UMA March 17 forum will focus on poverty in Maine

AUGUSTA — The University of Maine at Augusta College of Arts and Science and the UMA Senior College will present, as part of its Forum on the Future series, a panel discussion titled _“_Poverty in Maine: How Can We Help?” at Jewett Hall, UMA’s Augusta campus, 46 University Drive, Sunday, March 17. (If necessary, snow date will be March 31.) The forum is free and open to the public.

The panel discussion will begin at 2 p.m. with a refreshment break, followed by a question and answer period until 4 p.m. UMASC Forums on the Future are intended to be presentations of information and ideas, and not a debate. This presentation seeks to provide attendees with insight into problems faced by those living in poverty, as well as a better understanding of the programs that support individuals to attain independence, and how the public can support these programs. Speakers will include:
Karen Wyman, Education and Legal Advocacy Coordinator for the nonprofit Maine Equal Justice Program, focusing upon many issues affecting people’s daily lives. As part of an organization comprised of leading experts in the state on federal and state policies for Maine’s anti-poverty programs Wyman will speak about the functions of her program as well as how the public can offer support.
Cheryl Golek, one of the founders of the Vicarage by the Sea, a long-term alternative care home for those who have dementia. A dementia care specialist with a certificate in social gerontology, Golek is a bold political advocate. Her early life was marked by poverty, and this informs her understanding of the economic realities Mainers face and a desire to find real solutions to poverty. She is a member of MEJP’s Circle, a project of Maine Equal Justice supporting Mainers, who have experienced poverty, to develop leadership and advocacy skills.
Susan Emmerling is a family servicescoordinator with Head Start in Maine, where she has been employed for 40 years and brings a wealth of experience from that program. She works with families of all ages (including grandparents raising grandchildren) helping them find appropriate resources according to the family’s own goals, linking them to health care options and even providing transportation at times to appointments, such as doctors and dentists.
Penny Higgins, Ed.D, R.N., will moderate the forum. Her past experience in nursing education includes working with both patients and students from communities with diverse characteristics.
For more information about UMASC and its other activities, call 207-621-3551 or email umasc@maine.edu or visit www.umasc.org/.