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Development is coming!
Jan. 25, 2022
This online forum highlights municipal leadership on development issues. The online event features a dynamic lineup of national and local experts who have deployed zoning reforms, financial incentives and technical know-how to attract reinvestment in downtowns, commercial centers and neighborhoods. This event is for leaders and community builders who want to be bold: to learn tried-and-true strategies needed to navigate these complex issues and unprecedented times.
DOWNLOAD MAYOR MIKE FOLEY'S PRESENTATION (PDF)
DOWNLOAD MAYOR JASON LEVESQUE'S PRESENTATION (PDF)
Digital Frontiers
Oct. 27, 2021
The Maine Broadband Coalition, The Roux Institute, The Maine Technology Institute and Cumberland County hosted a discussion on the future of connectivity and digital infrastructure in our region!
Expert panelists speak to the Wireless Internet of Things, public-private partnerships, distributed energy generation and storage, and inclusive innovation to ensure that technology is designed for and benefits everyone.
This conversation is a part of Maine Broadband Coalition’s Digital Frontiers series focusing on the future of Maine’s digital infrastructure designed to pique curiosity, seed ideas and inspire action. It also serves as the second event in GPCOG and Cumberland County’s Broadband Readiness Series intended to help articulate what could be possible in the future with better broadband in the region.
The future of broadband in our region
Sept. 27, 2021
The Greater Portland Council of Governments, Cumberland County, the Maine Broadband Coalition, the Roux Institute and the Island Institute host the first of a three-part series of online panel discussions with experts and community leaders.
Our panelists discuss current broadband issues in our region and opportunities for collaboration. Mark Greene from Long Island, Phil Devlin from Harrison and William Mann from South Portland describe on-going broadband initiatives in their communities.
The challenges and opportunities facing our region as we recover from the pandemic and build resiliency
May 27, 2021
Our panelists discuss the broadband, economic, transportation and sustainability needs and initiatives in our region: Hannah Pingree, Director of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Innovation, Rick Dimino, President and CEO of A Better City, Kerem Durdag, President and COO of GWI, Kristin Baja, Programs Director of Climate Resilience at the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, and Lynn Tillotson, President and CEO of Visit Portland.
WATCH OUR VIDEO ABOUT HOW COMMUNITIES RESPONDED TO THE PANDEMIC
WATCH THE FULL ANNUAL SUMMIT INCLUDING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
So, You Want to Be a Community Leader? How to Run for Office & What to Do When You Win!
April 28, 2021
GPCOG hosted a zoom webinar: "So, You Want to Be a Community Leader? How to Run For Office & What to Do When You Win!" Hear stories from community leaders on their personal experience of running for office and what they did once they were elected!
Panelists include Andrew Zarro (Portland City Councilor), Deqa Dhalac (South Portland City Council), Safiya Khalid (Lewiston City Council), April Fournier (Portland City Councilor at large), Michael Foley (Westbrook Mayor), and Allison Foster (Cumberland Town Councilor).
Having Uncomfortable Conversations With Your Kids: Talking About Race and Racism
Mar. 24, 2021
As part of Momentum: A Maine Racial & Social Equity Series, the Portland Regional Chamber, GPCOG, United Way of Greater Portland, the Portland Public Library, and the Maine Historical Society are bring you a panel discussion on how to successfully navigate the discussion of racism with kids and teens.
Panelists include Tracie Jae (Lead Rebel, The Quiet Rebel, LLC), Sarah MacLaughlin, LSW (Author, Speaker, and Parenting Educator), and Mercedes Samudio, LCSW (Founder, Diversity in Parenting, Inc). Moderated by Tori Pelletier (Special Projects Coordinator, GPCOG).
Digital Frontiers: Data & Mapping
Feb. 4, 2021
Interested in broadband solutions and innovation in Maine? Check out the first webinar of Digital Frontiers, a Maine Broadband Coalition series in partnership with Maine Technology Institute aimed at engaging a diverse network of companies, sectors, industry clusters and governmental agencies around the future of broadband and digital infrastructure in Maine.
February’s topic was Data & Mapping, featuring Brian Mefford and Will Mitchell from from VETRO FiberMap, Jeff Letourneau from Networkmaine, Matt Jablonski from the Island Institute and the town of Vinalhaven, Susan Corbett from the National Digital Equity Center, and Clara McCool from GPCOG's Resilience Corps.
Transit Disrupted — The Pandemic as a Catalyst for Innovation
Jan. 27, 2021
This discussion highlights how transit agencies have introduced new technologies and approaches in order to serve riders during the pandemic and in the future.
Panelists include Price Armstrong (Senior Transportation Planner at AECOM), Carrie Butler (Executive Director of Transit Authority of River City) and David Bragdon (Executive Director of Transit Center). Hope Cahan (Town Councilor in Falmouth; Vice Chair of the Board for METRO) moderates the panel.
The TransitCenter has done research on what agencies can do during the pandemic to make transit service safe, effective and appealing.
DOWNLOAD DAVID BRAGDON'S PRESENTATION
Local Leaders & Racial Equity
Jan. 18, 2021
GPCOG hosted a panel for the 40th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance, which was hosted by the Maine NCAAP, Maine Initiatives and the MLK Holiday Observance Steering Committee. This observance is the largest celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. held in Maine, with this year’s event being a Virtual Teach-In and Call to Action.
On Monday, Jan. 18, local leaders discussed the racial equity initiatives that their municipalities are working on.
Panelists include Pious Ali and Lelia DeAndrade (Portland Equity Steering Committee), Deqa Dhalac and Margaret Brownlee (South Portland Human Rights Commission), and Nathan Poore and Dustin Ward (Town of Falmouth). Tori Pelletier (GPCOG Special Projects Coordinator) moderated the panel.
Coffee with COG: Municipal Climate Action Planning
Dec. 3, 2020
GPCOG’s Sara Mills-Knapp unveils the launching of a municipal climate action planning program to support development of local plans that align with state and regional climate goals. Participating in the regional program for climate action planning will provide alignment of municipal plans with state goals, reduce costs of planning, monitoring, and reporting on climate actions and provide advantage of regional efficiencies in implementation and knowledge sharing while creating a pipeline of shovel-ready projects.
Coffee with COG: Resilience in Real Time
Nov. 19, 2020
What does resilience look like in the Greater Portland region? You’ll hear from innovative small business owners who have adapted their business models during the pandemic in order to support vulnerable populations. Here are the panelists: Rose Barboza — Founder and Co-Director, Black Owned Maine, Kerem Durdag — President, GWI (Great Works Internet), Kate Griffin — Owner, Maggie Mae's Restaurant in Yarmouth + Cooking For Community Partner, Ben and Whitney Waxman — Co-Owners, American Roots. This series is part of the Greater Portland Resilience Exchange, which seeks to address community needs with creative solutions and to identify new opportunities for resource-sharing.
Exploring the Relationship Between Electric Vehicles, Broadband & Community
Jul. 9, 2020
A cutting-edge discussion on the intersection of digital infrastructure and electric vehicle charging with a focus on connectivity. Experts from the electric vehicle domain and broadband sector join community anchor institutions to share insights around the overlap of technology, policy and practice in a first-of-a-kind dialogue.
A Municipal Dialogue on Racial Equity
July 2, 2020
This July 8 webinar is moderated by Dwayne S. Marsh, who recently completed a four-year term as Co-director of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE). The alliance works to normalize conversations about race and help municipalities advance opportunities for all. During Marsh’s tenure, the membership network of local, regional, and state entities grew from just over 20 to nearly 200 participating jurisdictions.
GPCOG staffer Victoria Pelletier talks about her experience as a woman of color growing up in Maine. Former Lewiston School Superintendent Bill Webster discusses his personal journey on understanding issues of race, and Westbrook City Councilor Claude Rwaganje recounts his experiences as an immigrant from Africa living in Maine.
DOWNLOAD DWAYNE MARSH’S PRESENTATION
DOWNLOAD BILL WEBSTER’S PRESENTATION
Electric School Bus Webinar
Apr. 22, 2020
The Maine Clean Communities team unpack the opportunities and challenges which face heavy duty electrification in the state of Maine. You’ll hear about a legislative document to incentivize the purchase of electric public school buses, a principal of Mount Desert Island High School who’s EV bus in on the way, an eLion Bus sales representative and a clean cities coordinator electrifying school bus fleets in the Mid-Atlantic region.