Tree Street Youth announces new advisory council, members

LEWISTON — Tree Street Youth, 144 Howe St., has formed a new advisory council and named 12 individuals to positions on the council. The role of the council is to support the youth organization’s mission and advocate for Tree Street programming in the greater community.

According to Paula Marcus-Platz, chairwoman of the organization’s board of directors, “We have a diverse and committed board that is responsible for governing the organization. Now we have 11 new energetic thought leaders on our newly-formed advisory council. These Mainers recognize the uniqueness of Tree Street’s successful youth development model and the impact it can have on education and workforce development in Lewiston-Auburn and the state of Maine.”
“Tree Street Youth recently completed all goals of our last three-year strategic plan — including surpassing our capital campaign fundraising goals. We are approaching a new stage of development focused on how to share our accomplishments and successes beyond the walls of the center,” says Marcus-Platz. “This council will be a catalyst for our new strategic direction.”
Named to the advisory council are:
* Yellow Light Breen, Maine Development Foundation * Edmund Cervone, Educate ME * Tae Chong, Catholic Charities * Erin Cinelli, Emanuel and Pauline A. Lerner Foundation * Rebecca Swanson Conrad, LA Metro Chamber of Commerce * Glenn Cummings, University of Southern Maine * Ken Grady, IDEXX * Charles Lawton, Economist * Colleen Quint, Alfond Scholarship Foundation * Bill Webster, Lewiston Schools * Nate Wildes, Live and Work in Maine * Jean Mattimore, Androscoggin Bank
Founded in 2011 by two Bates College alumnae, Tree Street Youth grew from a local homework help program to its present mission supporting the youth of Lewiston-Auburn through programs rooted in academics, the arts and athletics in a safe space that encourages healthy physical, social, emotional and academic development while building unity across lines of difference. Tree Street Youth Center recently completed a major $1.3 million expansion.
For more information, follow on Facebook, visit treestreetyouth.org or call Executive Director Julia Sleeper, 207-577-6386.