YOUTH IMMERSION CONSTRUCTION ACADEMY GRADUATES

RECEIVE STIPENDS FROM MACHIAS SAVINGS BANK INVESTMENT

Pictured are the students who received the stipends at the Construction Academy graduation and their Region Two instructor.

Community Action in Aroostook, Washington and Hancock Counties (CAAWHC) received funding to provide $800 stipends to students who successfully completed the Construction Academy at Region Two School of Applied Technology in Houlton. The stipends were made possible through a $15,000 grant from Machias Savings Bank.

“We are so grateful to Machias Savings Bank for supporting our workforce development proposal and investing in the next generation of skilled trades professionals,” said Chief Program Officer Heidi Rackliffe.

The stipend each student received helped to offset barriers to participation and encourage successful completion of the program. This investment not only supported students in achieving their training goals but also strengthened Maine’s construction workforce by helping young people enter high-demand careers in the trades.

The Youth Immersion Program Construction Academy at Region Two provides high school students with a unique opportunity to explore rewarding careers in the construction trades through hands-on learning and industry-based experiences. As part of the Maine Construction Academy initiative, the program introduces students to a variety of construction skills, including workplace safety, tool usage, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and other building trades while helping them earn valuable certifications such as OSHA 10 and CPR. Students work directly with experienced instructors and industry professionals, gaining practical knowledge, developing employability skills, and building connections with local employers and post-secondary training programs.

CAAWHC Family Coach Mary Duff is already looking to the future. The success of this initiative continues to grow,” says Duff. “We look forward to celebrating an additional 10 graduates in a few months from another Construction Academy already underway in Caribou.” 

STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR A FREE BACKPACK!

Backpacks are available to students living in Aroostook County in grades K-12 for the 2026-2027 school year. The child or their household must be receiving at least one of the following benefits to be eligible: MaineCare, Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) or SNAP.

Complete the registration here.

Free backpacks are available on a first come first serve basis with a limited amount available.

COMMUNITY IN ACTION BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

With Community Action in Aroostook, Washington and Hancock Counties having expanded to cover a three-county region, our Governance Board has increased from a 21-member board to a 30-member board with representation from all three counties and a unique understanding of each county's needs. The Board Member Spotlight offers an opportunity to introduce each board member and highlight the strengths and experience they bring to our agency.

Board Member Jo Cooper's current occupation reads "retired," but it turns out that doesn't mean anything regarding her level of involvement in the community. Currently, Cooper is a Town of Lamoine selectboard member, Chair of the Lamoine Committee on Aging, an Ellsworth Rotary Club member, a member of the Lamoine Historical Society and St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church in Ellsworth. She also works part-time as a manager for Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry and is a board member for Northern Light Health and Hospice, Hancock County Homes, and board president for the National Volunteer Caregivers Network.

Cooper's past work experiences include working in her family's small manufacturing company in Mount Desert Island and Orland and founding a nonprofit organization to assist aging and disabled people with essential needs, primarily transportation. She holds a B.A. in medieval studies from Wellesley College and an MLitt (Master of Letters) in medieval Scottish history from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. When she is not involved in her various community interests, Cooper enjoys beekeeping, gardening, hiking, walking, and knitting.

AUGUST'S "COMMUNITY IN ACTION" FEATURE INTERVIEW

HIGHLIGHTS THE AGENCY-WIDE STRATEGIC PLAN AND... WE'RE TALKING WITH A KEY COMMUNITY PARTNER ON RECOVERY PROGRAMS DOWNEAST ON THIS WEEK'S

"COMMUNITY IN ACTION" WEEKLY RADIO SEGMENT

COMMUNITY ACTION CELEBRATES WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK

As a provider of WIC in Aroostook County, Community Action in Aroostook, Washington and Hancock Counties (CAAWHC) joins WIC providers across the nation and professional health organizations and breastfeeding advocates around the world in celebrating World Breastfeeding Week August 1–7 to help raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding; to strengthen individual, family, and community support for breastfeeding; and to support increased breastfeeding rates.

To learn more about the benefits of breastfeeding or how WIC helps to support families with young children, contact your local WIC provider.

• Aroostook County: (207) 764-3721
• Washington and Hancock County (207) 667-5304

Spotlight positions available:

• Community Educator, Aroostook County
• Health Assistant (on call/per diem), Friendship Cottage, Blue Hill
• Various Early Care and Education positions available in all three counties

See the full list of current openings on our website.

SNAPSHOT OF THE WEEK

Participants in the Peter Yarrow Invitational Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit Friendship Cottage gathered at the Blue Hill Country Club on Wednesday evening, July 29 for a welcome reception. Pictured above (from left to right) are Golf Tournament Organizer Noel "Paul" Stookey, Friendship Cottage Program Coordinator Anne Ossanna, Friends of Friendship Cottage Member Ben Wootten, and CAAWHC CEO Jason Parent. Additional details about the tournament, including winners, will be provided in a future edition.

Your feedback is important to us! Please tell us about your experience with our programs, services, and/or staff.