July 12, 2021
Portland’s restaurant industry should be a place where people can work with dignity
Published in the Portland Press Herald on May 19th, 2021(link to original here) Restaurant series doesn’t represent Portland food workers’ perspective Unsafe conditions and the lack of a living wage and health insurance are driving people away – not reluctance to work. BY KATIE KEATING AND HEATHER FORAN (SMWC Board Co-Chair) In the recent series…
Read MoreMay 4, 2021
T.O.A.S.T Workshop Series: Transformative Organizing And Skills Training
This seven-part series of organizing skills and theory will start on Thursday, May 6th and run every other Thursday from 5:30-7:30pm through July 29th. Workshops will focus on building some of the basic skills needed for community organizing and building grassroots power. The series will be focused on applying skills to SMWC’s practice, but friends…
Read MoreApril 29, 2021
Know Your Rights – Maine’s Earned Paid Leave Law
Conheça seus direitos – disponível em PortuguesConoce tus derechos- Disponible en EspañolConnaissez vos droits: disponible en français What is Earned Paid Leave ?Also known as Public Law 2019 Ch. 156, “An Act Authorizing Earned Employee Leave,” Maine’s Earned Paid Leave law (EPL) went into effect on New Year’s Day 2021, a year and a half…
Read MoreApril 28th, 2021
2021 Annual Meeting: Solidarity Reaches Across the Divide
Solidarity isn’t an abstract noun, it is a real and powerful force that allows us to reach across the divisions that segregate and isolate us all. The movement we commit to would be hollow in the middle without that feeling of solidarity. It sustains us, brings deep meaning to our work, and it means that,…
Read MoreApril 2, 2021
SMWC is hiring an Executive Director! (Extended Deadline)
About the Southern Maine Workers Center The Southern Maine Workers’ Center (SMWC) is a membership organization committed to creating a people-powered movement that improves the lives, working conditions, and terms of employment for working and poor people in Maine— particularly low-wage workers, young people, immigrant workers, and people of color. SMWC conducts transformative grassroots organizing…
Read MoreMarch 23, 2021
Requesting Proposals for Graphic Design Services
The Workers’ Center issues this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for an individual or firm (the “Contractor”) to develop a style guide of colors, fonts, use of logos, use of taglines, etc. Support SMWC in producing guidelines for consistent, coherent look for all our publications & graphics.
Read MoreMarch 10, 2021
Cantastoria Launch (03.26.21)
03/26/21 7:00-8:30 PM Cantastoria is a virtual storytelling event to spark conversation about our co-occurring economic and health crises, and build community-driven solutions. The panels contain painted scenes or imagery that depict history and inspire a hopeful vision for change in a time when many in Maine are suffering from the impacts of the COVID-19…
Read MoreFebruary 4, 2021
The Light You Gave Me
The Southern Maine Workers’ Center is so excited to announce that Ronny Flannery is re-joining our staff as the Joint Committee Organizer starting this week. Ronny worked with us as the Health Care is a Human Right organizer in 2016/17, before moving to California. Ronny brought a lot of skills and gifts as an organizer…
Read MoreJanuary 27, 2021
Big changes at the Workers’ Center
Dear Workers’ Center community, We are excited to announce some bittersweet news and major transitions at the Southern Maine Workers’ Center. After five years serving as our Executive Director, Drew Joy is stepping down to take on another role in the organization. Our former Board Chair Meaghan LaSala will serve as the Interim Executive Director…
Read MoreDecember 17, 2020
SMWC is hiring! Joint Committee Organizer.
Joint Committee Organizer Job Description The Joint Committee Organizer is a permanent (ongoing) staff position with the immediate goal of supporting members in building out our new Joint Committee project through outreach and leadership development. The Joint Organizing Committee is a new project at the Southern Maine Workers’ Center. For years, we have organized campaigns…
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