Maine Black Community Development

05/25/2024

Please join Elders and leaders in Maine's Black community for two powerful events this coming week. Learn more and register for free via the links below and please help spread the word.

The leaders of the Interfaith Pilgrimage of the Middle Passage - an extraordinary 13 month journey to physically and symbolically reverse the direction of the slaving vessels that forcibly brought enslaved Africans to the Americas - will join us for an evening of ceremony and conversation. walkwhere.org/events/healingwounds

Elders from Maine's multi-generational Black families will ground us in the history that led us to this moment as we discuss creating a Middle Passage Port Marker and ceremony for Maine. walkwhere.org/events/middlepassage

Location: First Parish Portland, 425 Congress Street, Portland A community conversation and luncheon to discuss launching a Middle Passage Ceremony and Port Marker Project for Maine, with MPCPMP founder Ann Chinn and award-winning civil rights historian and activist Danita Mason-Hogans.

09/15/2023

The State of Black Maine Symposium
Juneteenth 2023
Video by Zamzam Elmoge

That’s a wrap! Thank you to everyone who contributed to the inaugural State of Black Maine Symposium. See Maine Black Community Development's page to relive every part of the event. See you next Juneteenth!

09/14/2023

Lift Every Voice and Sing - The State of Black Maine Symposium
Juneteenth 2023
Our amazing emcee Alyssa Lewis led us in the Black National Anthem to close the day.
First video by Zamzam Elmoge

09/14/2023

Closing - The State of Black Maine Symposium
Juneteenth 2023

Portland City Councilor Pious Ali shared the city's Juneteenth Declaration
And Maine Speaker of the House Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross beautifully summarized all that we experienced throughout the day.

09/12/2023

Planning Committee - The State of Black Maine Symposium, Juneteenth 2023
Permanent Commission on Status of Racial, Indigenous & Tribal Populations
Maine Humanities Council
Maine Arts Commission
Maine State Archives
of Southern Maine
Maine State Cultural Affairs Council
Atlantic Black Box
Maine Black Educators Collective
Cumberland County Food Security Council
Conscious Revolution

09/12/2023

Thank you to our generous sponsors!
The State of Black Maine Symposium, Juneteenth 2023

Maine Humanities Council
Maine Arts Commission
Hannaford Supermarkets
Unum
Maine State Cultural Affairs Council

Maine State Archives
Androscoggin Bank
L.L.Bean

of Southern Maine
Conscious Revolution
Maine Office of Tourism
Allagash Brewing Company
Mascoma Bank
ReVision Energy

09/12/2023

DJ Set - The State of Black Maine Symposium, Juneteenth 2023
Check out
Realgeniusblack
Suzie Assam

09/12/2023

Exhibits - The State of Black Maine Symposium
Juneteenth 2023
Atlantic Black Box

09/12/2023

Catering - The State of Black Maine Symposium, Juneteenth 2023
Check out blackbettysbistro.com for some seriously delicious food.

09/11/2023

How It Is: Growing Up Black in Maine
The State of Black Maine Symposium
Juneteenth 2023
The students discussed their experiences in elementary school vs middle and high school; their extracurricular activities; the racism they have faced at school and how they have organized themselves to address it; how participating in Black Student Union (BSU) has helped them; their mentors; and what they want to do when they grow up. Ms. Noor from Deering High School got a shout out as a mentor to many.

09/07/2023

Audience Question: Do you think prisons are the answer to crime, addiction and mental health issues in Maine?

The State of Black Justice
The State of Black Maine Symposium
Juneteenth 2023
Curated and moderated by Samaa Abdurraqib of Maine Humanities Council featuring:
Darlene George
Shamara Bailey, Esq.
Foster Bates, NAACP Maine State Prison Branch
Ali Ali of Maine Youth Justice