For the third year in a row, Healthy Acadia has been selected to host Opportunity in partnership with the Opportunity Coalition and Maine Youth Action Network, testament to their shared commitment to driving positive change in local communities. Through the G2O program, a nonprofit public health organization serving Lower Maine recruited eleven local youth and young adults to complete a six-week summer internship to design and implement service projects that benefit their communities. Young worked in two groups located in Machias and Princeton.
The Gateway to Opportunity program is a grassroots initiative that aims to empower low-income youth through paid work-based learning projects inside and outside of school. These projects serve as a springboard to equip young participants with essential 21st century skills necessary for future career success. By leveraging national best practice in youth employment, G2O represents a new and innovative approach to work-based learning.
Designed especially for ages 16-18, the Opportunity Walk is a six-week workforce transition summer program. Its mission is to connect young people to meaningful job opportunities in Maine. Each participant connects to a "host site," which is a local business, organization, or government agency. As a team, they work to develop or enhance community projects with a strong focus on youth voices. By doing this, G2O creates an engaging and dynamic work environment that encourages authentic ways for young people to develop important job skills.
In Princeton, a group of five young people - Christian Borden, Evan Borden, Emma Bailey, Natalie Harriman and Hayley Scott - and their peer group leader, Michaela Howard, developed a comprehensive plan to improve their community's recreation area. After successfully submitting their proposal to the Princeton Department of Parks and Recreation and the City Selection Board and receiving enthusiastic approval, the G2O team enthusiastically executed their plan.
Throughout the summer, team members divide their time between lawn maintenance and art creation, cleaning basketball courts and low-maintenance sports fields, and meticulously designing and painting. Heartfelt hand-painted murals for their community The themes underlying their work symbolize the devastating impact drug use can have on their family, friends and community, as well as the strength of strong community bonds to overcome these challenges.
The G2O Machias team, consisting of four youth and their immediate group leader, helped design, plan, facilitate, and host the week-long Healthy Acadia annual Lower East Youth Leadership Camp for the summer 2023 session. The group recently shared glimpses of their experiences .
Our G2O team teamed up to contribute to DETLC (Down East Teen Leadership Camp). The team includes: Arden Luring, Cedric Gee, Sapphire Bissonnette and our team leader Madison Fleurant.
Everyone contributes equally to the planning and organization of the camp – things like setting up all the desks and filing cabinets for the campers, organizing all the equipment, and interviewing the participants at DETLC for their input and creations. Relevant presentation. For camping. We also learn about leadership and participate in team building and facilitation exercises. After camp, we reflected on our camp experience and felt that we could make changes for next year.
DETLC was not only fun, it was an opportunity to bond and take risks, not only for us, but for the campers as well.
Healthy Acadia is very grateful to the members of the G2O 2023 team for their outstanding leadership and inspiring dedication to positively impact their communities.
For more information about Lower East Junior Camp, visit https://www.healthyacadia.org/sb-detlc or contact Sara McConnell at Sara@HealthyAcadia.org. For more information about Healthy Acadia's youth outreach programs and activities, visit https://www.healthyacadia.org/sb. Contact Corrie.Hunkler@HealthyAcadia.org or Camisha Norris at camisha.norris@healthyacadia.org in Washington County. In Hancock County, contact Tara Young at Tara@healthyacadia.org or Andrew Simon at andrew.simon@healthaycadia.org.
For more information about the Opportunity Gateway, visit https://www.myan.org/programming/g2o/.
Healthy Acadia is a 501(C)(3) community health organization that builds vibrant communities and makes it easy for everyone in Washington and Hancock County to lead healthy lives. For more information about Healthy Acadia's community health and wellness programs and services, visit healthacadia.org.