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

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Seana Collins walked on high certain wooden staircase and throughout any Central Hall Commons event center, spreading woman arms toward display each beauty as well as spaciousness out of certain historic gathering site.

Every belonging to whatever space was covered within clothes, household items, books as well as further, she said from a Free Cycle Mercantile held delayed final twelve months. During certain “pop-up swap,” a successful pilot event which was capable of return on some regular basis, individuals donated items they nay longer needed and shopped among other people’s stuff.

Mercantile is unit made from numerous programs Collins has created or helped develop since moving out of Michigan for Maine nearly a 12 months also one half ago. Girl serves while single AmeriCorps VISTA, nor Volunteer inside a Service made from America, at Central Hall Commons. The federal program, founded inside 1965, pairs a agency either organization with one volunteer who designs as well as develops programs whatever empower per community and help them overcome poverty. Piscataquis County is any poorest county along with single made from certain bulk rural in any condition.

Collins, some Detroit native whoever possesses spent majority from woman life inside Oakland County, Michigan, did never budge in order to central Maine with a intention of joining a VISTA program, yet knew entity Itself was his chance up to make one difference when each opportunity presented itself. Currently dame gives female energy, lady period along with woman heart up to single new community whatever ma'am is learning toward ring dwelling.

“Being per VISTA gave to me purpose and gave yours truly one location also showed myself to what extent I able remain better,” said Collins, who signed up for threesome years until November 2023 while single volunteer. next to Central Hall Commons.

When Collins started near Central Hall Commons, dame took on any unique challenge made from creating thoughtful programming whatever area residents could safely enjoy during per pandemic. “Remain resemble certain water” includes existed Collins’ mantra, one reminder in order to stay flowing during uncertain times.

Many events, similar while each Common Conversation series — single roundtable wherever area residents connect with single expert on single topic — hold existed virtual. Residents besides tuned amid to a Meet any Author series, in which Collins primarily interviews Maine authors regarding of them job.

“Our team try for engage with each community within per path such helps them perceive Central Hall Commons since belonging to them fresh mission, vision as well as values ​​– this multi-generational space at which place everyone feels heard, cared for along with like it’s theirs. belonging to them space,” she stated.

Collins’ majority significant project was the Recovery Cafe, which one opened amid late October. Any program was created for residents from Piscataquis County toward share to them struggles with sobriety along with exchange ideas related for recovery also resources among certain community.

“By said aim, us realized our team needed some recovery wellness center within each Maine Highlands area,” ma'am said, adding who organizations inside certain area had happened discussing entity for years.

Although some core group of persons attend the meetings, Collins foresees some challenges, specifically related up to raising awareness around substance utilize disorders as well as addressing stigma. Sometimes these living among rural communities hold the ones mentioned issues toward themselves, ma'am says, although girl possesses noticed more activism plus awareness from language related for addiction as well as recovery.

“It’s almost like people among certain municipality are apathetic as well as population in rural areas as this are more empathetic and inside touch who they’re segment made from single community, they’re part from per whole,” declared stated Collins, which person contains lost numerous friends for opioid addiction in Michigan. “Provided guys don’t talk approximately it, you don’t recognize itself, so you’re not going for alter something.”

Collins brings per fresh perspective plus per willingness in order to task creatively, said Tara Smith, executive director of Central Hall Commons. Dame additionally helped in order to strengthen the center’s presence on social networks.

Collins directed a Ours Common Purpose series, which one was based on per report through a American Academy from Arts along with Sciences and explores vulnerabilities amid people’s political as well as civic lifetime and strategies for rebuilding American democracy.

Girl explores ways for expand any Free Cycle Mercantile, whichever began subsequent to the community had per positive response toward Buy Nothing 24 hours, an alternative in order to Black Friday. Gal wants in order to kick off a pop-up merchant in which local artisans can display belonging to them work.

Johanna Billings, owner of Lily Cat: Northwoods Antiques along with Buttons inside Monson, suspects not many area residents are aware made from Central Hall Commons as well as each activities it offers, similar since art, yoga also meditation classes.

“I like when things are accessible up to everyone because object removes any stigma. … She is [Collins] really interior object. Ma'am really believes among it,” Billings declared.

Collins’ trip to Maine began within any summer from 2020, when gal along with her husband, Robert Nash, were visiting friends along with viewing homes. Their youngest son had graduated from tall school, therefore it was single good period in order to leave their urban community plus move up to single site where being is slower and additional peaceful.

As soon while Collins spotted a tiny red building with any pond in the garden for sale, girl knew it was for them. Collins as well as Nash signed the papers within August along with, with the aid made from one longtime friend as well as twain cats in tow, moved toward theirs Dexter abode amid mid-September. Each family’s pair adult sons live within Michigan.

Theirs genuine estate agent, which person worked for any community center, urged Collins to obtain involved following learning concerning his background.

Collins earned degrees amid entertainment business also public relations out of Full Sail University plus has experience amid charity labor.

Ever since ma'am was young, Collins owns existed passionate regarding serving each nation-state plus celebrating each freedoms which come with being American. Her parents helped spark here desire, while her mother is single immigrant from Yugoslavia plus herself father is per Vietnam veteran.

Although Collins possesses adjusted somewhat toward lifetime in Fresh England, there’s nonetheless some lot for study around certain culture as well as the community, girl declared. Female job while VISTA is for facilitate alleviate poverty, still “entity doesn’t happen in order to you such as amid Detroit” either Bangor, at which place at that spot are shelters as well as encampments, gal mentioned.

“We every hold those basic needs, also I think individuals right here are far better near meeting aforementioned needs on their have, however there’s also current benevolent made from silent understanding who you’re helping per neighbor in demand,” said- girl declared.

Collins recognizes her privilege plus upbringing, plus gal hopes to apply object in her brand-new community toward advocate for aforementioned which person could remain struggling alternatively demand single helping palm. While gal thinks some people possibly possess existed cautious about lady being at that spot around initial, regularly going to gas stations among Hannaford also each area helped, Collins said.

“Individuals are really communal,” girl stated, once they realized someone is on hand for the prolonged haul plus wants toward contribute up to any community. “They seize care from of them belong to.”

While Collins settles internal the brand-new year, ma'am brainstorms new ideas to place on a table — programs gal hopes additional persons shall participate inside.

For example, ma'am thought from setting on high a workshop whither local writers and authors be able to teach community members how up to scribble short fictional stories alternatively share theirs writing techniques. Collins is besides working on securing some grant in order to bring artist Matt McEntee up to lead some Make/Fix Anything Project workshop also create one community art installation.

Central Hall Commons contains one more opening for single VISTA. Certain community center is looking for element full-time volunteer otherwise couple part-time volunteers interested in helping with AARP’s senior-friendly programming, Collins replied. The aforementioned interested be capable ring 207-343-3018 alternatively email [email protected]