RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS

Groups concerned with the educational, political, social and emotional support of persons with specific racial or ethnic identities.

African Immigrants Association
783-4744
afriassociation@yahoo.com
Kader Said
Supporting or providing direct services, stronger community bonds, activities for youth, family well being, and help for seniors whoo are immigrants from Africa.

African International Christian Fellowship--See Spiritual and Religious Groups

Anchor of the Soul
8 Arlington St.
Portland, ME 04101
799-9636 
Karine Odlin, Shoshana Hoose
Produced and distributes a video, "Anchor of the Soul," about Green Memorial AME Zion Church in Portland, the first African-American church in Maine, and the history of African-Americans in the Portland area.

Anikwom Whole Life Center
18 Nepisikwit Dr.
Passadumkeag, ME 04475
827-1400
http://www.anikwom.org
Programs of cultural and spiritual awareness, eldership development, life skills, self-awareness/self esteem, and healing with horse riding to help regain an understanding and practice of Wabanaki ways of life and world views

ASERELA - Action for Self Reliance Association
PO Box 7782
Portland, ME 04112
774-1110
We were founded in 1994 by a group of Sudanese refugees living in Portland and now have over 100 active members.  Our programs include helping newly arrived families learn their way around Portland and teaching our children the traditional Sudanese culture.

Asian-American Heritage Foundation
PO Box 11425
Portland, ME 04104
874-9100 
Grace Valenzuela
We support social, political, health, and economic needs of all Asian-American communities in Maine and assist them in preserving each of their distinctive cultural heritages.  We celebrate May as Asian-Pacific American heritage month with activities and events.

Catholic Charities Maine Refugee and Immigration Services
562 Congress St.
Portland, ME 04101
871-7437  Fax: 871-7465
refugeeinfo@ccmaine.org
www.ccmaine.org
Matthew Ward
Helps to resettle newly arrived refugees in Maine and works to assure the orderly transition of refugees and immigrants to their new community by helping them locate housing, clothing, household goods, employment, and the services they need to adapt to life in this country.

Center for African Heritage
210-1053
A source of information for and about African immigrants in the Portland area.

Chinese and American Friendship Association of Maine--See International

Committee to Restore the Abyssinian
PO Box 11064
Portland, ME 04104
773-4387 
aasina1@hotmail.com
Deborah Khadraoui
Our vision is to restore and preserve the third oldest standing African-American meetinghouse in the US as a museum of African-American life and history in northern New England.

Ethnic Minority Coalition
PO Box 10055
Portland, ME 04104
878-4618 
rezajalali@aol.com
Reza Jalali
We are dedicated to building community support and public awareness about refugees, immigrants and minorities in the Portland area.  We strive to bring different groups together to support one another in realizing their goals and to advocate for their needs.

Festival De Joie--See Art, Music, and Culture

First Light Native American Gathering and Festival--See Art, Music, and Culture

Four Directions Development Corporation--See Economic Development

Franco-American Heritage Center
PO Box 1627
Lewiston, ME 04241
783-1585, 784-9586 fax 777-3906
lionelguay@aol.com, rdube@francoamericanheritage.org
http://www.francoamericanheritage.org
The Center is creating a museum of Franco-American heritage and culture.

Franco-American Women's Initiative--See Women

Friends Committee on Public Policy--See Justice and Legal Rights

Fur Cultural Renewal
c/o Wells Staley-Mays, 48 Salem St.
Portland, ME 04102
774-1110
wells369@hotmail.com
Educating about and working to end the violence in the Darfur region of Sudan.

India Association of Maine
254 Park Ave.
Auburn, ME 04210
783-2946 
asharma@auburnschl.edu
We sponsor get-togethers to preserve Indian culture and celebrate festivals.  We participate in diversity events to enlighten about Indian culture.
Indian Women's Cultural & Resource Organization
65 West St., Indian Island
Old Town, ME 04468
827-4624 
Rose Scribner
Supports women and families through community relations, education, arts, health, job training, career guidance, and cultural resources.

Institute for Practical Democracy--See Youth

John Brown Russwurm African-American Center
7200 College Station, Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME 04011
725-3272 
Harriet Richards
Utilizes a resource library, programs, and events to promote a greater awareness of Black culture and history; home to Bowdoin's Africana Studies program.

Killing Fields Survivors' Society
23 Summer Road
Biddeford, ME 04005
874-7025 
rotha@killing-fields-survivors-society.org
www.killing-fields-survivors-society.org
Rotha Chan
Remembering and archiving the victims of the Killing Fields genocide in Cambodia in the 1970s, supporting healing and trust for survivors, and seeking accountability for perpetrators.  Working on a "Day of Remembrance" in Maine for the Killing Fields.

Konbit Sante/Cap-Haitien Health Partnership
PO Box 11281
Portland, ME 04104
347-6733 fax 347-6734
echeatham@konbitsante.org
http://www.konbitsante.org
A Portland-based group supporting the development of a sustainable health care system to meet the needs of the Cap-Haitien community of Haiti with maximum local direction and support.

La Kermesse Franco-Américaine Festival--See Arts, Music, and Culture

La Revue Riviere/The River Review--See Media and Publications

Language/Cultural Diversity Services--See Education

Le Centre Franco-Américain
5719 Crossland Center #207, Universite du Maine
Orono, ME 04469
581-3764  Fax: 581-1455
labbe@maine.edu
www.francomaine.org, www.farog.org, www.franco-american.org
Yvon Labbe
Statewide advocate for Franco-American heritage in Maine and the US.  Publishes a social-cultural journal, "Le Forum."

League of United Latin American Citizens
169 Ocean St.
South Portland, ME 04106
767-3642 
jconnors@hotmail.com
John Connors
Oldest Hispanic civil rights organization in the US - founded in 1929.  We are the Maine Chapter working on issues such as immigration, worker rights, small business development, affordable mortagages, and history of Hispanics in Maine.

Maine Coalition for Tribal Sovereignty
PO Box 920
Bangor, ME 04402
622-2188, 884-7407
kbmckaig@adelphia.net
To understand and support Native American tribes and their continued rights to self-governance. The group is primarily made up of non-Native people.

Maine Franco-American Genealogical Society
PO Box 2125
Lewiston, ME 04241
begingen@exploremaine.com
http://www.avcnet.org/begin
The society is located in the Father Leo Begin Library at the Great Falls School in Auburn. Its primary goal is to help people discover their family history and culture.

Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance--See Art, Music, and Culture

Maine Indian Tribal-State Commission
PO Box 87
Hallowell, ME 04347
622-4815  Fax: 622-2310
vantage@mint.net
Established by the 1980 Indian Land Claims Settlement, the Commission, made up of Native and non-Native representatives, reviews the effectiveness of the act and the economic/social/legal relationship between the tribes and the state.

Maine Khmer Council
14 Smithville Road
Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064
934-1832 
saniyatv@hotmail.com
Toro Vaun
We work with Cambodians in Maine to connect them to our culture and promote understanding about Cambodian heritage throughout the state.

Mano En Mano Hispanic Family Resource Center
6 N. Main St., PO Box 573
Milbridge, ME 04658
546-3006
donaanais@yahoo.com
Anais Tomeszko
A center for language and culture in Washington/Hancock counties for Spanish speaking people. Offers free English as a Second Language classes; assists local educational, medical, and social service agencies to better serve migrant Hispanic populations. Also provides meeting space, interpretation, educational materials, and training in cultural issues for this population.

Many and One Coalition
PO Box 76
Lewiston, ME 04243
946-4478
http://www.manyandone.org
Created as a response to a white supremacist group coming to Lewiston, the Coalition mobilized about 5,000 people to rally against the white supremacists. The coalition continues to meet to promote diversity and oppose racism in the Lewiston-Auburn area.

Multi-Cultural Programs
5732 Hannibal Hamlin Hall, U/Maine
Orono, ME 04469
581-1425  Fax: 581-4215
yvonne_roland@umit.maine.edu
Yvonne Roland
We promote academic, personal, and social support to the multicultural student populations.  We advocate and educate the larger community regarding issues of diversity and difference.  Affirming cultural diversity in the university community, and empowering multicultural students through active leadership roles and involvement in campus and community.

NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)
PO Box 3631
Portland, ME 04104
874-7028  Fax 776-7324
Moses Sebunya
Working for the civil rights of all people in Maine, particularly African-Americans.

Greater Bangor Area NAACP
PO Box 477
Old Town, ME 04468
827-4493
James Varner

National Coalition Building Institute--See Conflict Resolution and Nonviolence Education

Native American Tribes in Maine
Each of Maine's four Native tribes offers various services to tribal members and information on the nation itself to the public. Such programs include health services, environmental protection, domestic violence intervention, and recycling. Offices listed below:

Aroostook Band of Micmacs (Mi'kmaq)
521 D Main St.
Presque Isle, ME 04769
764-1972  Fax: 764-7667

Houlton Band of Maliseets
RR 3, Box 450
Houlton, ME 04730
532-4273  Fax: 532-2660

Passamaquoddy Nation Government - Indian Township
PO Box 301
Princeton, ME 04668
796-2301  Fax: 796-5256
Tammy Neptune

Passamaquoddy Nation Government - Pleasant Point
PO Box 343
Perry, Me 04667
853-2600  Fax: 853-6039

Penobscot Nation
6 River Rd, Indian Island
Old Town, ME 04468
827-7776 
Betty Kimball

Native Studies Program
5724 Dunn Hall, U/Maine
Orono, ME 04469
581-1417
Maureen Smith
Offers a Native American Studies minor to U/Maine students. Does research and sponsors programs on various aspects of Native life.

Ne-Do-Ba
1093 Main St.
Lewiston, ME 04240
nedoba@adelphia.net
http://www.avcnet.org/ne-do-ba
Promoting the history and culture of the Abenaki people of western Maine.

Nulankeyutomonen Nkihtahkomikumon (We Take Care of Our Land)
PO Box 313
Perry, ME 04667
Mary Bassett, Vera Francis
Passamaquoddy group opposing a liquified natural gas terminal on or near reservation land.

Opportunities: Minority News Network
PO Box 11064
Portland, ME 04104
Leonard Cummings
Publishes The Bridge with news of Maine's African-American community.

Seacoast Martin Luther King Coalition
PO Box 1571
Portsmouth, NH 03802
603-427-0443 
deaconnate@aol.com
Nate Holloway
We promote a holiday in New Hampshire to honor Martin Luther King.  We also educate young people about Martin Luther King and his dream and the future of race relations in this country.

Student Heritage Alliance Center
5732 Hannibal Hamlin Hall, U/Maine
Orono, ME 04469
581-3643
Support Center for U/Maine students of various races, ethnic groups, and cultures.

Tengo Voz (I Have a Voice)
156 High St.
Portland, ME 04101
553-2252
asob45@aol.com
Grassroots group committed to Latina women and their families in the Portland area. Projects include language interpreting, women's groups, cultural support, and services such as jobs, housing, social and economic needs.

True Buddha Society of Maine--See Spiritual and Religious Groups

United Somali Women
79 Main St. #2R
Auburn, ME 04210
795-4065 x2116
Fatuma Hussein
Helping Somali women, especially in the Lewiston-Auburn area, to adjust to a new country and gain rights and opportunities.

Visible Black History
c/o Harriet Price, 290 Baxter Blvd. #B3
Portland, ME 04101
price@javanet.com
Publishing books and producing other resources which chronicle the history of African-Americans in Maine.

Wabanaki Center
5724 Dunn Hall #314, UMO
Orono, ME 04469
581-1417; 581-1432 
www.ume.maine.edu\~NAP\wabanaki.html
Gail Sockabasin
Connects the Wabanaki community and the University of Maine.  Works to preserve Wabanaki language and culture.

Wabanaki Youth Program
PO Box 406
Perry, ME 04667
853-2317 
We work with youth groups in several Wabanaki communities to encourage communication and community involvement, to address issues of racism and violence, and to retain our culture.  A program of the American Friends Service Committee.

Wat Samaki Cambodian Buddhist Temple--See Spiritual and Religious Groups