Living With Peace addresses issues and concerns that affect the ability of immigrants to acculturate to their new lives here in Maine ...
and to successfully orient to the social, economic and cultural aspects of life in Portland and Lewiston. We are a dynamic, grass-roots, community organization that seeks to invest in the future of our immigrants by building and sharing resources with a coalition of support providers.
Help for Whom?
Whether you are a newly arriving refugee from Iraq or an asylum-seeker from Burundi, we are a network of resources to ease and smooth your way in this new world.
How Do I Support Living With Peace?
We need two types of support--money and volunteers!
Our work rests on the strong shoulders of our volunteers.
- Driving, reading, teaching English, buying clothes and supplies
- Nutrition counseling and making good food choices
- Explaining American ways, illustrating American customs, introducing new ideas
- Taking people to cultural and educational events
- Talking with newcomers about current affairs and sharing information
- Inviting immigrants to your home, church, group, club, activity--involve them in your life
- Accept invitations to their homes and get to them as your new neighbor
Send your donation made payable to the MHNO (Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization), our fiscal sponsor, to 92 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101.
Living With Peace
A non-profit organization formed in order to help immigrants acculturate and thrive in Maine!
Living With Peace
Strengthening the Fabric of the Immigrant Experience in Maine
Our Board of Directors
President
Christina Feller
cfeller@maine.rr.com
Vice President
Roger Ruganzu
rruganzu@yahoo.fr
Treasurer
Aimee Umutoni
aimeetoni@gmail.com
Secretary
Adelaide Manirakiza
manirado4@yahoo.fr
Project Coordinator
Sergine Gakwaya
gsergine@brandeis.edu
We are currently seeking to fill two empty Board seats—contact any Board member for more information.
Our Mission
Mission: The Mission of the organization is to facilitate collaborative networks in order for immigrants to live, work, pray, learn, and enjoy life in their new home in America.
Our Purposes
Purposes: Living With Peace has been formed for specific charitable and educational purposes, which include
--Informing immigrants about common problems or conditions that potentially interfere with their enjoyment of life;
--Serving as a focal point for communications among community leaders and government officials in order to improve the conditions of their lives;
---Organizing immigrants and coordinating activities to help them bring positive change to their lives, especially on behalf of youth, seniors, the disabled, widows and single mothers, new parents, students;
---Bridging the divide over particular issues or concerns and finding solutions to cross-cultural gaps among communities of people living in the neighborhoods, affordable housing, home life activities, fitness and nutrition, educational attainment, conditions of life in the neighborhoods, and sustainable employment;
---Building sustainable capacity among young and emerging leaders and forming new, neighborhood-based bonds of civic engagement for immigrants;
---Developing community resources by helping neighborhood groups work together for positive changes for their residents with special consideration for “New Mainers”; and
---Supporting the common voice of immigrant residents, and their ability to organize and communicate to effectively be heard by officials and representatives of government, the business community, the health care industry, institutions of education, & social services & economic development organizations.
Upcoming Events of Note
Organizing Focus Groups on the topic of Peace & Reconciliation Among Peoples of Different Tribes, Clans and Neighborhoods
May- June 2009, Fall 2009
Training Classes and One on One Teaching
on such topics as:
_ Healthy Eating & Healthy Food Buying
_ Raising your Children in America
_ Driving Laws and Being Safe
_ Budgeting off of City Services
_ Developing a Strategy for Success
_ Organizing your own Self-Help Group
_ Transportation Systems and Finding Your Way (and then buying a car)
Living With Peace volunteers work with whole families or individuals to fill knowledge gaps in living successfully, provide needed food and clothing at critical times, books and school supplies, transport children, adults and workers to jobs, appointments, and engagements. We build strong friendships. We enjoy our futures together as members of the Maine Melting Pot.
Living With Peace
Our Programs 2006-2010
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