APPLY to Launch ME! !

Maine faces unprecedented challenges to our economy, education, environment and community values. Young people all across the state are doing amazing work everyday to improve their communities, and we want to invest in these brilliant plans by inviting you to participate in our Launch ME Contest!

All you have to down is download the application & then e-mail your responses today!

Here’s what the contest can do for you:

1) All contestants will get publicity for their project on our website.

2) At the end of March, the public will vote for their favorite projects. The winners of that vote will be invited to our big fat party on April 6th in Portland (lodging and travel support included).

3) At the PARTY, attendees will be encouraged to donate $10 to their favorite projects – and YOU walk home with all the money that you raise.

4) PLUS, attendees will rank choice vote for their favorite projects and the winner will receive an additional $500 toward their work.

Money + Publicity + Community Support = Launch ME

For more details and contest rules, download an application and send it to us today!

Join Lewiston/Auburn 101 to learn more!
Click Here to Download an Application OR email Nicola[at]youngvoter.org to get more info.

Here’s what previous Maine 101 participants have had to say about the program in other cities:
“Every city should have one!”

“It made me realize how accessible everything is. It’s so easy to call people, contact people, and get involved. It’s fantastic to have contacts in City Hall, the Police Department, and at EcoMaine. I’ve been recommending EcoMaine tours to everybody I know.”

Click Here to Download an Application

LEWISTON/AUBURN 101
When: Every Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, February 29 – May 2
Where: Various Locations in the Twin Cities
Who: Curious Folks with a Desire to Learn & Engage
Cost: $15 for Supplies; Scholarships Available/Easy to Obtain

L/A 101 is a 10-week exploration where you’ll visit various municipal departments in Lewiston/Auburn and meet with the administrators and staff that make our cities great!

Learn how our cities’ public works departments handle maintenance & upkeep of streets, city facilities, and parks, meet our local police officers, take a look at our cities’ budgets with our mayors and city administrators, and so much more. In addition to department tours, we’ll have several trainings and discussions on civic leadership via the Institute for Civic Leadership (www.civicleadership.org).

Click here to Download an Application

2012 Schedule

Week 1: February 29 – Introduction and Training
Week 2: March 7 – City Council and City Administration
Week 3: March 14 – Police Department
Week 4: March 21 – Economic Development and Zoning
Week 5: March 28 – Civic Leadership Training with Institute for Civic Leadership
Week 6: April 4 – How To: Letters to the Editor, Speaking at City Hall, and More!
Week 7: April 11 – Social Services
Week 8: April 18 – Public School System
Week 9: April 25 – Public Works
Week 10: May 2 – Evaluation
(Schedule subject to change)

For information and to decide if this program is a good fit for you – Email Nicola@youngvoter.org

Here’s more great quotes from last year’s participants:

“I really enjoyed the hands-on tours that made me feel like I was becoming a more aware citizen of Portland. The diversity of facilities we visited was great. Having a class in which we were able to converse with each other more directly about certain issues, such as during the Institute for Civic Leadership class, was also a nice addition.”

“I learned that becoming more familiar with my local government is a much easier process than I would have imagined. I learned where my drinking water comes from and where my trash and recycling go to, and so much more. I learned that it is a feasible goal for a young person to strive to become active in my town.”

“For the past few years I have felt a growing desire to become more involved in my community, and to learn more about it, and Portland 101 fit in with this trend. I feel like I have a much better idea of where to go if I want to get involved in a more specific sense than I did before Portland 101.”