Mainebiz

V O L . X X V I I N O. X X I G I V I N G G U I D E 2 0 2 1 – 2 0 2 2 6 O n the eve of the pandemic in March 2020, Presente Maine launched a "food brigade" to pro- vide rations of beans, rice and vegetables to a few dozen Latinx, Black, Indigenous, Asian and other communities of color that are disproportionately low-income. e group knew families were fac- ing the hard choice of whether to work to feed their families or to quarantine and be cautious about COVID-19. To ease that burden, the food brigade dropped food staples on doorsteps in low-income communities. It has since grown, providing food in Portland and Lewiston to about 500 households a week, with hundreds more on a waiting list, according to its interim report on the pandemic. Nonprofits serving people of color and diverse populations are emerging in Maine to help communities of color and low-income communities tackle issues such as hunger, education, job training and mentorships. Many nonprofit founders emerged from the communities they serve because they say they are best placed to understand the needs and better meet the needs. ey live and breathe issues of diversity, equity and inclusion every day. "We must be for each other if no one else will be for us. We meet the needs," Presente Maine says in its report. "In the nonprofit sector nation- ally, the conversation around diversity, equity and inclusion is definitely a big- ger conversation than it was 10 years ago," says Jennifer Hutchins, executive director of the Maine Association of Nonprofits. "Maine, in general, in the last 10 years has seen an increased focus on immigrant issues." Some new efforts have been launched, such as Presente Maine's food brigade, while other existing nonprof- its, like Good Shepherd Food Bank, expanded to create new roles and ser- vices to better address diversity issues. "Mainstream organizations may have the resources and staff, but they are missing effective outreach and have problems meeting the actual needs," says Claudette Ndayininahaze, execu- tive director and co-founder of In Her Presence, which works with immigrant women to improve language skills, career opportunities and financial sta- bility. "Being in the same pathway and place in life is important because we know how to reach these people who are struggling like me." 'Gut check' moment helped spark effort Good Shepherd recently created a new position, headed by Megan Taft, director of equity, diversity and inclusion, who will be adding staff to support her in identifying resources, vendors and volunteers to help aid underserved communities. "We can't end hunger in Maine without centering on diversity," Taft says. "Black households in Maine are three times as likely to experience hunger and poverty as white households." e pandemic, as well as the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Bre- onna Taylor led to national conversations and a wakeup call on the state level that there may be some shortfalls, Taft says. Good Shepherd saw it had room to improve its diversity efforts when it realized that people who worked for the food bank were hungry themselves. Nonprofits emerge from diverse cultures to fill gaps in communities Change came on quickly B y J e s s i c a H a l l GIVING GUIDE C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 8 » Claudette Ndayininahaze, executive director and co- founder of In Her Presence, works with immigrant women to improve language skills, career opportunities and financial stability. P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY

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