Our Story
July 2022
Our Place Portland Inc. is founded!
Community Summer Camp for 20 youth (ages 7-11) with the theme “Shine On!” included explorations into astronomy, astrology, photography, trips to the USM planetarium, Sebago Lake, a basketball session with Blue Wave and lots of fun dancing.
Staff includes Libby Catania and volunteers Molly Oehrlein and Fayla Sutton.
August 2022
Our Place’s first fundraising event at Rising Tide Brewing Company called “Shine on Our Place!” included youth photography project from summer camp - a rainbow collection of photos of their neighborhood and people they love in Kennedy Park.
June - July 2023
Due to a generous grant from the Brick and Beam Society of UWSM, we expand summer camp to 40 youth ages 5-12 with the STEAM theme, “The Land, the Sea, Maine, and Me.” Camp includes field trips to Fort Williams Park, Smiling Hill Farm, Dundee Park, and more.
Our Place launches Mentor-in-Training program and hosts its first Leadership Training for 12 founding middle school youth.
Our Place hires school counselor Dacia Desautels and high schooler Chris Michaud as Youth Staff!
July - August 2024
Our Place hosts its third Community Camp for 55 youth with generous support from the Horizon Foundation and Machias Savings Bank, with the STEAM theme, “Our Support Systems: Family, Nature, Biology, and Community.”
15 Mentors-in-Training attend Leadership Training and support summer camps.
Field Trips include hikes with Falmouth Land Trust, visits to Crescent Beach and Kettle Cove, and outings to Happy Wheels, Westbrook Bowling, Round 1 and the movies to see Inside Out 2.
Summer staff includes Dacia, Fayla, Libby, Zeinab, and Chris Michaud.
September 2023
Mentorship groups continue for 40 youth from summer camp.
Partnership with Portland Ovations allows youth to attend three professional performances.
In October, Libby moves into a full-time role as Executive Director, thanks to a generous grant from Peter Alfond Foundation.
September 2024 - Current
In September, Our Place hosted its first back-to-school backpack distribution event thanks to a generous donation from Amazon. We distributed 100 backpacks, water bottles, and other supplies.
After School Mentorship Groups begin for 55 youth and expand to 6 groups (3 middle school, 3 elementary). 15 Mentors-in-Training take turns supporting younger groups. The STEAM theme for the Fall is, “Forces for Good” and will explore physical science and end in a service project.
Our Place hires Christina Ekholm as Mentorship Group Staff.
September 2022 - June 2023
Programs expand to include three weekly after school Youth Mentorship Groups for all 20 founding youth.
Goal set for 100 hours of Family Advocacy services between September 2022 - September 2023.
In February, Libby is recognized as one of 20 Outstanding Women in Maine for her work at Our Place by Coast 93.1 and Hannaford.
Scroll down to listen to the interview!
February 2024
Our Place Portland Inc. hires Fayla Sutton as its full-time Director of Programs!
Goal now expands to 150 hours of Family Advocacy Services.
Staff now includes two college-age interns: Sam and Zeinab, Fayla, Libby, and volunteer Molly Oehrlein.
Looking Ahead
Our Place is looking for its forever home! The ideal space would be 2,000-4,000 square feet, in walking distance to Kennedy Park for easy access for youth and families. This would allow us to reach the community need of serving 100 youth and 50 families. Please reach out to us if you know of a space that is available for rent. Thank you!
Abeer, mother of 6, gains citizenship through Our Place Family Advocacy Services
Jayden participates in Portland Public Health opportunity for research in Tobacco and Substance Use Prevention
Intern Sam poses with youth ready to sled on Portland's Eastern Promenade
Intern Zeinab poses with youth painting pumpkins in October 2023
Mentors in Training of Summer 2024 pose with their t-shirts after Leadership Training
Director of Programs Fayla Sutton gives the Child and Youth Resiliency Measure to youth at the park
Youth decorate a community poster during 2023 Community Summer Camp, "The Land, the Sea, Maine, and Me"
Youth pose with Sam, volunteer dance teacher, after a wonderful dance class
Youth staff Dacia Desautels and Board Member Carli Labrecque pose with youth after a tie dye activity in the garden of The Hill Arts
Libby Catania —
20 Outstanding Women of 2023
We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded in July 2022 with tax-exempt status as a 509(a) organization.
Any donations made before June 13, 2022 are tax-exempt through Our Place.