Youth and Family Outreach

08/04/2026

There was something meaningful about standing on our development site this week.

I stood where Preble Chapel once stood—a place that served this community for generations and where Youth and Family Outreach has carried forward that legacy for decades. Today, the site is quiet.

The environmental cleanup is complete. The earth has been prepared. And now we wait for the next major milestone: construction loan closing.

From the outside, it may look like not much is happening. But anyone who has been part of a project like this knows that some of the biggest progress happens before the first concrete is poured.

Soon, this quiet space will become the YFO Resource Hub—a place where more than 100 children will receive high-quality early education each day and 60 families will have affordable homes.

Standing there, I could almost picture it.

We're getting closer.

Thank you to everyone who has believed in this vision and helped us move one step closer to making it a reality. ❤️

07/24/2026

We were thrilled to welcome the team from Norway Savings Bank to our future home as they presented a check toward their generous $25,000 commitment to our capital campaign. 💙

Their investment is helping us build more than a new building—it’s helping create a place where more children can learn, grow, and thrive, while giving more families access to the affordable, high-quality early care they need.

Community projects like this only happen because local partners step forward with vision and generosity. Thank you, Norway Savings Bank, for believing in our mission and in the future of Portland’s children and families.

As we enter the final stretch of our capital campaign, every gift brings us one step closer to opening our doors to nearly twice as many children and families. We’re incredibly grateful to have partners like Norway Savings Bank helping make that vision a reality.

Please join us in thanking Norway Savings Bank for their generosity and commitment to our community! ❤️

NSB is thrilled to commit $25,000 to Youth and Family Outreach's major Portland expansion effort! We hope you can check out the full story, including the details on how this massive project that involves the development of a new six-story building on Cumberland Avenue will help address two of the city’s biggest challenges: www.norwaysavings.bank/press_news/yfo26.

07/14/2026

✨ **Meet Hannah, YFO's New Program Coordinator!** ✨

We are so excited to welcome **Hannah** to the Youth and Family Outreach team as our new Program Coordinator!

Hannah brings nearly two decades of experience walking alongside children, families, and communities with compassion, authenticity, and deep respect. From supporting families with young children through Maine Families, to working with individuals experiencing homelessness at Preble Street, to mentoring youth through Outward Bound and Youth-LED Justice, her work has always been rooted in the belief that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and supported.

Hannah believes in creating welcoming, low-barrier environments where families can thrive. She is passionate about equity, relationship-building, and meeting people where they are—values that are at the heart of YFO's mission.

When asked what has shaped her most, Hannah doesn't point to a degree or a job title. Instead, she credits the babies, children, youth, adults, and families she has had the privilege to know over the years. Their resilience, wisdom, and trust have made her the person and professional she is today.

We feel incredibly fortunate to have Hannah joining our team and know the children and families of YFO will benefit from her kindness, thoughtfulness, and dedication.

Please join us in giving Hannah a warm YFO welcome! 💙

06/16/2026

🚧 Progress Update! 🚧

I stopped by our development site this week, and every visit leaves me more amazed than the last.

As someone who started this project with little knowledge of site preparation, I've learned more about soldier piles, sheet pilings, excavation, and site preparation than I ever imagined I would. What fascinates me most is watching the skilled professionals on site problem-solve in real time. Whether it's navigating low power lines, managing challenging site conditions, or coordinating complex work in the heart of downtown Portland, this crew knows exactly what to do.

There is so much expertise behind every step of this project, and I am incredibly grateful for the talented people helping bring this vision to life.

Work is steadily moving forward, and it's thrilling to see the future home of YFO literally taking shape beneath our feet. Every piling placed brings us one step closer to serving more children and families in our community.

Stay tuned for more updates—we can't wait to share this journey with you! 💛

06/12/2026

Rainy day? Not a problem. ☀️🌦️

Our little ones made the executive decision to ditch the rain suits and break out the bathing suits instead! There’s something so joyful about children embracing the moment — splashing in puddles, feeling the rain, laughing with friends, and turning an ordinary sprinkly day into an adventure.

At YFO, childhood is meant to be experienced with curiosity, wonder, and a little bit of muddy fun. 💛

06/02/2026

This photo was taken as these kiddos graduated from YFO. 💛

And now… they are graduating from high school.

We truly can’t find the words for what that feels like. Looking back at these tiny faces and knowing the incredible young adults they have become fills our hearts with so much pride, gratitude, and emotion.

At YFO, we have the privilege of being part of children’s earliest chapters — and moments like this remind us just how meaningful those years are. To watch children grow from preschool graduates into high school graduates is something incredibly special.

To the YFO Class of 2026:
We are so proud of you. Thank you for letting us be part of your story. We are cheering you on as you step into this next chapter.

Once a YFO kiddo, always a YFO kiddo. ❤️

05/19/2026

Yesterday, I had the tremendous honor of meeting Jerry Marx, YFO’s (the PML at that time) Executive Director from the mid 1980s into the early 1990s.

Jerry saw a need in our community and responded by opening childcare services for students at Portland High School, just two blocks away — a program and priority population that remain central to YFO’s mission today. Hearing him reflect on that work, and seeing how pleased he was to know those students and families are still a priority for us, was incredibly meaningful.

We shared stories, history, laughter, and a deep appreciation for everything this scrappy little nonprofit has accomplished over its 180-year history.

For me, meeting Jerry felt a little like meeting a celebrity. In my book, this is the kind of work — and the kind of leadership — that deserves that level of recognition. 💙

05/15/2026

We are so proud of our soon-to-be graduates! 💙

YFO has been honored to partner with ,MEPublicSchools as a community-based Public Pre-K site since 2011. This year, we are celebrating our 15th graduating class through this longstanding partnership!

These children are heading off to kindergarten with confidence, curiosity, friendships, and a strong foundation for lifelong learning. We are grateful to be part of their journey and thankful for a partnership that continues to invest in children and families in our community.

Congratulations to our graduates — we can’t wait to see all the amazing things ahead for you! 🎓✨

05/12/2026

We were honored to share the story of YFO and our expansion project on the radio this weekend! 🎙️

A huge thank you to Townsquare Media and to Celeste Baranyi for the opportunity to talk about YFO’s history, our mission, and the exciting future ahead for children and families in our community.

If you missed it live at 6am on Sunday morning, you can listen to the interview here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1swUjeXS-ki5rvimIW3RvGZr549yvahjc/view?usp=sharing

We are so grateful for the support and excitement surrounding this project as we continue working to expand access to high-quality early care and education. 💙

05/10/2026

We had a fantastic Teacher Appreciation Week celebrating the incredible educators who make our program so special every single day. 💙

Thank you to the families and board members who contributed thoughtful messages, treats, and goodies to help honor this remarkable team. Your kindness and appreciation meant so much.

And a special thank you to for the perfect “Brain Builder” t-shirts — our staff loved them!

We are so grateful for the dedicated, compassionate educators who show up every day to nurture, teach, and support children and families in our community. ✨