Collaboration with Maine Seacoast Mission will lessen fear, isolation, and stress in remote island communities
The grassroots nonprofit Finding Our Voices will accompany Maine Seacoast Mission to three outer islands from June 25-27 to bring awareness about domestic abuse and provide opportunities for guidance.
Matinicus, Isle au Haut and Frenchboro will be visited aboard Mission vessel Sunbeam by Patrisha McLean, CEO and founder of Finding Our Voices, and Mary Kamradt, the nonprofit’s only paid, full-time staff member. McLean and Kamradt are both survivors of decades of domestic abuse. The trip is part of the Mission’s regular visitation schedule to provide outreach and health services, and is being customized for Finding Our Voices with social gatherings as well as informal visits with island residents.
According to Maine Seacoast Mission, Sunbeam’s steward Siobhan Harrity will host dessert parties on Isle au Haut and Frenchboro where Finding Our Voices literature will be distributed. On Matinicus, the Mission will host a cookout on the wharf with Finding Our Voices providing opportunities for islanders to learn about domestic violence in a casual way in line with the Mission’s guideline of “meeting people where they are.”
Douglas Cornman, director of Island Services for Maine Seacoast Mission, said, “Domestic abuse is aggressively hidden on our islands. These are small communities where everyone knows everyone else’s business, even when you do your best to hide it. By raising awareness and providing avenues for conversation and discussion, communities become more deeply connected and improve mental health in addition to reducing stress, fear, and isolation. The Mission is thankful to Patrisha and Mary for joining us. I hope their presence on the Sunbeam and on our islands might encourage a victim of abuse to find their voice and step forward for support.”
McLean said, “I can’t thank the Seacoast Mission enough for prioritizing domestic abuse as a public health issue on Maine islands, for allowing us to connect with the residents through their beloved and trusted organization, and for putting together a program that is so conducive to conversations.”
The June island trip is part of the Finding Our Voices 15-stop 2024 “Let’s Talk About It” tour, where domestic abuse survivors break the silence of domestic abuse one community and conversation at a time across the state. Other stops include the Common Ground Fair, Botanical Gardens in Boothbay Harbor, Elements bookstore in Biddeford, the Maine Irish Heritage Center in Portland, and two community colleges, a high school, and university. For the complete tour schedule visit https://findingourvoices.net/lets-talk-about-it-tour.
Finding Our Voices marshals survivor voices and experiences to mitigate the financial abuse, isolation, and stigma that trap women and children in domestic abuse. Its trademark domestic abuse-awareness campaign is posters and bookmarks in 100 downtowns that feature the photo portraits of 45 Maine survivors including Gov. Janet T. Mills. The group also offers such peer support as free, online weekly support groups, access to free dental care, a Get Out Stay Out fund, and healing retreats. To learn more visit https://findingourvoices.net/.
Maine Seacoast Mission is rooted in a history of compassionate service and mutual trust and seeks to strengthen coastal and island communities by educating youth, supporting families, and promoting good health. For more information, please visit https://seacoastmission.org.
