Mainebiz

AWARD B U S I N E S S L E A D E R S O F T H E Y E A R W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 13 M A R C H 2 4 , 2 0 2 5 I started by immersing myself in learning English and understanding the systems around me. I met people who became mentors, supporters, and friends. Seeing firsthand the struggles of immigrant women who were trying to rebuild their lives too, led me to create In Her Presence. MB: What are some of the biggest challenges facing the women with whom you work? CN: Language is certainly one of the biggest challenges, but it's just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Immigrant women face barriers in employment, education, housing, and healthcare. Affordable childcare and accessible public transportation remain significant obstacles, making it difficult for women to get to work, school or to access essential services. MB: How does In Her Presence facilitate education and employment opportunities for immigrants? CN: We provide English language classes tailored to workplace and every- day scenarios, allowing women to gain confidence and communicate effectively. We also offer leadership training, pro- fessional development workshops and networking opportunities. We have job coaches who speak Portuguese and French, and we have a career counselor who has been success- fully placing individuals in mid- and high-level positions, demonstrating that immigrant women are valuable contributors to Maine's workforce. We are working to attract more employer partners to create more inclusive hiring opportunities. MB: Who are some of your supporting partners? CN: Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. We are supported by a diverse group of businesses, individual donors, private foundations, health and educational institutions and volunteers. We also access advocacy groups includ- ing ProsperityME, Mano en Mano, Maine Association for New Americans, Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition and Community Housing of Maine. ese partnerships provide essential resources and pathways to economic stability for the women we serve. MB: Tell us about the Frances Warde House, which you opened in 2023. CN: e Frances Warde House is a tran- sitional home that provides a safe and supportive environment for pregnant immigrant women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Created in partnership with Northern Light Mercy Hospital and Community Housing of Maine, we offer shelter, health care, case management and guidance toward stable housing. MB: What are your goals for the future of In Her Presence? And for you? CN: e future of In Her Presence is about deepening our impact. We want to expand our programs to reach more women, enhance our leadership train- ing, and continue advocating for poli- cies that support immigrant commu- nities. Strengthening our workforce development initiatives and building stronger employer partnerships will also be key priorities. My personal focus is on continu- ing to lead with vision and collabora- tion, ensuring that In Her Presence remains a catalyst for change. I also hope to mentor and empower the next generation of leaders, creating a legacy of resilience and opportunity for immigrant women in Maine. Tina Fischer, Mainebiz staff writer, can be reached at tfischer @ mainebiz.biz With MEMIC, safety pays Safety can boost your bottom line. Learn how at memic.com Training makes employees feel valued. Safer workplaces improve productivity. A culture of safety increases profitability. Making workers' comp work better since 1993 In Her Presence inherprescence.org / 4 Milk St., Suite 201, Portland What it does: Nonprofit that provides structured programming to help immigrant women access education, develop leadership skills and economic opportunities. Founded: 2015 Employees: 10 full-time plus 23 stipend teachers Volunteers: 43 Collaboration is at the heart of what we do.

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