One of the many essential components of an inclusive economy is affordable, accessible, and quality child care. Child care services allow parents to participate effectively in the workforce and offer an incredible return on investment for childhood development.
The pandemic has further exacerbated the already precarious child care system, leading many parents to exit the workforce in order to care for their children. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data showcases that more than 3 million American women have left the labor force over the past 2 years in a coronavirus-induced exodus that reflects persistent pay inequality, undervalued work, and antiquated notions of caregiving. These numbers are even more shocking for Black, Indigenous, and multiracial families, who experience job disruptions due to lack of access to childcare at nearly twice the rate of white parents. A robust and cost-effective child care industry must be a priority for our economy to include everyone.
Given the great need for improvement in child care services, OEO has worked across departments and with community partners to help launch the Portland Growing Child Care Grant Program (PGCC). These partnerships have streamlined pathways to help entrepreneurs more easily navigate the licensing process. Start-up capital and additional support for existing child care businesses will be available with the City’s ARPA funds. More information is available at the City of Portland’s Business Financing page.
Are you a parent looking for childcare? Don’t miss the journey map to help parents find solutions.
Please join us in spreading the word about the newly approved PGCC Grant Program! And stay tuned in the months ahead to learn more about our work for a more inclusive economy.
Do you own a small business and want to learn about creating a safer workspace? Check out CEI Women's Business Center as they host an Introduction to SafetyWorks! Thursday, January 6th from 1:00-2:00 pm. Register here.
Interested in improving your communication practices for your business or as a professional development opportunity? Check out the Eaton Peabody Growth Basics for Business Internal Communications--A Strategy for Employee Engagement on January 11th 8:00-9:00 am Sign up here.
Want to learn about Afrofuturism and Octavia Butler's work? Join the Wild Seed Discussion Project beginning on January 12th and continuing on the following dates: 1/26, 2/9, 2/23. The Maine Humanities Council's Associate Director, Samaa Abdurraqib, will lead a rich discussion. Learn more and register here.
Want to celebrate Martin Luther King Junior? Join Maine Initiatives to honor the life and legacy of MLK on January 15th.
Want to network with supply chain professionals? Check out the Hybrid Eggs and Issues event on January 19th from 7:00-9:00 am. Registration is required for this in-person gathering at the Holiday Inn by the Bay. Learn more about the event here.
Are you passionate about supporting multilingual learners? The Maine Association for the Education of Young Children (MaineAEYC) is hosting a webinar: "Considerations for Young Multilingual Learners". Join on January 20th from 7:00-8:00 pm. Registration cost is $25 for non-members (free for members of MaineAEYC). Visit the MaineAEYC website for more information.
Want to participate in a lively afternoon of story-finding and story-telling? Jo Radner will share new ways to recollect almost-forgotten memories – and to help others discover and tell stories from their lives at Mayo Street Arts on January 22nd from 1:00-3:30pm. Learn more and sign up here.
To stay updated on community events and opportunities, visit OEO's community calendar, which is updated on a daily basis.
Have an event you think is relevant and want to add to the OEO calendar?
OEO is proud to promote volunteer opportunities for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. How will you join Americans across the country to step up to make our communities more equitable? All month long OEO will feature service opportunities on social media with your help! Submit your service opportunities here!
Neighbors in Need Facebook Group
Check out this Facebook group that functions as a broad coalition of volunteers to support community members and foster belonging throughout Maine. Learn more and join the group here!
Maine Access Immigrant Network (MAIN) Peer Support Group for French Speakers//Groupe de Soutien sur Zoom
Help us spread the word to new arrivals who speak French! Every Tuesday at noon MAIN will lead a group discussion to help answer questions.
As-tu de questions? Venez nous rejoindre tous les mardis à partir de 12h. À 13h. Sur zoom pour plus d'aide et de support. Zoom link:
Starting Strong launched Portland Works for Kids to bring together stakeholders from Greater Portland to specifically address the early care and education crisis in our community. Interested in getting involved, please contact Katie Soucy at ksoucy@portlandconnected.org.
Immigration Legal Aid Clinic
Meet with a lawyer one-on-one via Zoom to discuss your immigration case. Time slots will be one hour. Please be sure to bring with you any immigration or other documents that might help the lawyer give you advice, such as your passport, work permit, any paperwork you have received from Immigration or from the Immigration Court, any copies of applications you’ve filed with Immigration already, your work permit, or any other documents you may have that could be helpful. The Zoom link & more information will be sent to you to the email and/or phone number/WhatsApp you provided when you registered. Asylum cases will NOT be seen during this clinic. Clinic is held every second Thursday of the month. The next opportunity will be January 13th.Sign up here for a time slot from 12:00-5:00pm.
Maine Humanities Council Major Grants Application
Accepting applications for larger humanities programs and projects that have broad public outreach. January 22 is the application deadline. Visit here.
Competitive Skills Scholarship Program (CSSP)
The Competitive Skills Scholarship Program provides funding and support services for eligible Mainers to pursue two and four-year degree programs or employer-recognized credentials leading to high-wage, in-demand jobs in Maine.
New Podcasts at Switchboard--From Turmoil to Triumph: Assisting Refugees in their Journey to Entrepreneurship
This new two-part podcast series features a conversation between Rishan Habte, Program Officer for Economic Empowerment at Switchboard and Khalid Ahmadzai, Director of Economic Advancement at Canopy Northwest Arkansas. Khalid shares his story of growing up in Kabul, Afghanistan; his own experiences of entrepreneurship; and how he created the existing microlending entrepreneurship program at Canopy. Click here to stream part one and click here to stream part two!
Recreation Programmer I--Aftercare and Community Center
Enjoy working with children?The City of Portland Recreation Division is offering an exciting opportunity to engage with the community through a variety of recreational activities. This position is primarily responsible for leading a variety of group activities for school aged children in the After the Bell Program and Community Centers while creating a positive, fun, and safe atmosphere for our program participants. If you are a creative individual who understands the basic philosophy of recreation and has the eagerness to engage a large group of children, this may be the opportunity you’ve been looking for. The After School Programs varied hours include 2:00 - 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Slight variation in hours and schedule are possible due to staggered start and end times of Portland Elementary Schools. Additional hours are available working in our 3 Community Centers. Must have excellent customer service skills and enjoy working with children, teens and adults. Being multilingual and having experience working with children is strongly preferred. First aid and CPR certification is also preferred. Successful candidates must possess a valid Class C driver’s license and have a clean driving record. Offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory criminal background check. View more details here. Pay range starting at $16.03/hour.
Financial Eligibility Specialist--Temporary
This position processes General Assistance applications and determines financial eligibility in a high volume, ethnically rich, multi-site work environment. Job responsibilities include: computing consumer budgets, utilizing a language line for non-English speaking applicants, verification of income and expenses, processing vendor payment vouchers, preparing decision sheets, interacting with community agencies, participating in Fair Hearings and maintaining electronic files. This work includes interaction with a diverse consumer base requiring flexibility, a positive attitude and solutions-based thinker with a focus on the delivery of excellent customer service. Requirements – Graduation from a standard high school, experience in a social service agency; or any equivalent combination of experience and training. Knowledge of public assistance programs and excellent customer service skills. Offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory criminal background check. Preferred strengths / skills - Experience working with homeless population. Pay rate starting at $19.30/hour. Learn more here.
Public Health Director
The City of Portland, Maine is seeking qualified candidates to fill the position of Public Health Director, within the Department of Health & Human Services, Division of Public Health. This position is responsible for the overall administration of the City of Portland’s public health programs, including development of program policy, assessment of community needs, and assessment of the available resources to meet these needs. This leadership position requires responsibility for public health issues, financial management, long range, and strategic planning for public health programs. The Public Health Director is responsible for the promotion of the public’s health and emerging public health issues within the community and within City government. This position establishes standard operating procedures, works within union contracts, supervises the selection of Division personnel, and is responsible for the development and monitoring of the Public Health Division’s budget. Requirements: Extensive experience in public health administration and management, with a master's degree in public health or a related field, a degree in business or public administration, or an equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the following skills and abilities: Extensive knowledge on public health issues in policy arenas. Financial management experience with multiple public and private funding sources and third-party payors. Proven ability to work independently to achieve goals and objectives, and cooperatively with other service providers in program planning implementation. Ability to effectively delegate responsibilities to Division staff. Proven ability to write grants, develop contracts and negotiate financial arrangements to improve the public's health. Experience effectively developing and promoting public health policy at all levels of government. Excellent communication skills to promote public health issues, topics and programs and ability to articulate core functions to varied audiences. Well-versed in the dynamics of organizational communication and practices and effective communication within the organization and in the community. Ability to utilize technology in data collection, analysis and dissemination. Active involvement in national, state and local public health professional associations. Necessary Special Requirements: Must possess a valid Maine Class C driver’s license. Must have and maintain a good driving record. Offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory criminal background check. Salary range: $88,908 to $109,338 annually.Learn more and apply here.
Other Job openings
**Our organization does not currently post job announcements without at least a minimum salary or a salary range. The negative consequences related to lack of transparency around salary are too great for people of color, women, and especially women of color. Hopefully, your team discussions will result in this small but meaningful change to your job postings and modeling equitable hiring practices for the field. If they do, let us know and we will excitedly share them with our network.
Multilingual/Multicultural Specialist (Part-Time)
The Multilingual/Multicultural Specialist will be a multilingual specialist who will provide outreach and services for multilingual students and families in the South Portland School Department by serving as communicators and liaisons between the students and families and the school personnel. The Multilingual/Multicultural Specialist will support the work of the South Portland School Department’s work of incorporating culturally and linguistically competent principles, values, and practices. The Multilingual/Multicultural Specialist will participate in multilingual student registration and intakes, and help with intake scheduling and follow up communication to support families as their children begin school. The Multilingual/Multicultural Specialist will work directly with school staff, students, and families as they navigate new school routines, educational needs, and other cultural barriers that exist between schools and families.
Rate of Pay: This is a salaried position that is funded through June, 2023. Salary equivalent to $25 per hour, and includes prorated benefits through the South Portland Schools. Position will be 21 hours per week. For more information, please refer to the South Portland School Department website: https://www.spsd.org/district/job-opportunties/insurance-benefits
The South Portland School Department is seeking a dynamic individual who is highly motivated, a self-starter, and resourceful. This person must have strong relationship-building skills coupled with the ability to work collaboratively with building coordinators, staff, and the community to support the needs of the South Portland Schools. Experience working with community agencies and organizations is preferred. Strong communication skills are needed. Strong technology skills, including general digital literacy and proficiency using Google apps, are also necessary. This is a part time (.5) salaried position. Compensation will be based on the candidate’s experience and education and will range from $19,950 - $30,400. The position also includes prorated benefits. For more information, please refer to the South Portland School Department website: https://www.spsd.org/district/job-opportunties/insurance-benefits
The SART Program Manager is a member of SARSSM’s leadership team, and is responsible for coordinating the SART Program throughout Cumberland and York Counties and supervising a team of advocates who provide direct services to survivors of sexual violence. The SART Program Manager oversees all program operations, grant and reporting requirements, and new initiatives. They will also act as a liaison between SART and our community partners such as hospitals, prisons, law enforcement, the district attorney’s office, and others. Additionally, this position will provide outreach, support, advocacy, resources, and referrals for any sexual violence survivor in Cumberland or York County, Maine seeking ongoing support or assistance with the criminal and/or civil justice system. Salary range: $45,000 to $52,000 . Visit here for more details.
Office of Economic Opportunity, City of Portland, 389 Congress St, Portland, Maine 04101, United States, 2072107643
-2.png)
