From Michigan to Maine, AmeriCorps Volunteer is Making a Difference in Piscataquis County

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Seana Collins walked on high certain wooden staircase as well as through each Central Hall Commons event center, spreading female arms up to exhibit each beauty plus spaciousness of any historic gathering position.

Whole out of who space was covered in clothes, household items, books also more, girl declared made from a Free Cycle Mercantile held recently deceased final year. During the “pop-up swap,” per successful pilot event whatever had the ability return on per regular basis, individuals donated items they negative longer needed plus shopped among another people’s stuff.

Mercantile is element from many programs Collins owns created alternatively helped develop since moving out of Michigan up to Maine nearly a 12 months and one half ago. Girl serves since single AmeriCorps VISTA, alternatively Volunteer in certain Service of America, at Central Hall Commons. Any federal program, founded in 1965, pairs an agency alternatively organization with per volunteer whoever designs also develops programs which empower per community as well as assist them overcome poverty. Piscataquis County is each poorest county and single from certain bulk rural within the declare.

Collins, a Detroit native whoever has spent bulk of her being among Oakland County, Michigan, did in no way move up to central Maine with the intention made from joining any VISTA program, still knew object Something was his chance up to make single difference when any opportunity presented itself. Currently ma'am gives her energy, her occasion along with lady heart for one new community which gal is learning in order to call residence.

“Being one VISTA gave myself purpose as well as gave yours truly per site and showed myself how I can exist better,” stated Collins, which person signed on high for threesome years until November 2023 like single volunteer. by Central Hall Commons.

When Collins started near Central Hall Commons, dame took on each unique challenge of creating thoughtful programming who area residents could safely enjoy during a pandemic. “Remain similar to a water” has existed Collins’ mantra, per reminder for stay flowing during uncertain times.

Countless events, similar in similar fashion each Common Conversation series — one roundtable in which area residents connect with each expert on one topic — possess stood virtual. Residents besides tuned in toward a Meet each Author series, at which place Collins primarily interviews Maine authors concerning theirs work.

“Our team endeavor toward engage with certain community within per way which helps them perceive Central Hall Commons since belonging to them brand-new mission, vision plus values ​​– current multi-generational space in which everyone feels heard, cared for also similar to it’s theirs. to them space,” dame said.

Collins’ bulk significant project was any Recovery Cafe, which one opened in tardy October. The program was created for residents belonging to Piscataquis County for share to them struggles with sobriety as well as exchange ideas related for recovery plus resources among a community.

“Next to current point, us realized us needed some recovery wellness center amid certain Maine Highlands area,” girl mentioned, adding such organizations among each area had been discussing it for years.

Although one core group belonging to persons attend certain meetings, Collins foresees some challenges, specifically related in order to raising awareness regarding substance utilize disorders as well as addressing stigma. Sometimes those living in rural communities cling the ones mentioned issues up to themselves, gal says, although gal contains noticed additional activism and awareness made from language related up to addiction along with recovery.

“It’s almost like folks in the metropolis are apathetic plus folks in rural areas like this are additional empathetic along with among touch whatever they’re portion made from single community, they’re part of a whole,” stated declared Collins, whom includes lost many friends to opioid addiction in Michigan. “Assuming guys don’t talk approximately something, you don’t recognize entity, hence you’re not at all going in order to transform object.”

Collins brings per fresh perspective as well as single willingness to occupation creatively, declared Tara Smith, executive director out of Central Hall Commons. She as well helped toward strengthen any center’s presence on social networks.

Collins directed any Of us Common Purpose series, what was based on a report via each American Academy from Arts also Sciences as well as explores vulnerabilities within people’s political and civic being and strategies for rebuilding American democracy.

Dame explores ways in order to expand a Free Cycle Mercantile, whichever began later each community had a positive response in order to Buy Nothing Day, a alternative for Black Friday. She wants up to start one pop-up merchant wherever local artisans be able to display belonging to them labor.

Johanna Billings, owner of Lily Cat: Northwoods Antiques as well as Buttons within Monson, suspects few area residents are aware belonging to Central Hall Commons also each activities entity offers, such in similar fashion art, yoga plus meditation classes.

“I like when things are accessible to everyone since itself removes any stigma. … Gal is [Collins] really interior something. Gal really believes within it,” Billings stated.

Collins’ trip to Maine began within a summer from 2020, when ma'am also woman husband, Robert Nash, were visiting friends along with viewing homes. Of them youngest son had graduated out of lofty school, thus itself was per positive period to leave of them urban community also budge to some spot where being is slower also more peaceful.

Like soon like Collins spotted any little red abode with a pond inside the garden for sale, girl knew it was for them. Collins and Nash signed certain papers inside August as well as, with each support made from a longtime friend plus twain cats inside tow, moved up to of them Dexter residence inside mid-September. The family’s couple adult sons reside amid Michigan.

Belonging to them real estate agent, which person worked for each community center, urged Collins in order to fetch involved later learning concerning his background.

Collins earned degrees within entertainment business plus public relations out of Full Sail University plus possesses experience amid charity work.

Ever since girl was young, Collins possesses happened passionate around serving a nation-state plus celebrating the freedoms who appear with being American. Her parents helped spark this desire, as her mother is a immigrant out of Yugoslavia also lady father is one Vietnam veteran.

Although Collins has adjusted somewhat for life inside New England, there’s yet single lot to master approximately each culture and any community, gal replied. Lady job in similar fashion VISTA is in order to help alleviate poverty, however “object doesn’t happen to yourself like amid Detroit” otherwise Bangor, where at that spot are shelters along with encampments, ma'am mentioned.

“We entire contain above basic needs, plus I reflect persons present are far better by meeting the ones needs on theirs belong to, still there’s besides this type out of silent understanding whatever you’re helping some neighbor within demand,” said- gal declared.

Collins recognizes female privilege plus upbringing, also girl hopes to employ itself within lady recent community up to advocate for aforementioned which person perhaps be struggling nor necessitate a helping pass. While she thinks some folks might possess happened cautious concerning woman being in that place by initial, regularly going up to gas stations within Hannaford also each area helped, Collins stated.

“Population are extremely communal,” dame mentioned, once they realized someone is present for any prolonged haul along with wants up to contribute toward the community. “They take care of belonging to them belong to.”

While Collins settles entering each brand-new annual period, she brainstorms recent ideas up to lay on each table — programs dame hopes more individuals desire participate amid.

For example, ma'am concept of setting aloft per workshop whither local writers along with authors may teach community members by what means toward scribble short fictional stories or share to them writing techniques. Collins is also working on securing some grant to bring artist Matt McEntee in order to lead single Make/Fix Anything Project workshop plus create single community art installation.

Central Hall Commons possesses additional opening for a VISTA. The community center is looking for unit full-time volunteer nor twain part-time volunteers interested inside helping with AARP’s senior-friendly programming, Collins mentioned. The ones interested may phone 207-343-3018 alternatively email [email protected]