Community Connections

Connection is the heart of In Her Presence. Immigrants come to Maine having lost their support networks. Mainers are curious, but due to language and cultural barriers, they are often unable interact in the ways they would like with immigrant communities. Deepening connections between individuals and communities are the fuel that drives our work. 

Please read on to learn more of the myriad ways In Her Presence brings people together to learn, grow, and live better together.

Leadership Classes

In these courses, participants re-build confidence and develop new understandings of leadership. In phase 1, students design a plan that applies their own leadership style and leave with clear goals that help themselves and others. In phase 2, students receive personalized Leadership coaching to help them stay on track to achieve.

Wellness Circle

IHP promotes good health through education and access to activities that support social, emotional and physical well-being. In Her Kitchen promotes nutrition, food access, and connection through recipes from across the globe. Healthcare volunteers give educational workshops on topics of high interested critical to the immigrant community. Partnerships with organizations that promote exercise and socialization, like Portland Trails, expand our participants’ connection to their neighborhoods.

Mothers’ Circle

This initiative encompasses what all mothers and children need to thrive: good physical and emotional health. Cultural doula training, pregnancy classes, and maternal health education workshops support immigrant women during a vital and vulnerable time of life.

Seniors’ Circle

Seniors are active in all IHP programming related to language, social connection and wellness. By supporting Seniors, we decrease isolation. In return, these wise individuals bring deep cultural knowledge, stories, and a sense of comfort to other community members who suffer from family separation. Our Seniors are integral to the community as chefs, seamstresses, gardeners, English learners, babysitters, doormen, and translators.

Parents’ Circle

Parenting in a new country can be extremely difficult. In this program, parents come together to discuss challenges and devise strategies to overcome them. Frequent discussion topics include parent-child connection, school systems, discipline, and nutrition.

Access to culturally responsive books from I’m Your Neighbor Books and field trips for families to the Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine, as well as parks, beaches, and other places that are new to participants, are unique aspects of this program

Youth Activities

Workshops on serious topics, such as substance use, as well as fun field trips to cultural and educational events help young immigrants connect with each other and the community.

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Join us

If you would like to connect with any of these programs, please reach out!