I Know ME

03/02/2025

A post from one of our youth🧡

02/27/2025

From our Amazing Program Manager Zach-

Greetings I Know Mainers and Parents and Guardians of I Know Mainers,

Most if not all of you should know by now that I Know Maine's last day will be tomorrow. It is a day I didn't expect to come while I was still program manager. Tim and Josh, our Maine Youth Alliance president and vice-president, have been working the phones this past week to get the word out in a clearer, more concise fashion than I. If any family did not receive a call, I apologize that this email may be your first concrete news of IKME's closing.

What comes next immediately is one final meeting for any IKME youth who wish to attend. We will be meeting after school in the room which is conveniently next door to the office the school has generously loaned us for the past eight years. There's no hard agenda for the meeting, just whoopie pies and friends. The planned end time for the meeting is 5pm though if you are only able to stop by for a moment to say hi, that is perfectly fine. Along with the whoopie pies, I would like to send everyone home with their messenger bags as well as an LL Bean duffel bag. The duffels were donated a couple years ago and have appeared mostly when a youth indicated that they didn't have a suitable bag for a camping trip. They were donated with the understanding that they would be used by youth and I want to honor that understanding. I want to reiterate that we will Not be able to provide rides home. If you know of someone who would like to attend, but cannot because of transportation, please reach out to them and offer some assistance. I'd love for as many I Know Mainers to attend as possible.

In the longer term, I am not disappearing as soon as the meeting ends. I won't be around quite as much as I am at present, but I will still attend concerts, choir events, plays, and games as I am able.

For four years and change I have had the honor and the privelege of working what I genuinely believe to be the best job in the world. Through all the rainy mornings, through lengthy van rides, and through the hikes I swore were gentle and that turned out to be quite steep, there were moments of reflection and joy to be had in seeing you all mature and grow. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for that.

All the best,

Zach Dewey

IKME Program Manager

12/14/2024

Our lucky program director was able to take a few youth to watch some of our other youth on stage. A Christmas Carol and Little Women were star studded and amazing!

12/13/2024

IKME led by the fearless Zach Dewey had our Holiday Party tonight! Joined by 4 special guest, we had a great time with food, scavenger hunt and a game of werewolf!

12/11/2024

12/07/2024

IKME Americorp members are at the Mount View Craft fair today helping out and supporting our youth who have tables, raising money for the school or singing! Come down and say hi to our youth and support our school.

12/03/2024

It's ! Remember your contributions make moments like this possible!

https://givebutter.com/MaineYouthAlliance

11/11/2024

I Know ME is on Mt. Batti today! We love taking our peripheral trips especially when we can add in our friends from The Game Loft ! The Game Loft program coordinator Pen and our AmeriCorps member Sawyer are leading this beautiful hike.

11/04/2024

10/28/2024

This weekend IKME AND The Game Loft teen mentors joined other Aspirations Incubator programs from around Maine at Camp Pondicherry. Led by the Trekkers program, students learned more about boundaries, self-awareness and even leading games.

10/10/2024

Event for all our Maine Youth Alliance Programs! We are so thankful to volunteers, bands, and to Hey Sailor! for putting this on!

Save The Game Loft, Belfast, Maine

10/01/2024

After recent meetings with local schools, it’s disheartening to learn about the rise in racist, anti-Semitic, and discriminatory speech among our middle and high school students.
At The Game Loft and IKME, we have a strict zero tolerance policy for hate speech in our programs. If any such behavior occurs, parents will be notified, and youth will need to be picked up. A meeting will be held with the program director, the youth, and their families before they can return. We are a safe space where everyone belongs.
We hope to never face this situation. Instead, we encourage our youth to stand up against hurtful speech and remind them that change begins when someone takes a stand. Together, we can create a more inclusive and respectful environment. 🧡✊