Androscoggin Valley Chapter

Chapter Update

The Androscoggin Valley Chapter, headquartered in Lewiston, is working to build strong neighborhoods and communities and to involve more Mainers in the democratic process. Chapter members have been very busy recently testifying on key legislation, writing letters to the editor, and visiting congressional offices to support national legislation like the Employee Free Choice Act and health care reform.

In 2008, Androscoggin organizers and volunteers registered more than 4,000 new voters and mobilized new citizens in the area, encouraging them to get engaged and get out to vote. This included registering hundreds of low-income Mainers, at food banks and door-to-door in their neighborhoods, who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to learn how easy it is to register to vote.

The chapter also recently hosted speak-outs, where new immigrants and refugees and people of color came together to discuss issues facing their communities and to learn organizing skills.

Members have built a strong relationship with the Lewiston-Auburn Neighborhood Network, which uses the MPA office for their monthly meetings, and other Somali-led organizations, including the Somali-Bantu Community Mutual Assistance Association of Lewiston Auburn.

In April, a record number of Androscoggin County members attended MPA’s 2009 Lobby Day, where members made the non-citizen voting bill their legislative priority.

The chapter has recently sponsored several student interns from Bates College to help with our MPA Lobby Day plans and our worker justice and immigration campaigns.

Overall, the chapter continues to grow, with more and more members attending monthly chapter members and becoming involved in MPA’s work every month.

Chapter meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month. Call Gen at 782-7876 for details.

Maine People’s Alliance—Organizing for a Better Maine!

565 Congress St., Suite 200, Portland, Maine 04101; (207) 797-0967; mpa@mainepeoplesalliance.org
27 State Street, Suite 44, Bangor, Maine 04401; (207) 990-0672; jesse@mainepeoples alliance.org
145 Lisbon Street, Suite 200, Lewiston, Maine 04240; (207) 782-7876; kate@mainepeoplesalliance.org