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LEWISTON City officials adopted next year’s $50.1 million municipal budget Tuesday, following lengthy discussions over its impact to the property tax rate and new positions like a Human Resources equity and diversity specialist.
While the City Council turned down the proposed school budget Tuesday, postponing a citywide referendum, the council voted 5-2 to approve the municipal budget.
Among the last-minute items debated Tuesday was the inclusion of a Human Resources position that would be tasked with developing a workforce representative of the demographics of the city, one of the main recommendations stemming from the Equity and Diversity Committee earlier this year.
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In addition, the mayor said the panel should “make recommendations to city and school elected officials and staff on policies, practices and procedural changes that will ensure measurable reductions in poverty in Lewiston.”
Cayer said the city and schools spend millions of dollars annually to reduce the symptoms of poverty. Reducing it, he has often said, would help everybody.
“Everyone in this community, whether a CEO making six figures or a family barely getting by, brings value to our community, and we are seeking a collaborative effort to reduce poverty,” he said in a prepared statement. “Building a community that allows every member to thrive is what improves our well-being.”
A college psychotherapist helps students understand that it’s OK
not to be OK. A Post & Print supervisor helps make sure each arriving package gets to the right students. A COVID-19 contact tracing director helps students feel comfortable in the face of quarantine.
Whether students are feeling down, or need help getting their feet back on the ground, they get the support they need among the Bates staff, whose work helps position students for success in their work with the equally talented and devoted Bates faculty.
Each week for the next six weeks, we’ll share three portraits of Bates staff members who’ve responded to the needs of our students during a time of crisis. Totaling 21 staffers, from 19 different college offices, these Bates people rise to the challenge when students need somebody not just anybody.
Continuing the celebration: Local change-makers
Carrie Rosingana
Last week, I shared the stories and impact of innovators who are working every day to increase equity and build systems of inclusion in our state and region. As Black History Month comes to a close, I would like to continue to celebrate the work of Black innovators and professionals who have integrally shaped the community we live, work and learn in.
Starting off with change-maker Dr. Tonya Bailey, who has been Lansing Community College’s chief diversity officer for more than two years. Her work at LCC and previous positions at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan-Flint is deeply integral to making our educational institutions diverse, equitable and inclusive.
Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Today we bring you a panel discussion, “Being Black in Maine: Lived Experience and the Prospect for Change”, recorded on MLK Day 2021 via zoom. The speakers were Daryl Fort, leadership development consultant (moderator)’ Tonya Bailey-Curry, Clinical Social Worker at Bates College; Nancy Dymond, SAD 22 educator; Madison “Madi” Hemingway, UMaine Student; Ricky Hall, USDA/NRCS Civil Engineering Technician; and Tessa Solomon, UMaine student. The event was cosponsored by the UMaine Alumni Association and the Bangor Area Chapter of the NAACP
This recording was lightly edited to address audio quality issues in place.
About the host:
Amy Browne started out at WERU as a volunteer news & public affairs producer in 2000, co-hosting/co-producing