Only the People Save the People

Presente Maine

A mutual aid org by and for displaced and dispossessed Afro/Indigenous-Latines in Maine. We codesign and implement survival programs that address our most urgent struggles, while working in power systems to create an equitable and resilient future.

Presente&rsquo;s lifesaving work is being seriously threatened. Nearly half of the funding we applied for in 2025 was cancelled due to federal cuts, and the resulting strain on the philanthropic sector means competition for grant and gift opportunities has increased exponentially. We were also forced to turn down sizable awards due to new federal requirements to monitor and report immigrants. Consequently, we have a budget shortfall of $600,000. We&rsquo;re making an emergency appeal&nbsp;to close this gap.&nbsp; The crisis in Maine is severe. Since Trump&rsquo;s re-election, we&rsquo;ve seen increased surveillance, policing, and fear in our neighborhoods. Black and Brown Immigrants are acutely isolated at home &ndash; missing medical appointments, work, and school because they are afraid to leave the house. They are also increasingly reluctant to call emergency services when needed, out of fear they will be taken or otherwise harmed.&nbsp; This fear is not unfounded. Natalie, an asylum seeker, was detained in Oxford County earlier this year after she pulled over to help when she witnessed a car accident. She was sent to a detention center across the country, separated from her community and support system. Natalie&rsquo;s story is not unique &ndash; it reflects a growing pattern of fear, criminalization, and displacement that our communities are facing across the state every day.&nbsp; Presente! is leading Maine&rsquo;s response to these attacks on civil and human rights. We co-founded the People&rsquo;s Coalition for Safety and Justice (PCSJ) to build a community defense ecosystem &ndash; a network of people, resources, and strategies that help targeted communities stay safe, informed, and cared for in the face of state violence, policing, and other forms of systemic harm.&nbsp; Here&rsquo;s what this looks like in practice: Coordinated Rapid Response and Protection<ol fr-original-style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;"><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">The Maine ICE Watch Hotline (207-544-9989): A statewide hotline where people can report ICE and Border Patrol sightings, and where they can seek support and referral after someone has been detained</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">Detention Response: Local groups trained to provide accompaniment, legal referral, and social support, so that no one faces state violence alone</li></ol> Building Local Capacity and Skills<ol fr-original-style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;"><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">The Verifier Program: Building a trained community of support to safely verify, witness, and document ICE interactions</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">Know Your Rights education: Empowering people to understand and assert their legal rights</li></ol> Strengthening Collective Infrastructure<ol fr-original-style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-inline-start:48px;" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;"><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">The Maine Solidarity Fund: A statewide fund that offers aid to Black and Brown Immigrants and Trans people who have been detained or discriminated against</li><li dir="ltr" fr-original-style="list-style-type:decimal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;" style="list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; box-sizing: inherit;">Mutual aid: Because safety also means access to food and stability, this defense is connected to Presente&rsquo;s Food Brigade and Food Hub, ensuring families have what they need to survive and thrive.&nbsp;</li></ol> This work is urgent &ndash; and unique. No one else in Maine is doing this kind of coordinated, on-the-ground defense work for these communities. Without it, families would have nowhere to turn when faced with raids, detentions, and disappearances. We are filling that gap. We work as cultural anchors, crisis responders, public health educators, community organizers, advocates, interpreters, and so much more. Safety is not given or guaranteed &ndash; we are building and defending it ourselves.&nbsp; This is what $600,000 protects. Will you help us keep it running? Solo el pueblo salva al pueblo. Only the people save the people. Note: Prefer to donate by mail? Please make your check payable to Presente Maine, PO Box 4202, Portland, Maine 04101!

Presente’s lifesaving work is being seriously threatened.Nearly half of the funding we applied for in 2025 was cancelled due to federal cuts, and the resulting strain on the philanthropic sector means competition for grant and gift opportunities has increased exponentially. We were also forced to turn down sizable awards due to new federal requirements to monitor and report immigrants. Consequently, we have a budget shortfall of $600,000. We’re making an emergency appeal to close this gap. The crisis in Maine is severe. Since Trump’s re-election, we’ve seen increased surveillance, policing, and fear in our neighborhoods. Black and Brown Immigrants are acutely isolated at home – missing medical appointments, work, and school because they are afraid to leave the house. They are also increasingly reluctant to call emergency services when needed, out of fear they will be taken or otherwise harmed. This fear is not unfounded. Natalie, an asylum seeker, was detained in Oxford County earlier this year after she pulled over to help when she witnessed a car accident. She was sent to a detention center across the country, separated from her community and support system. Natalie’s story is not unique – it reflects a growing pattern of fear, criminalization, and displacement that our communities are facing across the state every day. Presente! is leading Maine’s response to these attacks on civil and human rights. We co-founded the People’s Coalition for Safety and Justice (PCSJ) to build a community defense ecosystem – a network of people, resources, and strategies that help targeted communities stay safe, informed, and cared for in the face of state violence, policing, and other forms of systemic harm. Here’s what this looks like in practice:Coordinated Rapid Response and ProtectionThe Maine ICE Watch Hotline (207-544-9989): A statewide hotline where people can report ICE and Border Patrol sightings, and where they can seek support and referral after someone has been detainedDetention Response: Local groups trained to provide accompaniment, legal referral, and social support, so that no one faces state violence aloneBuilding Local Capacity and SkillsThe Verifier Program: Building a trained community of support to safely verify, witness, and document ICE interactionsKnow Your Rights education: Empowering people to understand and assert their legal rightsStrengthening Collective InfrastructureThe Maine Solidarity Fund: A statewide fund that offers aid to Black and Brown Immigrants and Trans people who have been detained or discriminated againstMutual aid: Because safety also means access to food and stability, this defense is connected to Presente’s Food Brigade and Food Hub, ensuring families have what they need to survive and thrive. This work is urgent – and unique. No one else in Maine is doing this kind of coordinated, on-the-ground defense work for these communities. Without it, families would have nowhere to turn when faced with raids, detentions, and disappearances. We are filling that gap. We work as cultural anchors, crisis responders, public health educators, community organizers, advocates, interpreters, and so much more. Safety is not given or guaranteed – we are building and defending it ourselves. This is what $600,000 protects. Will you help us keep it running?Solo el pueblo salva al pueblo. Only the people save the people.Note: Prefer to donate by mail? Please make your check payable to Presente Maine, PO Box 4202, Portland, Maine 04101!

When Our Neighbors are Under Attack, We Stand Together Right now, immigrant and Trans Mainers are facing unprecedented threats to their safety, dignity, and basic rights. Families are afraid to leave their homes. People are being detained without due process. Essential healthcare is becoming inaccessible. We must stand together to defend our most vulnerable community members and our collective rights. People are suffering, and government actors are growing more emboldened -- we need to act now. That&#39;s why we created the Maine Solidarity Fund &ndash; a centralized, community-led resource that provides direct, immediate support and sustained organizing power when our neighbors need it most.&nbsp; The fund meets urgent needs like bail, bond, legal support, healthcare costs, and emergency housing &ndash; and strengthens the organizing, rapid response, and community protection efforts required to stop this harm at its root. To meet the scale of this moment, we are raising $2,000,000 to support emergency aid and the organizing infrastructure necessary to defend immigrant and Trans communities across Maine.&nbsp; What the Maine Solidarity Fund Supports The Maine Solidarity Fund supports two interconnected pillars of safety and survival.&nbsp; 1. Direct Community Support Immediate, zero-barrier aid for individuals and families facing harm, including:&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Bail and bond payments for those unlawfully detained</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Legal representation and defense attorney fees</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Emergency family support when breadwinners are detained</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Life-saving gender-affirming healthcare when insurance won&#39;t cover it or when federal policies restrict access to care</li></ul>2. Organizing, Rapid Response, &amp; Community Protection Sustained funding for the organizing work required to prevent harm, respond quickly, and build long-term safety, including:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Rapid response and detention support coordination&nbsp;</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Know-Your-Rights education and community trainings</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Coalition infrastructure that allows frontline organizers to act quickly and collectively</li></ul>These efforts are inseparable. Direct, mutual aid helps our neighbors survive today. Organizing ensures fewer people need emergency support tomorrow. Maine&#39;s immigrant residents contribute $626 million in taxes annually while being denied basic protections. They power our local food system, from raking blueberries and processing shellfish, to working in restaurants and filling vital roles in our healthcare and construction industries that keep Maine running. Meanwhile, our Trans neighbors -- nearly 6,000 strong -- are facing coordinated discrimination and attacks on their right to exist safely in our communities. They bring joy, creativity, and invaluable perspectives that make our state stronger. Our Maine community is interwoven and interdependent, so these attacks are not only harming our Trans, and Black and Brown immigrant community members, but are harming our communities as a whole. These aren&#39;t isolated incidents -- they&#39;re part of a systemic effort to terrorize our most vulnerable. When our neighbors are not empowered to safely contribute to our communities and require extra support, we&#39;re all strained. But here&#39;s what we know: when we take care of each other, we all thrive, not just survive. How the Maine Solidarity Fund Works The Maine Solidarity Fund builds on the People&#39;s Coalition for Safety &amp; Justice&#39;s (PCSJ) proven track record of direct community support. As a collective of frontline organizations with deep community ties, we&#39;ve supported community members navigating the criminal legal system at both the local and federal levels and in meeting basic needs. Many of those supported have been survivors of sexual and domestic violence and members of the Queer and Trans communities. We&#39;re all local organizations providing zero-barrier monetary support to undocumented community members and other marginalized communities&nbsp;for emergency housing, bail, legal support, medication, and other essential and urgent expenses. We provide support across language and ethnic populations, including Spanish, Lingala, Portuguese, French, Arabic, Swahili, Khmer, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Thai-speaking communities. Now, we&rsquo;re pooling resources to create the centralized funding hub for community-led emergency response and organizing efforts across Maine. &nbsp; Instead of scrambling to crowdfund for individual fundraisers every time someone gets detained or faces a medical emergency, we&#39;re building a shared resource that we can tap into immediately. No more inequitable funding where the most visible cases get help while others go without. No more wasted time when people need help now. Maine is one of the few states without established funds for Trans healthcare or immigration bail or bond -- until now. Please donate to the fund or request support here:&nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.mainesolidarity.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.mainesolidarity.org/</a>&nbsp; Beyond Survival: Building the Future Your support and solidarity help us build the Maine we want to live in: where everyone can thrive, contribute, and belong. When they come for our neighbors, they come for all of us. When our neighbors cannot safely contribute to our communities and require extra support, we are all strained. But when we stand together, we all rise. When our friends are thriving, we all benefit from collective abundance. Join us in sending a message that when political winds shift and systems fail us, local communities step up and mutual aid endures. Every dollar makes a difference -- no amount is too small when it comes to showing up for each other. In Maine, we don&#39;t abandon our neighbors. Note: Prefer to donate by mail? Please make your check payable to Presente Maine c/o PCSJ (or write Maine Solidarity Fund in the memo line), PO Box 4202, Portland, Maine 04101! About People&#39;s Coalition for Safety &amp; Justice The People&#39;s Coalition for Safety &amp; Justice (PCSJ) brings together leaders from frontline organizations, cultural anchors, and direct service providers with deep ties to their communities. We are working to:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic; box-sizing: inherit;">End ICE collaboration in Maine through policy change</li><li fr-original-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic; box-sizing: inherit;">Create rapid-response networks for community protection</li><li fr-original-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic; box-sizing: inherit;">Expand legal services and offer detention response for vulnerable populations</li><li fr-original-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic; box-sizing: inherit;">Train community members and allies in Know-Your-Rights and active bystander intervention education</li><li fr-original-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic; box-sizing: inherit;">Build lasting systems of mutual care and support</li></ul>Our members include:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic; box-sizing: inherit;">Community Organizing Alliance (COA)</li><li fr-original-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic; box-sizing: inherit;">Presente! Maine</li><li fr-original-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic; box-sizing: inherit;">MaineTransNet (MTN)</li><li fr-original-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic; box-sizing: inherit;">Gateway Community Services Maine (GCSM)</li><li fr-original-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic; box-sizing: inherit;">Khmer Maine / SEA (Southeast Asian) Collaborative</li><li fr-original-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic; box-sizing: inherit;">Community Change Inc. (CCI)</li><li fr-original-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic; box-sizing: inherit;">Portland Outright</li><li fr-original-style="font-style: italic;" style="font-style: italic; box-sizing: inherit;">Southern Maine Workers&#39; Center (SMWC)</li></ul>

When Our Neighbors are Under Attack, We Stand TogetherRight now, immigrant and Trans Mainers are facing unprecedented threats to their safety, dignity, and basic rights. Families are afraid to leave their homes. People are being detained without due process. Essential healthcare is becoming inaccessible. We must stand together to defend our most vulnerable community members and our collective rights. People are suffering, and government actors are growing more emboldened -- we need to act now.That's why we created the Maine Solidarity Fund – a centralized, community-led resource that provides direct, immediate support and sustained organizing power when our neighbors need it most. The fund meets urgent needs like bail, bond, legal support, healthcare costs, and emergency housing – and strengthens the organizing, rapid response, and community protection efforts required to stop this harm at its root.To meet the scale of this moment, we are raising $2,000,000 to support emergency aid and the organizing infrastructure necessary to defend immigrant and Trans communities across Maine. What the Maine Solidarity Fund SupportsThe Maine Solidarity Fund supports two interconnected pillars of safety and survival. 1. Direct Community SupportImmediate, zero-barrier aid for individuals and families facing harm, including: Bail and bond payments for those unlawfully detainedLegal representation and defense attorney feesEmergency family support when breadwinners are detainedLife-saving gender-affirming healthcare when insurance won't cover it or when federal policies restrict access to care2. Organizing, Rapid Response, & Community ProtectionSustained funding for the organizing work required to prevent harm, respond quickly, and build long-term safety, including:Rapid response and detention support coordination Know-Your-Rights education and community trainingsCoalition infrastructure that allows frontline organizers to act quickly and collectivelyThese efforts are inseparable. Direct, mutual aid helps our neighbors survive today. Organizing ensures fewer people need emergency support tomorrow.Maine's immigrant residents contribute $626 million in taxes annually while being denied basic protections. They power our local food system, from raking blueberries and processing shellfish, to working in restaurants and filling vital roles in our healthcare and construction industries that keep Maine running. Meanwhile, our Trans neighbors -- nearly 6,000 strong -- are facing coordinated discrimination and attacks on their right to exist safely in our communities. They bring joy, creativity, and invaluable perspectives that make our state stronger.Our Maine community is interwoven and interdependent, so these attacks are not only harming our Trans, and Black and Brown immigrant community members, but are harming our communities as a whole. These aren't isolated incidents -- they're part of a systemic effort to terrorize our most vulnerable. When our neighbors are not empowered to safely contribute to our communities and require extra support, we're all strained. But here's what we know: when we take care of each other, we all thrive, not just survive.How the Maine Solidarity Fund WorksThe Maine Solidarity Fund builds on the People's Coalition for Safety & Justice's (PCSJ) proven track record of direct community support. As a collective of frontline organizations with deep community ties, we've supported community members navigating the criminal legal system at both the local and federal levels and in meeting basic needs. Many of those supported have been survivors of sexual and domestic violence and members of the Queer and Trans communities.We're all local organizations providing zero-barrier monetary support to undocumented community members and other marginalized communities for emergency housing, bail, legal support, medication, and other essential and urgent expenses. We provide support across language and ethnic populations, including Spanish, Lingala, Portuguese, French, Arabic, Swahili, Khmer, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Thai-speaking communities.Now, we’re pooling resources to create the centralized funding hub for community-led emergency response and organizing efforts across Maine. Instead of scrambling to crowdfund for individual fundraisers every time someone gets detained or faces a medical emergency, we're building a shared resource that we can tap into immediately. No more inequitable funding where the most visible cases get help while others go without. No more wasted time when people need help now.Maine is one of the few states without established funds for Trans healthcare or immigration bail or bond -- until now.Please donate to the fund or request support here: https://www.mainesolidarity.org/ Beyond Survival: Building the FutureYour support and solidarity help us build the Maine we want to live in: where everyone can thrive, contribute, and belong.When they come for our neighbors, they come for all of us. When our neighbors cannot safely contribute to our communities and require extra support, we are all strained. But when we stand together, we all rise. When our friends are thriving, we all benefit from collective abundance.Join us in sending a message that when political winds shift and systems fail us, local communities step up and mutual aid endures. Every dollar makes a difference -- no amount is too small when it comes to showing up for each other.In Maine, we don't abandon our neighbors.Note: Prefer to donate by mail? Please make your check payable to Presente Maine c/o PCSJ (or write Maine Solidarity Fund in the memo line), PO Box 4202, Portland, Maine 04101!About People's Coalition for Safety & JusticeThe People's Coalition for Safety & Justice (PCSJ) brings together leaders from frontline organizations, cultural anchors, and direct service providers with deep ties to their communities. We are working to:End ICE collaboration in Maine through policy changeCreate rapid-response networks for community protectionExpand legal services and offer detention response for vulnerable populationsTrain community members and allies in Know-Your-Rights and active bystander intervention educationBuild lasting systems of mutual care and supportOur members include:Community Organizing Alliance (COA)Presente! MaineMaineTransNet (MTN)Gateway Community Services Maine (GCSM)Khmer Maine / SEA (Southeast Asian) CollaborativeCommunity Change Inc. (CCI)Portland OutrightSouthern Maine Workers' Center (SMWC)

Maine Solidarity Fund

M&aacute;s Fuertes Unides: Comprar un Hogar para Presente! Presente! Maine is embarking on a pivotal journey: we&rsquo;re building a home for our grassroots mutual aid and community power-building work, and we need your help. Five years ago, our journey began with the launch of the <a fr-original-style="" href="https://mainebeacon.com/food-from-people-to-people-mutual-aid-program-feeds-thousands-with-barrier-free-aid/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Food Brigade</a> in our founder&rsquo;s garage. It was a tiny emergency response unit facing the catastrophic COVID-19 pandemic, reaching a community that other programs didn&rsquo;t know they were missing. Recognizing the profound crisis facing Maine&rsquo;s Latine community, we were soon feeding hundreds of families in central and southern Maine. &ldquo;If I can&rsquo;t buy food, I&rsquo;ll die anyway,&rdquo; our neighbors answered when we encouraged isolation. So, we <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yylqfi30ooI" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">brought</a> food. In the years since, we&rsquo;ve continued to uplift and advocate for thousands of people in Greater Portland and the surrounding areas. We&rsquo;ve cobbled together donated space -- either for days, weeks, or months -- and rentals, battling predatory landlords and prejudiced neighbors. We&rsquo;ve conducted meetings in our cars, using any available space to strategize, plan, and ensure the smooth delivery of our services. And we&#39;ve continued to&nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/outreach/feed-maine/despensa-solidaria-aims-to-help-immigrants-get-healthy-food/97-d1f33ea6-b31b-4278-a411-d38d7ef23a7d" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">feed</a>&nbsp;our community. Our founder has since been joined by a uniquely skilled team, now numbering in the double digits. Our services are fast, culturally sensitive, and responsive to the immediate needs of our community. Presently, our greatest barrier is space. We need more offices and more gathering spaces; we need a kitchen and a garden. We need the agency and structural integrity that a home base provides. Our team -- led by Queer, indigenous women and staffed by multicultural, multilingual community members -- is eager to do the work we set out to do. However, to fully realize our potential, we need space that aligns with our values - a space that is ours and where we can shape our future. We need a place to grow into to build a supportive, resilient, and vibrant community. Our dream of securing a safe, permanent location is about more than physical space; it&rsquo;s about cementing our commitment to the community we serve and increasing our capacity to serve them. Every contribution, big or small, is a step closer to our goal. If you can&#39;t donate a large amount, consider becoming a recurring donor with whatever you can spare monthly. Even sharing our campaign link with friends and family or on social media can make a huge difference! We&rsquo;re standing at a critical crossroads. Your support can help us secure that space and build a brighter, more stable future for our community. Note: Prefer to donate by mail? Please make your check payable to Presente Maine, PO Box 4202, Portland, Maine 04101! // Presente! Maine est&aacute; emprendiendo un camino crucial: estamos&nbsp;construyendo un hogar para nuestro trabajo de ayuda mutua de base y de construcci&oacute;n de poder comunitario, y&nbsp;necesitamos tu ayuda. Hace cinco a&ntilde;os, nuestra jornada comenz&oacute; con el lanzamiento de la <a fr-original-style="" href="https://mainebeacon.com/food-from-people-to-people-mutual-aid-program-feeds-thousands-with-barrier-free-aid/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Brigada de Viveres</a> en el garaje de nuestra fundadora. Era una peque&ntilde;a unidad de respuesta de emergencia frente a la catastr&oacute;fica pandemia de COVID-19, llegando a una comunidad que otros programas ni siquiera sab&iacute;an que estaban dejando atr&aacute;s. Al reconocer la profunda crisis que enfrentaba la comunidad Latine en Maine, pronto est&aacute;bamos alimentando a cientos de familias en el centro y sur del estado. &ldquo;Si no puedo comprar comida, de todas formas morir&eacute;,&rdquo; respondieron nuestres vecines cuando alentamos el aislamiento. Entonces,&nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yylqfi30ooI" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">llevamos</a>&nbsp;comida. En los a&ntilde;os siguientes, hemos seguido levantando y defendiendo a miles de personas en Portland y &aacute;reas cercanas. Hemos juntado espacios donados -- ya sea por d&iacute;as, semanas o meses -- y tambi&eacute;n alquilados, enfrent&aacute;ndonos a arrendadores abusivos y vencinos prejuiciosos. Hemos realizado reuniones en nuestros autos, usando cualquier espacio disponible para planear, organizar y asegurar la entrega de nuestros servicios. Y hemos seguido <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/outreach/feed-maine/despensa-solidaria-aims-to-help-immigrants-get-healthy-food/97-d1f33ea6-b31b-4278-a411-d38d7ef23a7d" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">alimentando</a> a nuestra comunidad. A les dos cofundadores se ha unido un equipo con habilidades &uacute;nicas, que ya suma m&aacute;s de diez personas. Nuestros servicios son r&aacute;pidos, culturalmente sensibles y responden a las necesidades inmediatas de nuestra comunidad. Actualmente, nuestra mayor barrera es el espacio. Necesitamos m&aacute;s oficinas y m&aacute;s lugares de reuni&oacute;n; necesitamos una cocina y un jard&iacute;n. Necesitamos la autonom&iacute;a y la solidez estructural que nos da un hogar propio. Nuestro equipo -- liderado por mujeres Ind&iacute;genas cuir y compuesto por integrantes multiculturales y multiling&uuml;es de la comunidad -- est&aacute; listo para hacer el trabajo que nos propusimos. Sin embargo, para alcanzar todo nuestro potencial, necesitamos un espacio que se alinee con nuestros valores: un lugar que sea nuestro y donde podamos construir nuestro futuro. Necesitamos un lugar donde crecer para construir una comunidad solidaria, resiliente y vibrante. Nuestro sue&ntilde;o de asegurar un espacio seguro y permanente va m&aacute;s all&aacute; de lo f&iacute;sico; se trata de afirmar nuestro compromiso con la comunidad a la que servimos y de aumentar nuestra capacidad para seguir haci&eacute;ndolo. Cada aporte, grande o peque&ntilde;o, nos acerca m&aacute;s a nuestra meta. Si no puedes donar una cantidad grande, considera hacerte donante recurrente con lo que puedas aportar mensualmente. &iexcl;Incluso compartir el enlace de nuestra campa&ntilde;a con amistades, familia o en redes sociales puede marcar una gran diferencia! Nos encontramos en una encrucijada cr&iacute;tica. Tu apoyo puede ayudarnos a asegurar ese espacio y a construir un futuro m&aacute;s brillante y estable para nuestra comunidad.

Más Fuertes Unides: Comprar un Hogar para Presente!Presente! Maine is embarking on a pivotal journey: we’re building a home for our grassroots mutual aid and community power-building work, and we need your help.Five years ago, our journey began with the launch of the Food Brigade in our founder’s garage. It was a tiny emergency response unit facing the catastrophic COVID-19 pandemic, reaching a community that other programs didn’t know they were missing. Recognizing the profound crisis facing Maine’s Latine community, we were soon feeding hundreds of families in central and southern Maine. “If I can’t buy food, I’ll die anyway,” our neighbors answered when we encouraged isolation. So, we brought food.In the years since, we’ve continued to uplift and advocate for thousands of people in Greater Portland and the surrounding areas. We’ve cobbled together donated space -- either for days, weeks, or months -- and rentals, battling predatory landlords and prejudiced neighbors. We’ve conducted meetings in our cars, using any available space to strategize, plan, and ensure the smooth delivery of our services. And we've continued to feed our community. Our founder has since been joined by a uniquely skilled team, now numbering in the double digits. Our services are fast, culturally sensitive, and responsive to the immediate needs of our community.Presently, our greatest barrier is space. We need more offices and more gathering spaces; we need a kitchen and a garden. We need the agency and structural integrity that a home base provides. Our team -- led by Queer, indigenous women and staffed by multicultural, multilingual community members -- is eager to do the work we set out to do.However, to fully realize our potential, we need space that aligns with our values - a space that is ours and where we can shape our future. We need a place to grow into to build a supportive, resilient, and vibrant community. Our dream of securing a safe, permanent location is about more than physical space; it’s about cementing our commitment to the community we serve and increasing our capacity to serve them.Every contribution, big or small, is a step closer to our goal. If you can't donate a large amount, consider becoming a recurring donor with whatever you can spare monthly. Even sharing our campaign link with friends and family or on social media can make a huge difference!We’re standing at a critical crossroads. Your support can help us secure that space and build a brighter, more stable future for our community.Note: Prefer to donate by mail? Please make your check payable to Presente Maine, PO Box 4202, Portland, Maine 04101!//Presente! Maine está emprendiendo un camino crucial: estamos construyendo un hogar para nuestro trabajo de ayuda mutua de base y de construcción de poder comunitario, y necesitamos tu ayuda.Hace cinco años, nuestra jornada comenzó con el lanzamiento de la Brigada de Viveres en el garaje de nuestra fundadora. Era una pequeña unidad de respuesta de emergencia frente a la catastrófica pandemia de COVID-19, llegando a una comunidad que otros programas ni siquiera sabían que estaban dejando atrás. Al reconocer la profunda crisis que enfrentaba la comunidad Latine en Maine, pronto estábamos alimentando a cientos de familias en el centro y sur del estado. “Si no puedo comprar comida, de todas formas moriré,” respondieron nuestres vecines cuando alentamos el aislamiento. Entonces, llevamos comida.En los años siguientes, hemos seguido levantando y defendiendo a miles de personas en Portland y áreas cercanas. Hemos juntado espacios donados -- ya sea por días, semanas o meses -- y también alquilados, enfrentándonos a arrendadores abusivos y vencinos prejuiciosos. Hemos realizado reuniones en nuestros autos, usando cualquier espacio disponible para planear, organizar y asegurar la entrega de nuestros servicios. Y hemos seguido alimentando a nuestra comunidad. A les dos cofundadores se ha unido un equipo con habilidades únicas, que ya suma más de diez personas. Nuestros servicios son rápidos, culturalmente sensibles y responden a las necesidades inmediatas de nuestra comunidad.Actualmente, nuestra mayor barrera es el espacio. Necesitamos más oficinas y más lugares de reunión; necesitamos una cocina y un jardín. Necesitamos la autonomía y la solidez estructural que nos da un hogar propio. Nuestro equipo -- liderado por mujeres Indígenas cuir y compuesto por integrantes multiculturales y multilingües de la comunidad -- está listo para hacer el trabajo que nos propusimos.Sin embargo, para alcanzar todo nuestro potencial, necesitamos un espacio que se alinee con nuestros valores: un lugar que sea nuestro y donde podamos construir nuestro futuro. Necesitamos un lugar donde crecer para construir una comunidad solidaria, resiliente y vibrante. Nuestro sueño de asegurar un espacio seguro y permanente va más allá de lo físico; se trata de afirmar nuestro compromiso con la comunidad a la que servimos y de aumentar nuestra capacidad para seguir haciéndolo.Cada aporte, grande o pequeño, nos acerca más a nuestra meta. Si no puedes donar una cantidad grande, considera hacerte donante recurrente con lo que puedas aportar mensualmente. ¡Incluso compartir el enlace de nuestra campaña con amistades, familia o en redes sociales puede marcar una gran diferencia!Nos encontramos en una encrucijada crítica. Tu apoyo puede ayudarnos a asegurar ese espacio y a construir un futuro más brillante y estable para nuestra comunidad.

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