Newsletters

2021 Fall Newsletter: New Opportunities for Positive Impact

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With Thanksgiving already around the corner, all of us at the John T. Gorman Foundation have much to be thankful for – not in spite of the challenges brought by this lingering pandemic but in light of them. COVID continues to make life difficult for low-income families and the organizations that serve them. But still, our communities persevere, and the Foundation’s partners continue to make important progress in improving the lives of Maine people.

A Pediatric Visit that Strengthens the Whole Family

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Traditionally, a well visit to the pediatrician’s office has involved weighing, measuring, booster shots, and questions about developmental milestones. But in recent years a cross-sector team at MaineHealth has worked to broaden the scope of these visits to include screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), repeated exposure to which can cause a child long-term harm. Now, with a grant from the John T. Gorman Foundation, the MaineHealth team is testing a new strategy for preventing and mitigating ACEs by helping parents and children build resiliency amid great adversity.

Q&A with Janet Smith, New Ventures Maine

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Income is important to a family’s financial stability, but so too are wealth and assets, the reservoir of resources that can be tapped to weather emergencies and invest in the future. As the Foundation prepares to release a brief in the coming weeks with recommendations to make wealth-building opportunities more accessible and equitable, we spoke with John T. Gorman Fellow Janet Smith – just named Director of New Ventures Maine – for her perspective on why helping low-income families build savings is important to their long-term success and what barriers currently stand in their way.

Snapshots & Updates: 2021 Direct Services Grant Program

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Last spring, the John T. Gorman Foundation awarded $1 million to 71 organizations through its annual Direct Services Grant Program. Since then, grantees have done exceptional work to help low-income Mainers meet their essential needs amid the challenges of a prolonged pandemic. Here in their own words, a sample of grantees offer updates and snapshots of their work this year.

Summer 2021 Newsletter: A busy and exciting couple of months

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Dear Friend, While the season has brought us welcomed warmer weather and longer days, that hasn’t slowed the pace of good work being done by our grantees and partners throughout Maine. Similarly, it’s been a busy and exciting couple of months here at the John T. Gorman Foundation. In May, we joined many others in … Read more

Lewiston Receives Transformational Grant. What Happens Now?

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Recent news that Lewiston will receive a $30 million grant to build new housing and strengthen community resources in the Tree Streets Neighborhood is cause for celebration. But in many ways, the work has just begun to transform this neighborhood into a place where all residents can thrive. This article offers an overview of the impact this funding will have and shares insight into where assistance is still needed.

Analysis: Strategies for Rebuilding and Strengthening Maine’s Child Care System

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The pandemic revealed the fragility and weaknesses of many of our society’s most critical systems – including a child care system that was already operating on razor thin margins and unable to meet demand. With many pandemic restrictions now lifted, challenges remain for providers and families. But there is also opportunity to rebuild the child care system in a way that works better for Maine families. In this analysis, Foundation Senior Program Associate Jennifer Beck, Ph.D., highlights efforts already underway that offer promising routes forward.

VIDEO: Alumni Offer Perspectives on John T. Gorman Fellowship

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As the Foundation accepts applications for the fourth cohort of the John T. Gorman Fellowship, it held a virtual information session where four alumni offered their perspectives on how the program has shaped their work and took questions from prospective applicants. The info session also included an overview of the program by Foundation President & … Read more