PORTLAND – The John T. Gorman Foundation has announced the fifth class of the John T. Gorman Fellowship, a group of 14 exceptional public- and private-sector leaders from across Maine. Through a yearlong program of leadership development, coaching, and peer support, the Fellowship is designed to strengthen the ability of leaders to impact systems change at a policy and practice level.
“We are thrilled to bring this group of leaders together for the fifth cohort of the John T. Gorman Fellowship. Coming from all corners of Maine and representing diverse backgrounds, they have all demonstrated an incredible commitment to strengthening the well-being of children and families,” said John T. Gorman Foundation President & CEO Nicole Witherbee. “Over the next year, this Fellowship will deepen their impact by giving them opportunities for collaboration, new ways of approaching their work, and the leadership resources needed to drive others toward achieving measurable results for Maine children and families.”
Since the program’s launch in 2015, four cohorts – totaling 42 leaders from the nonprofit, advocacy, and government sectors – have completed the Fellowship. This fifth cohort of Fellows will be the first of its kind for the program, with participants coming from organizations focused on strengthening the well-being of children and families. Together and individually, they will work to make a measurable contribution to improving the lives of children and their families.
The 2024 Fellows are listed below. Full bios are available online.
• Mariette Aborn, Special Projects Manager, Child and Family Well-Being at Maine Department of Health and Human Services
• Jessica Berry, Assistant Superintendent & Director of Special Education, St George Municipal School Unit
• Matthew Dana II, Working Communities Challenge Director, Sunrise County Economic Council
• Genevieve Doughty, Co-Director, Sipayik Resilience Committee
• Michelle Ferris, Chief Operations Officer, Aroostook Mental Health Center
• Dara Fruchter, Strategic Initiatives and Special Projects Manager, Child Development Services, Maine Department of Education
• Melissa Hackett, Policy Associate, Maine Children’s Alliance
• Alicia Jalbert, Manager of Community Partnerships, The Roux Institute at Northeastern University
• Mara Robinov-Moorhead, CEO, Girl Scouts of Maine
• Abdulkerim Said, Consultant, MaineHealth
• Marsha Sloan, Project Director, Family Futures Downeast
• Julia Sleeper-Whiting, Executive Director, Tree Street Youth
• Renee Whitley, Executive Director, Franklin County Children’s Task Force
• Caroline Zimmerman, Director, Child and Family Health, MaineHealth
The John T. Gorman Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Maine, with a mission to make Maine a more equitable place where all children and families can thrive. This focus reflects the recognition of our founder Tom Gorman that his personal success and achievement were largely derived from the support provided to him by his family and community, as well as his desire to provide those with fewer advantages opportunities to succeed. More information available at www.jtgfoundation.org.
