Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, OEO provided cultural orientation to new arrivals, which included introductions to a host of services, opportunities, and other important information to help newcomers get acquainted with the city and know where to find support. Due to the pandemic, OEO has not been able to host cultural orientation for over two years! 

With the help of the Portland Media Center, we are thrilled to announce that we are piloting a cultural orientation video that covers the basics of cultural orientation. Our hope is that a video version of cultural orientation will not only be safer and more reliable as we continue to navigate an ever-changing pandemic environment, but that it will also address some of the challenges we confronted with the traditional in-person orientation. The pilot is dubbed in French and Portuguese, and our goal is to eventually produce it in all of the top five languages. In video form, people will be able to use it as a resource that they can repeatedly refer to as needed. Finally, we hope that it will make the information more accessible to women, given that men have typically been the primary attendees, while women often stayed home to care for children. 

In June, we hosted a watch party in collaboration with East Point Church, The Root Cellar, and Wayside Foods. It was a true community effort to make the soft launch of this new resource possible. Approximately 30 adults and 40 children attended for a full day of orientation, childcare, and community building. Thank you to all of the volunteers and community members who made this event a success!

A few cultural orientation topics are already published on our website in English and French. Please check them out and share them widely. We are always looking to improve our resources, so please share your feedback by clicking the green button at the bottom of each webpage. Stay tuned for more videos to come! 

• Resume & Cover Letter Development Workshop can help you create or refine an effective cover letter and resume. Sign up here for the July 5th workshop from 1:00-2:00pm. 
• Eid al-Adha Celebration hosted by NEAAO at the Westbrook Community Center. Stop by on July 10th from 11am-3pm for this outdoor event that includes children's games, music, fresh popcorn and flavored ice, superheroes and more!

• Cruising Casco Bay Concert Series is back! Check out the concert schedule and reserve your tickets to cruise around Casco Bay while enjoying live music. 

• Creating Your Business Virtual Workshop, hosted by CEI Women's Business Center, provides an opportunity to help you navigate the planning process, whether you have a plan you’d like to refresh or need to start from scratch. Sign up here for the workshop on July 13th from 1:00-2:30. 

• Summer Learning Series, session 2: Listening to Community Priorities in Wabanakiq. Hosted by Maine Philanthropy Center, hear from writers Gabriela Alcalde, Gillian Kranias,and Maria Garcia about what was learned through the Listening to Community Priorities in Wabanakiq (link is external) report. Sign up here to attend on July 27th from 10:00-11:00am. 

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?

Submit it here!

Launching We Speak Portland English Class Modules

With the help of a grant from the Sam L. Cohen Foundation, and in collaboration with KDK consulting group, OEO has launched three contextualized English class modules on our website.  We hope that it is helpful to ESOL providers, particularly those reliant on volunteers. Please check them out and share widely!  

ILAP Resources for People with Hearings in the Boston Immigration Court

ILAP has put together a handout that makes it easy to find free resources that may be helpful with navigating immigration cases. Check it out in English, French/Lingala, Portuguese, and Spanish. 

Supreme Court Ruling to End Remain in Mexico Policy

On June 30th, the Supreme Court Ruled that Biden could end the Trump-era Remain in Mexico Policy, which forced asylum seekers to wait in Mexico, under dangerous conditions, as their case was reviewed. Read ILAP's statement on the ruling. 

Immigration Legal Aid Clinic

Are you a Portlander and interested in meeting with a lawyer one-on-one via Zoom to discuss your immigration case? The Immigration Legal Aid Clinic hosted by OEO and Maine Business Immigration Coalition is held every second Thursday of the month. Sign up here for a time slot from 12:00-5:00 pm. Asylum cases will not be seen during this clinic.

Root Cellar English Classes

The Root Cellar in Portland will begin hosting English classes every Friday morning beginning on July 15th. Please spread the word! 

Portland Public Library English Conversation Classes

The library is officially launching a new English language conversation class, held every Monday from 4:00-5:30, beginning July 18th. All are welcome. 

MIRC Food Program Looking for Volunteers!

MIRC's ethnic-led collaborative program has moved to the Root Cellar and they are looking for volunteers to help package hot meals into individual portions to make them ready for delivery to the five hotels they are currently serving. This work happens daily, Monday thru Friday from 4:15 pm to 6:15 pm, and Saturday from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. We need at least 5 individuals each day. You are invited to join even if slots are filled for a day! Learn more and sign up to volunteer here. 

Hospitality Retrofits Initiative

Efficiency Maine is accepting applications for its Hospitality Retrofits Initiative to install energy efficiency upgrades at qualifying restaurants, hotels, motels, inns, and bed and breakfasts. Project proposals are accepted for the next year until May 2023, but the fund is capped at $4MM dollars, so start your plans now! Learn more about the initiative and eligibility requirements here. If you have more questions, you can sign up for a free consultation. 

City of Portland openings

To view all open City positions, visit here

PROJECT ENGINEER

The City of Portland Public Works Department is seeking a highly motivated individual to join the Engineering Division. This position involves highly skilled professional level work in municipal construction and engineering. Requires progressively responsible experience in construction management, civil engineering, ability to perform complex assignments under a minimum of supervision, ability to operate personal computers and utilize contemporary engineering related software, and excellent communication and customer service skills. Starting salary range is $60,586.76 to $68,250/year (Step 1-5), depending on experience and qualifications, plus 6% for P.E. license. Deadline for applications is July 29th. Click here for more information and how to apply.

ASSISTANT RECREATION DIVISION DIRECTOR

This position is responsible for administrative and managerial work assisting with the planning, organizing and directing of various divisions of the Recreation Division, including, but not limited to, the Aquatics Division, Athletic Facility scheduling, sports leagues and Community Centers. Work is carried out with great independence, initiative and judgment under the supervision of the Director of Recreation. The Assistant Recreation Director assists in managing Recreation Supervisors, Recreation Leaders, Therapeutic Recreation Supervisor, Golf Course Manager, Aquatic Supervisor and Aquatic Leader. Salary range: $73,097- $89,891 annually. Position open until filled. Click here for the full job description and how to apply. 

HUMAN SERVICES SPECIALIST-Family Shelter (Mon-Fri)

This position will focus on working with homeless families to meet basic needs of food and shelter, connect with area resources, collaborate with the school department, focus on securing permanent housing, and coordinate life skills work groups. This position will also perform activities such as conducting client needs assessments, identifying goals, and assist with shelter operations and other essential primary services to families. Experience and knowledge of general assistance programs. Pay range starting at $19.87/hour. Application deadline: July 15th. To learn more about the position and how to apply, click 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.

ILAP Paralegal

ILAP is seeking a full-time paralegal to support the work of our legal staff assisting low-income noncitizens on a range of immigration matters, with a focus on humanitarian forms of relief. This is a new position that will be responsible for casework support, consultation follow-up, and administrative duties, among other tasks. This position involves a high degree of client contact, working with a diverse pool of clients, many of whom have experienced high levels of trauma, and speak languages other than English. Beginning salary is $43,500 for a candidate with two years of paralegal experience, or more depending on years of experience. Review of applications will begin on July 5th, and will continue until the position is filled. Click here to read full job description and find out how to apply.

Systems Advocacy Program Coordinator

In collaboration with local partners and all affected by abuse, TTD creates innovative responses and mobilizes our community to promote safety and challenge systems of oppression and violence. The Systems Advocacy Program Coordinator is responsible for maintaining program oversight for systems advocacy programs (EPIC, CPS, healthcare) with the goal of advancing TTD capacity to achieve its mission related to the issues of domestic abuse, dating violence, human trafficking, and stalking. Starting salary: $44,200. Learn more and apply here. 

Teen Services Caseworker

Preble Street is currently seeking a full-time Caseworker to work as part of the Teen Services team. Teen Services is open 24/7 365 days a year and provides services to youth ages 12-21. This position work as part of a dynamic team, providing and collaborating on casework services to youth experiencing homelessness; staffing the Teen Center to provide basic services, information and referrals; and providing crisis intervention in a low-barrier setting. Wage is $20/hr. Position open until filled. Read full job description and learn how to apply. 

Immigrant Integration Manager

The Immigrant Integration Manager will be a part of the MIRC team working - with the Advocacy, Program and Development/Member Relations staff - on systems organizing and collaboration. This position will bring a connection to the immigrant experience and perspective with a commitment to advocacy, equity, inclusion, and empowerment for our immigrant communities.The Manager will be a coalition builder, skilled in diplomacy, holds a strong power analysis, understands grassroots organizing, and brings experience working across various immigrant communities and in partnership with intersectional movements. Starting Salary: $60,000. Position open until filled. For full job description and instructions for how to apply, click here.