leaders throughout Washington County. This year is the Washington County Fund’s 25th anniversary.