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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.