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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 31 M A R C H 2 0 , 2 0 2 3 Nathan Szanton Julie Butcher Pezzino Mark Swann and St. James streets, just off the Peninsula. It's the site of the for- mer West School, which the city of Portland decommissioned and demolished. We're co-developing the site with Maine Cooperative Development Partners, which is building 58 co-op apartments — in other words, apartments where the renters are also the owners. White Rock Terrace will be a 55-unit apartment building on a hill in a wooded area just off U.S. Route 1 in Cumberland. It will be set aside for households headed by someone aged 55 and over. MB: Last year you talked about your heart and soul being in affordable housing. How do you stay motivated when it continues to be such a big challenge in Maine? NS: It's easy to stay motivated when articles and editorials appear every week in the paper spotlight- ing Maine's shortage of housing units, and discussing ways that we can overcome this crisis of under- production. Julie Butcher Pezzino, Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine executive director MB: How was attendance in 2022 and what exhibits are the most popular so far? Any surprises? JBP: Our attendance at the beginning of 2022 was limited due to COVID safety measures, but we were thrilled to rebound from these restrictions in the summer and record a blockbuster June, July and August. It's hard to identify a favorite exhibit because every visitor has different interests. ere is something for everyone, and every visit offers children and their caregivers a different experience, particularly when paired with our menu of programming, workshops and afterschool experiences tailored to multiple ages and interests. MB: What's the current fundraising climate like for your institution and for museums more generally? JBP: e fundraising climate is chal- lenging for museums and nonprofits in general given inflation and other factors, but our funders remain incredi- bly strong and supportive. Membership at the Museum & eatre continues to climb and exceed our expectations, leading us to believe that more families are seeking safe, enriching educational resources for their children. Mark Swann, Preble Street executive director MB: What progress have you made on plans to expand your work in health services? MS: Since we spoke last year, Preble Street opened Elena's Way, a Preble Street Wellness Shelter, providing warmth, safety and intensive services for up to 40 people of all genders experiencing homelessness and com- plex health and behavioral health needs. We also partnered with Greater Portland Health and Maine Medical Center to create Maine's first recuperative care program to bridge a critical gap in healthcare services for our neighbors experienc- ing homelessness. MB: How has your work as an anti-poverty agency evolved in the past year? MS: anks to the support of Gov. Janet Mills, Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, state Rep. Drew Gattine (D-Westbrook) and others, we're seeing real momentum for site-based Housing First programs in Maine. Site-based Housing First provides 24-hour supportive services for people experiencing homelessness to maximize housing stability and prevent returns to homelessness. From our expe- riences managing three of these sites with Avesta Housing, this approach can work in rural and urban communities across Maine and is the solution to chronic homelessness in our state. We're also tak- ing a big step forward on our vision for ending hunger in Maine. Since 2020, our Food Programs staff has been operating at higher levels than ever before, making 2,000 individual meals daily. When the Preble Street Food Security Hub is fully realized, Preble Street will be able to cre- ate up to 10,000 hot, nutritious meals per day and distribute them across Maine thanks to strong partners like Good Shepherd Food Bank. ROUX CENTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, BOWDOIN COLLEGE We meet every project with a passion for quality, creativity and an emphasis on sustainability. WARRENCONSTRUCTIONGROUP.COM 207.865.3522 P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY

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