PORTLAND

The Greater Portland Communities for Children, a Community of Promise, has a 36 member Children’s Leadership Council representing schools, the faith community, cultural/ethnic organizations, community policing, youth-serving agencies, medicine, the arts, business, the Chamber of Commerce, the gay and lesbian community, media, marketing, and youth from four high schools. This C4C is sponsored by the United Way of Greater Portland.

A major focus is communicating ways in which the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets can be promoted and developed in youth. Assisted by the Communities for Children VISTA volunteer, the Portland Public Schools, United Way of Greater Portland and 10 other social service groups conducted the Search Survey in 1999 to determine the needs of youth in the community. The survey was conducted as a part of the Portland Asset Builders Project, a joint Portland C4C/statewide C4C effort funded by a Maine Juvenile Justice Assistance Grant ($100,000 each year for 2 years).

The community was involved in the interpretation of the survey results through 33 "Community Conversations," held in each of Portland’s neighborhoods and facilitated by a team of one youth and one adult at each location. In February 2000 a forum, "Portland’s Kids Today; How Are We Doing?," provided feedback to the community.

A Strategic Plan was developed during the spring of 2000, incorporating ideas from members of the school committee, city council, state representatives, United Way Board of Directors, Children’s Leadership Council, churches, the superintendent of Schools, and participants in the Community Conversations.

One of the highlights of the Strategic Plan was the development of an elected Youth Advisory Council to the Portland City Council. Five youth were elected for one-year terms on Election Day 2000 and City Councilors appointed 9 others for a total of 14 teens, representing all neighborhoods in the city. The Youth Council provides advice and brings issues to the City Council on matters concerning youth such as a Teen Center and safe places for teens to find entertainment.

Another Strategic Plan initiative is a Teen Job Bank that provides job and volunteer opportunities. Tae Chong, community policing officer, championed the concept. A web site, developed by MaineToday.com, can be accessed from any computer, including dedicated computers at community policing centers, the Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, YWCA, Parkside Community Center, public library branches, and Reiche School. Additional partners in this program include Green Fine Furniture, The Metro (bus) System, the Chamber of Commerce, Hannaford Foods, Shaw’s Supermarkets, Cedars Nursing Homes, and the United Way Volunteer Center. The Teen Job Bank is expected to reach 1,000 youth in the summer of 2001.

The Portland C4C has developed a team of youth Asset Ambassadors to provide asset education in Portland neighborhoods. The Communities for Children VISTA volunteer produces The Builder, a monthly asset newsletter and 400+ copies are distributed to individuals and churches across the community. In the summer of 2001 an Asset Education program will introduce residents in Cumberland County to the 40 Developmental Assets. "Pass It On!" is a list of 365 tips from kids to adults and peers, created by local youth, which contains messages they want to hear to build internal and external assets in themselves. Time Warner Cable is broadcasting the messages and other news outlets will soon use them on a one-a-day basis.

The Caring Adults Work Team is working with area faith-based communities to increase the pool of new mentors from the faith community to 600 in three years. This team is also working with the Greater Portland Mentoring Partnership and the Maine Mentoring Partnership to increase the number of mentors in Portland. They sponsored a Business Breakfast in September 2000, a March 2001 "Celebrate Mentoring" Reception with the First Lady of Maine, Portland Police Chief, United Way Board and two mentors, and a March Mentor Night at the Portland Pirates. These events were part of the Portland Asset Builders Project. The goal is 1,000 new mentors by December 2001.

Youth members were added to the Children’s Leadership Council and youth were given a role on work groups. United Way has added youth to its Day of Caring Steering Committee and its community investment committees. Twenty youth and adults are planning a June 2001 Block Party in the Deering Neighborhood, to create a network of children and adults in an area that does not have community policing or a neighborhood center/association.

In 1998 the United Way received a $250,000 challenge grant from Harold and Bibby Alfond that funded six different agencies. All six continued in 2000 with funding from United Way and other sources and all have directed resources toward fulfilling the Five Promises.

Portland media have supported the work of the C4C. The Portland Press Herald and local TV stations covered the survey, Community Conversations, and community forum. As part of its commitment, WGME-TV broadcasts special public service announcements highlighting the initiative and provides news coverage, personnel and advertising. The Portland C4C has worked closely with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maine, L.L. Bean, People’s Heritage Bank, UNUM Provident Insurance, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club and Girl Scouts.

Portland’s arts community used the results of the Asset Survey as a basis for grant writing to fund more arts participation for youth. The Youth Engaged in Service teen youth group took on the issue of homeless teens and raised more than $1,300 through a grant and an educational and homelessness awareness program at the Portland Public Market. Through their efforts more than 600 people learned about the problems homeless teens in Greater Portland face. Schools and the Portland Junior League have joined with the youth group to provide "care packages" (sweat shirts, towels, socks, toiletries, etc.) to let homeless teens know that someone cares. These will last the Shelter through 2001.

A report back to the community, called "Plant a Seed and Pass It On" was held in April 2001. The event was held in partnership with Rotary District 7780 and attended by over 200 people. First year results of the action plan were showcased by youth and a major entertainer, Randy Judkins, provided Asset Education via humor. The event included resources from more than 50 youth-serving and social service agencies, a picnic supper, entertainment, youth showcases and mini community forums by neighborhood and town. Participants made individual, family or organizational promises to fulfill the Five Promises or build the 40 Assets and posted these on a Commitment Board. All Commitments will be added to the Maine Promise Book.

In the summer of 2001, 1,800 4^th-6^th-graders will be given a $1,000 voucher to attend a Maine camp of their choice. This is a new 10-year partnership between United Way and the Libra Foundation to provide safe places for Greater Portland youth in the summer.

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