Stories
Building an economy that works for everyone starts by centering Maine workers and families in the conversation. Go beyond the data and read personal stories Maine workers contributed to our annual State of Working Maine reports.
State of Working Maine 2024: Gains and Gaps in a Strong Economy
Lori
Lori is the owner of a small neighborhood café in Portland. After running the café for 15 years, Lori recently announced to her customers that workforce shortages and the demands of caring for aging family members had led to her decision to close her business.
Click here to read Lori’s story.
Rebekah
Rebekah has worked for the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for 23 years. Her job involves collecting payments from responsible parties when oil and hazardous waste incidents happen in Maine. Rebekah primarily works on cases involving oil leaks and spills, but has also worked on recent highly publicized cases, including the train derailment in Jackman and the PFAS foam spill in Brunswick.
Click here to read Rebekah’s story.
Mary Kate
Mary Kate is a registered nurse working on an interventional cardiology floor of a Southern Maine hospital. After receiving her nursing degree in 2019, she began her career just as the state’s first COVID-19 cases appeared. She helped organize nurses at her hospital to unionize in 2021, and they are now in the second year of their first union contract.
Click here to read Mary Kate’s story.
Kevin
Kevin has worked for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for almost 13 years. As an eligibility specialist, he helps connect vulnerable Mainers with the safety net resources they need. Before becoming a state employee, Kevin served in a similar role in the private sector, helping Mainers facing barriers to entering the workforce find sustainable employment.
Click here to read Kevin’s story.
Closing the Gap: Maine’s Direct Care Shortage and Solutions to Fix It
a.m.k.
a.m.k worked in hospitality before moving in with her 86-year-old mother and taking on her full-time care.
Click here to read a.m.k.’s story.
Emily
Emily has almost 30 years of experience as a certified residential medication aid (CRMA) and direct support professional (DSP), working with adults with developmental disabilities and in assisted living settings.
Click here to read Emily’s story.
Justin
Justin is a direct support professional, mental health rehabilitation technician, certified residential medical aid, and a qualified brain injury specialist with 20 years’ experience.
Click here to read Justin’s story.
Mechelle
Mechelle is a certified nursing assistant (CNA) with 28 years of experience working in home health care, assisted living, and residential care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Click here to read Mechelle’s story.
Stephanie
Stephanie has worked in the field of developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and autism for 31 years. She has worked in day programs and residential care facilities, and now trains other direct support professionals.
Click here to read Stephanie’s story.
State of Working Maine 2023: Boosting Maine's Workforce
Armando
Armando came to Maine in April as an asylum seeker from Angola. He studied finance, banking, and insurance in Angola and is waiting to be able to apply for a work permit. He currently lives in crowded housing in Portland.
Click here to read Armando’s story.
Erin
Erin is a nurse with 22 years of experience in hospital units. For the last 10 years she has worked as a labor and delivery nurse at a central Maine hospital.
Click here to read Erin’s story.
Grace
Grace is an Ed Tech 3 with 15 years’ experience as an educator. She currently works primarily with 1st graders at a Cumberland County school serving students in Pre-K through 2nd grade.
Click here to read Grace’s story.
Jenn
Jenn has 28 years of teaching experience and currently teaches math at a Downeast high school.
Click here to read Jenn’s story.
Jess
Jess is a special education professional with six years of experience supporting children with a diverse range of needs in residential, substantially separate, and public-school settings.
Click here to read Jess’s story.
John
John has had different jobs over the years, working in restaurants, at gas stations, as a technician at a psychiatric hospital, and as a manager of a call center. John is currently working part-time as a delivery driver and seeking a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Click here to read John’s story.
Kennedy
Kennedy is a 4th grade teacher at a Lewiston area school. She has a master’s in educational leadership with a concentration in English language learning and six years’ experience teaching in Maine elementary schools.
Click here to read Kennedy’s story.
Kim
Kim is an Ed Tech 3 with 21 years of experience working in elementary and middle schools in Oxford County. She is currently working with middle school students across four grades and coaches Special Olympics track, skiing, and basketball.
Click here to read Kim’s story.
Marcella
Marcella came to Maine two years ago from Angola. She worked in customer relations at an oil and gas firm back in Angola, and now works as a client coordinator at the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, supporting integration for new Mainers.
Click here to read Marcella’s story.
Shirley
Shirley is a surgical nurse with 28 years of experience, currently working in two rural hospitals in Washington County.
Click here to read Shirley’s story.
Silvio
Silvio came to Maine in July as an asylum seeker from Angola. Unable to find housing, he is currently living in a Portland church while waiting to receive his work permit. His field of expertise is business administration.
Click here to read Silvio’s story.
Tasha
Currently living in income-based housing and receiving assistance through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Tasha is seeking part-time employment and preparing to return to school.
Click here to read Tasha’s story.
State of Working Maine 2022: Recognizing the Value of Labor
Brandi
Working for an international restaurant franchise, Brandi sought to improve staff retention by advocating for better pay and working conditions. When she and her fellow workers tried to unionize, their Augusta franchise was closed.
Click here to read Brandi’s story.
Forrest
Finding little opportunity for advancement in agricultural work, Forrest transitioned to landscaping and hardscaping, and early this year began a new career as a machinist in a midcoast shipbuilding enterprise.
Click here to read Forrest’s story.
Gervin
Gervin arrived in Maine in early 2022, seeking asylum. Although Gervin’s qualifications include a degree in network administration and computer maintenance, laws regarding asylum seekers currently prohibit him from working.
Click here to read Gervin’s story.
Creative Play Childcare
Terri is the owner of Creative Play Childcare in Bath, serving 32 children ages 5 months to 13 years old. Terri has worked in early childhood education for 29 years, and as the owner of Creative Play for 19 years.
Click here to read Creative Play Childcare’s story.
Bouncing Bubbles Child Care
Chrissie has operated nationally accredited Bouncing Bubbles Child Care from her Skowhegan home for 21 years. She independently serves six children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old before, during, and after school hours all year long.
Click here to read Bouncing Bubbles Child Care’s story.
Youth and Family Outreach
Michelle is the program coordinator at Youth and Family Outreach in Portland, a nationally accredited child care center with 15 employees serving 58 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old.
Click here to read Youth and Family Outreach’s story.
Kate
Kate worked in food service in breweries, pubs, and restaurants for 12 years, where it was her primary source of income. She lost her job in a Portland restaurant when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and did not return when service resumed.
