Windham voters to decide outcome of two referendums in November

By Ed Pierce

Several significant issues will be decided by referendum in Windham on Nov. 3 and if passed will have lasting implications for town residents for years to come.

Windham voters will cast ballots on Nov. 3 on two town
referendums. The first changes the way the town budget
is approved and amends the town charter to move from
an Annual Town Meeting to public voting in June on the
budget. The second is to approve or reject issuing 
general obligation bonds of up to $19.5 million to
finance the costs of repurposing Windham Middle School
for use as a community center and moving town offices and
Windham Public Library there. This is an artist's depiction
of the completed project. COURTESY PHOTO 

The first referendum modifies the Windham Town Charter to scrap the annual town meeting on a Saturday in June where the municipal budget is discussed and voted on by residents and instead changes municipal budget approval to a public vote held on Maine Primary Day on the second Tuesday in June. This would coincide with the RSU 14 school budget vote for Windham voters.

Since the town charter was adopted and the town council form of government was put in place in 1975, public participation at the Windham Annual Town meeting has dwindled to around 150 residents out of more than 12,000 registered voters in town over the past two years.

During Windham Town Council meetings for several years, councilors discussed the legal aspects of making a charter change with the town attorney. They learned that to make a change to the charter, an amendment was needed and it is required under Maine law to propose an amendment through a formal process that includes public notice, public hearings, and ultimately a vote by town residents at a regular or special election.

Another alternative for the council would have been to form a charter commission of appointed or elected citizens who would research the existing charter, potentially comparing it to those of other municipalities, and drafting a proposed amendment.

After lengthy discussions, councilors chose to increase public participation voting on the municipal budget through an amendment that moves away from an in-person town meeting to a balloted referendum vote and also raising the threshold requiring voter approval for off‑budget spending from $25,000 to $500,000. Councilors say this would give the council flexibility in presenting either a single up‑or‑down budget vote or departmental line items.

In May, Windham Town Council Vice Chair Bill Reiner said he supports the charter amendment.

“While I love the tradition of the Town Meeting, its method has outlived its usefulness,” Reiner said. “Because of that I fully support the efforts being made by the council to enact the potential for change and the ability to bring this Charter Amendment before the people for their consideration and vote. Lastly, and equally important in my mind, is that this discussion and potential change was initiated by input from the public on how they want the town to operate.”

Reiner said that raising the threshold requiring voter approval for off‑budget spending will allow the council to approve purchases up to a $500,000 limit without going to a town-wide vote for approval.

“This falls in line with surrounding towns,” he said. “The current limit of $25,000 no longer provides for emergency operations or acquisitions in a meaningful way.

Councilors chose to put a ‘Charter Amendment’ method before voters which can be used when a specific existing section of the charter is desired to be changed and the change proposed will not drastically affect the charter in its entirety. 

At this year’s Annual Town meeting in June, Windham Town Council Chair Mark Morrison said that the low participation of voters at the town meeting shows why a charter amendment is needed to change the budget process to a public vote by secret ballot like the annual RSU 14 budget vote every spring to increase participation. 

Those who oppose the charter amendment say that voters are being asked to cast their ballot without full information or fully understanding complex or legal language contained in referendums about what they are voting on.

The other referendum issue that Windham voters will determine in November is whether the town should purchase Windham Middle School for $1 once it is vacant in the fall of 2027 and repurpose the facility into a Community Center and housing town offices and the Windham Public Library there for up to $19.5 million by issuing general obligation bonds for the project.

Repurposing the school for use as a community center, including the costs of design, engineering, professional services, site preparation, construction, renovation, operating costs, and other improvements and furnishings as may be required in connection with the project. The proposal includes appropriating up to $2 million of the town’s fund balance as the Windham Town Council deems reasonable and necessary to reduce the borrowing amount and directly pay for costs of the project.

The existing Windham Middle School building first opened in 1974 and was intended for a capacity of 483 students. That number has grown in the past 52 years to 650 students and some sixth graders being housed for classes at the adjacent Field Allen School, which was built in 1949.

In November 2023, a plurality of voters in the school district, which encompasses Windham and Raymond, approved a referendum to build the new Windham Raymond Middle School with about 77 percent of construction costs paid by the Maine Department of Education’s Major Capital Construction Program. The total project budget to construct the new school is estimated at about $171.5 million, with the state funding $131.7 million of that expense and residents of Windham and Raymond paying the remaining $39.8 million.

As part of the referendum in November 2023 to obtain $131.7 million in state funding for the new middle school, RSU 14 voters agreed that the existing Windham Middle School could not be used as a school again, since the state had already contributed funding for substantial repair costs over decades of the building’s use and the school does not have a fire suppression system.

A 20-member Middle School Repurpose Advisory Committee looked at ways to best use the soon-to-be vacated school building and found that the basic structure of the school was sound and that it offered 80,000 square feet of available space, the committee looked at the existing town buildings with long-term replacement costs and short-term maintenance, parking improvements and repair costs and decided that a number of municipal services could be relocated to the site for a fraction of the cost of renovating or replacing current buildings.

Windham Town Manager Robert Burns says although the benefits of the Windham Middle School Repurposing Project come with a cost, in the long run it will be cost-effective for the town.

He said this proposal would move Town Hall offices there, along with Windham’s Social Services Office, which houses the Windham Food Pantry, the Windham Public Library, Windham’s Medical Loan Closet, and create a Community Center.

“This building represents an opportunity for us to move forward,” Burns said. <

Pat Moody Foundation to hold Second Annual Gala in October

By Matt Pascarella

Last year the Pat Moody Foundation held its first gala to fundraise for youth sports, student athletes and the community. It was such a success that the members of the foundation decided it should be an annual event and the Second annual Pat Moody Foundation Gala will be held in Portland from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Keeley’s Banquet Center.

Members of the Pat Moody Foundation gather during the first
annual gala held at Keeley's Banquet Center in Portland on
Sept. 6, 2025. Shown are Sherma Moody, left, Chad
Pulkkinen, Tyler Graves, George McCrillis, Jedidiah Merrill,
Geoff Grigsby, Tracey Lydon and Todd Hamilton, in the
middle is Jeff Duquette. This October the Pat Moody
Foundation will hold its second annual gala to raise money
to help fund scholarships, youth sports and community
needs. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

“The goal of the gala is to bring awareness to really anyone and everyone that the Foundation exists, what the values of the foundation are, and of course to raise money so it can continue giving back the way it does,” said Volunteer Organizer Ashley Merrill. “The response from everyone afterward was incredible, and that’s when I knew this couldn’t just be a one-time event. Every ticket, sponsorship, auction bid and donation gets us closer – and ultimately allows the foundation to say yes to more people who need it. It’s really just one night that helps make possible the work the foundation and its board are doing throughout the entire year.”

The money raised goes right back into the community. The Pat Moody Foundation awards thousands of dollars in scholarships each year, finds ways to support athletes such as helping with equipment or participation costs. The foundation also steps in when a family is facing a loss or hardship or simply needs someone in their corner.

Something very important to members of the Pat Moody Foundation is that community doesn’t end at Windham’s town lines. They want to be able to reach beyond the immediate community. They want other communities to be involved, both in supporting the foundation, but also to know that the foundation is there to support them.

During last year’s gala, Merrill set a goal of raising $25,000, and that goal was surpassed, as they raised nearly $30,000. They’ve upped the goal and are hoping to raise $35,000 during the Second Pat Moody Foundation Gala.

This year the theme is “After Hours Masquerade – For the Love of the Game.” While there is a lot of meaning behind the night, they also want it to be fun. Dress up. Bring a mask or make one when you get there. Bring your friends. Bid on something you’d absolutely love to have. Laugh. Stay late. Enjoy yourself.

The gala is not just a fundraising opportunity, but a chance to bring people together and to show them what they are actually supporting.

The money raised during last year’s gala was able to help with entry costs into basketball programs, clothing and uniforms for athletes, and the Pat Moody Foundation was able to provide almost $15,000 in scholarships to area seniors who had shown up for their community while excelling in school academics and sports.

“The gala provides an opportunity where the community can gather to have a great evening while supporting the youth and that is something that Pat would have enjoyed,” said Pat Moody Foundation board member Tracey Lydon. “It also gives us all the opportunity to share our individual stories of Pat. We are so excited to see this event coming back for a second year after the support we received last year, and we can’t thank Pat’s friends and the community as a whole enough for all the support.”

Every sponsorship, every auction donation, every ticket sold, every person who bids and even every person who simply shares one of their posts contributes to something much bigger, Lydon said.

“Pat was the type of person who showed up for people,” said Merrill. “This is our opportunity to keep showing up for people in his name. Our sponsors aren’t just putting their logo on a sign. They’re helping fund scholarships, create opportunities and allowing the Foundation to respond when someone needs help. We want our sponsors to feel like partners in what we’re doing, not simply donors.”

If you’d like to support the Foundation, but can’t attend the gala, the Pat Moody Foundation is looking for silent auction and raffle items. Reach out to Merrill or Lydon on the Pat Moody Foundation’s Facebook page.

Tickets are $110 each and can be purchased directly through Merrill or any Pat Moody Foundation board member. They accept cash, check and Venmo. Tickets can be mailed or picked up in person.

Please send Merill an email with any questions about the gala at [email protected] or reach out through the Pat Moody Foundation’s Facebook page. <

In the public eye: RSU 14 Director of Community Connections prepares future community leaders

Editor’s note: This is another in an ongoing series of Windham and Raymond town employee profiles.

By Ed Pierce

Helping students to reach their full potential and pursue their dreams beyond high school, nobody does it better than Lorraine Glowczak.

Lorraine Glowczak is in her sixth 
year as the Director of Community
Connections for RSU 14. She serves
as the Senior Capstone Project
Coordinator and Extended
Learning Opportunity Coordinator
for Windham High School and is
available for other tasks across the
school district. 
SUBMITTED PHOTO  

Now in her sixth year as the Director of Community Connections for RSU 14, Glowczak leads Windham High School’s Senior Capstone Project Coordinator and is the Extended Learning Opportunity Coordinator at Windham High School and other projects across the district.

“I was told once by a fellow colleague that I am a dream maker. And I would have to say that assisting students through the Extended Learning Opportunities to explore and discover their dream jobs is by far the best thing about my job,” Glowczak said. “That, and I love to connect with people from all walks of life, and it's been fun connecting with new people, businesses, and entrepreneurs in this and other surrounding communities.”

In her position, Glowczak engages community members and local businesses in the schools to support student needs by providing opportunities to be involved with the school district in multiple ways. She collaborates with multiple stakeholder groups in productive ways, including administration, teachers, and PTA/PTOs, and she participates in local community networking organizations and community events.

Glowczak also uses print, social media and other communication tools to engage the community with the school system, develops and maintains ongoing relationships with area businesses and nonprofits willing to host students for volunteering, job shadowing, and internships, meets with students and assists them in the process of completing Capstone Project and ELO requirements. As an ELO coordinator, she’s a point-of-contact for ELO students, teachers, and community mentors, internships, and job placements, including follow-up with supervisors and hour documentation. To go with that, she develops curriculum for students receiving elective credit as approved by ELO Team of certified teachers or principals and finds business partners to act as mentors for students for job shadows, internships, and volunteer opportunities.

“The most challenging thing at this point is trying to balance my work between the high school while also meeting the needs of the whole school district,” she said. “The biggest misconception is that I work only for the high school.”

Glowczak grew up in Nortonville, Kansas with a population of about 700 located in the Northeast Corner between Atchison and Topeka in Kansas. She graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a Bachelor of Science degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies and has worked as a substitute teacher, and at several preschools.

“I worked for a STEM Enrichment organization as a workshop, after school program, summer camp, and preschool workshop instructor. I was also an Outreach Coordinator for RSU 14,” she said.

She has a passion for writing and storytelling and that eventually led to her working as the Managing Editor of The Windham Eagle newspaper before she took a position with Be The Influence, a community coalition seeking to eliminate drug misuse in the community.

“My previous job was a work from home job, and I realized that I really enjoyed being with people more,” Glowczak said. “As I was looking for a good fit for me, a friend suggested that I look for jobs as a community connector since she thought I did a good job doing that. So, when this job was announced I applied and was offered the job.”

It turned out to be an excellent fit for her as Glowczak’s congenial disposition and outgoing personality relate well with students and the local businesses she lines up to give students a taste of working in different professions. He businesses are grateful to be able to help and work with her.

“My husband is proud of my position here with the school district and what he loves most about my job is meeting my students at school events,” she said.

According to Glowczak, many people aren’t aware that RSU 14 offers extended Learning Opportunities for students. 

“The public may not know that my position exists and, as a result, they do not know that they can reach out to me for volunteer needs and for job opportunity requests,” she said.

Her most memorable moment of working for RSU 14 so far is difficult for her to pinpoint.

“There are too many moments to share but all those memories pour in each year when the seniors graduate,” Glowczak said. “I've learned so many things but one of the most important things I've learned is that most GEN Z students are more aware, knowledgeable, resilient, and enthusiastic about life than they are given credit for. Each generation offers some important contribution to society, and this generation is no different.” <

Windham Middle School music program brings back mattress fundraiser

By Masha Yurkevich

The music program at the Windham Middle School (WMS) is once again turning an everyday household purchase into an opportunity for students to perform, learn, and compete at an annual music festival. The school band and orchestra program will hold its annual Mattress Fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18 in the Windham Middle School gym.

Windham Middle School's band and orchestra program will
hold its annual Mattress Fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
on Sunday, Oct. 18 in the school gym to help send WMS
student musicians to attend the Trills and Thrills Music
Festival in New Hampshire next spring.
COURTESY IMAGE   

The one-day fundraiser helps raise money to send WMS musicians to the Trills and Thrills Music Festival in Salem, New Hampshire, on the first Thursday in June at no cost to participating students.

Morgan Riley, band and orchestra teacher at Windham Middle School, started the fundraiser four years ago after the COVID-19 pandemic had significantly affected the music program at the school.

“We were recovering from the pandemic decimating our music program,” Riley said.

Once the program had enough students to attend a music festival again, Riley was approached by Custom Fundraising Solutions Maine about holding a mattress fundraiser. With the trip costing approximately $120 to $140 per student, Riley wanted to find a way to avoid placing another financial burden on families.

“For that reason, I agreed to try the Mattress Fundraiser,” Riley said.

Since then, the fundraiser has become a consistent source of financial support for the music program.

According to Riley, it has earned more than $5,000 for the music trip each year and has helped students attend the Trills and Thrills Music Festival for free in recent years. Riley said the fundraiser works well because it is held in a single day and provides a product that eventually needs to be replaced by nearly every household.

“Everyone sleeps on a mattress, and every year a different set of community members need to replace their mattresses,” Riley said.

The WMS gym will be transformed into a full mattress showroom during the fundraiser. Shoppers will be able to try different makes, models and sizes, including name brands such as Purple, Helix, Therapedic, and Beautyrest. After a purchase is made, the mattress can be delivered directly to the home of the customer. Customers can also request to have their old mattress removed.

At the festival, WMS seventh and eighth grade band and orchestra students perform for judges, who are often college music professors or retired band and orchestra teachers. Students receive specific feedback on their performances and receive a rating of “Good,” “Excellent” or “Superior.” Windham students have earned the highest rating, “Superior,” in two of the past three years.

The festival also gives students the chance to watch other student groups perform before spending the remainder of the day at Canobie Lake Park. Riley said the experience gives students an opportunity to prepare and perform for professionals while receiving feedback they can use to improve their musical skills.

The Trills and Thrills festival also provides a team-building experience for the students, Riley said.

The program is already preparing for its next festival. Students are currently working on musical fundamentals and have begun preparing pieces for their winter program. In January, they will begin working on pieces for the festival and spring concerts.

This year, the Windham High School band and orchestra will also attend the festival for the first time, expanding the experience beyond the middle school program. 

Students and their parents also help promote the fundraiser through word of mouth, texts, emails and social media. Students participate on the day of the sale as well, helping to attract attention to the event from the street. Riley encourages community members to support the fundraiser even if they do not have a child in the music program.

“Supporting the music program takes our full community and we are so thankful,” Riley said.

For Riley, the value of the festival extends beyond the ratings students receive. During the festival last year, both the band and orchestra received 'Excellent' ratings. Although students were disappointed after earning 'Superior' ratings during the previous two years, Riley said the experience provided an opportunity to listen to the judge’s comments, learn from them and use that feedback to improve.

More information about the Mattress Fundraiser is available through the Windham High School/Middle School Music Mattress Sale Fundraiser event on Facebook. <

Candidate list complete for Nov. 3 election in Windham and Raymond

By Ed Pierce

With a little more than seven weeks remaining until Election Day on Nov. 3, the town clerks in Windham and Raymond have finalized the list of candidates who will be appearing on the ballot for municipal, legislative and school board races.

Four candidates are vying for two positions on the RSU 14
Board of Directors in the Nov. 3 General Election. From 
left are Megan Potter, Marge Govoni, Joe Kellner and
Adam Zajac. FILE PHOTOS 

Four candidates are vying for two positions and three-year terms serving on the RSU 14 Board of Directors representing Windham.

According to Windham Town Clerk Anthony Blasi, of the four candidates submitting paperwork to run in the RSU Board of Directors election, incumbents Marge Govoni and Joe Kellner are seeking re-election while candidates Megan Potter and Adam Zajac are seeking seats on the school board.

Govoni has served on the school board off and on since 2008 and is a retired manager from Textron Inc. Kellner is the Chief Executive Officer of LifeFlight of Maine and formerly served as Vice President of Finance for Northern Light Home Care and Hospice. Potter and Zajac also were candidates for school board seats in 2023. Potter is VA Team Lead at Jackson and MacNichol while Zajac is a business owner in Windham.

Barring a massive write-in campaign, two candidates will be elected to serve three-year terms on the Windham Town Council on Nov. 3. Incumbent Mark Morrison, who had been serving as an at-large town councilor, will vacate his at-large position but instead has submitted paperwork to run for the town council position representing Windham’s East district. Brett Jones had been serving as the East district councilor, but Blasi said that he did not file paperwork seeking re-election for another term. Mark Cobb has submitted paperwork to run for a three-year term for an at-large position on the council. Both Morrison and Cobb own businesses in Windham and are unopposed on the ballot in November.

The RSU 14 Board of Directors and Windham Town Council seats are non-partisan positions.

Following the primary elections held on June 9, the Maine Secretary of State has placed the following legislative candidates for positions representing Windham and Raymond on the Nov. 3 General election ballot:

For Maine State Senate District 26 representing Casco, Frye Island, Raymond, Windham and part of Westbrook, the candidates are incumbent Democrat Tim Nangle of Windham and Republican challenger Kenneth Cianchette of Windham. Nangle, a retired paramedic and former Windham Town Councilor, is seeking a third term as state senator while Cianchette, who owns and operates Erik’s Church country music bar and restaurant in Windham, is making his second run for the position.

For Maine House of Representatives District 86 representing Casco, Frye Island, part of Poland and Raymond, the candidates are incumbent Republican Rolf Olsen of Raymond and Democrat challenger Abigail Geer of Raymond. Olsen is a retired insurance agent and former member of the Raymond Select Board who is seeking a second term in the state legislature. His opponent Geer has worked as a private school administrator and is a previous candidate for the Raymond Select Board.

For Maine House of Representatives District 106 representing part of Windham, the candidates are incumbent Republican Barbara Bagshaw of Windham and Democrat challenger Bradley Youngs of Windham. Bagshaw, a retired art teacher, is seeking a third term in the state legislature. Youngs, a school volunteer, previously ran for a RSU 14 Board of Directors position.

For Maine House of Representatives District 107 representing part of Windham, the candidates are incumbent Republican Mark Cooper of Windham and Democrat challenger Joseph Campbell of Windham. Cooper owns a farm in Windham along with a family construction business called L C Cooper Co Inc. and is seeking a second term in the state legislature. Campbell is a long-term Substitute at Gray/New Gloucester High School and a graduate student at the University of Maine, and he previously was a candidate for the Windham Town Council.

Candidate interviews and their positions on the issues will appear in the Oct. 16 and Oct. 23 editions of The Windham Eagle prior to the election. <      

Annual charity golf tournament to benefit Pat Moody Foundation

By Masha Yurkevich

A local charity golf tournament will return this month with a goal of raising money for the Pat Moody Foundation, an organization created to support local youth sports in honor of a longtime Windham sports supporter and late resident. The fourth annual charity golf tournament, organized by Windham resident and restaurant owner Kenneth Cianchette, will take place Monday, Sept. 21 with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. at Point Sebago in Casco.

The Fourth Annual Charity Golf Tournament organized by
Kenneth Cianchette, will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 21
at Point Sebago in Casco and proceeds benefit The Pat
Moody Foundation. COURTESY PHOTO   

The event is a private tournament that Cianchette organizes each year, with the beneficiary rotating among local organizations. This year, proceeds will support The Pat Moody Foundation. The foundation was established about two years ago following the death of Moody, who Cianchette described as a highly respected, longtime Windham resident and avid supporter of local youth sports, particularly basketball.

The foundation was established in the name of Moody to support local high school and youth athletic programs, with an emphasis on basketball. Cianchette said the work of the Pat Moody organization directly benefits the community.

Moody was involved in Windham youth sports well beyond the basketball court. He spent more than 30 years involved with local community programs, including 15 years as director of the Windham Youth Basketball Association and time as chairman of the Windham Recreation Advisory Board and Windham Community Center Exploratory Committee. He also volunteered with XLP Basketball, a program that helps make AAU basketball more accessible to young athletes.

His commitment to providing local children with places to play was especially visible through his work on basketball facilities in Windham. Moody played a key role in getting the Windham outdoor basketball courts built, which were named the Patrick Moody Basketball Courts in his honor in 2024. He also built a half-court basketball facility on his own property, giving local players a place to practice during the Maine winters.

The foundation created in his memory has continued that work. In 2025, it awarded its first scholarship to a Windham High School student-athlete and has since continued supporting young athletes and youth programs in Windham and surrounding communities.

The golf tournament this year will feature a traditional charity golf format, with teams competing throughout the day and participating in various activities designed to make the event enjoyable while raising money for the foundation.

The tournament still has team spots and hole sponsorships available and tickets can be purchased online through Sept. 14. Direct donations can be made online through Sept. 21. The link to buy tickets or make a donation can be found at: EriksChurch.com or on eventbrite.

One hundred percent of the profits from the tournament will go directly to the foundation.

“We are hoping to raise anywhere from $7,000 to $10,000 for The Pat Moody Foundation, and to continue to spread awareness of the foundation, and the good work that it does,” Cianchette said.

The tournament is part of an annual effort by Cianchette to support different local causes. Each year, he selects an organization that he believes could benefit from additional financial support and fundraising assistance. The first tournament benefitted the Windham Veterans Center. The second supported the Walk a Mile in Their Shoes Foundation, while the third raised money for the RSU 14 Backpack Program. 

Cianchette said the goal is to create awareness for local organizations in addition to raising money.

“We do it every fall and try to figure out ways to give a little added revenue to a local organization, just to give them a little boost for their next year,” he said.

The beneficiary this year was a personal choice for Cianchette, who said Moody was a friend.

“Pat Moody was a friend, and his foundation has done amazing work, and it is directly contributing to the community,” he said. “I would say anybody that knew or supported Pat, and supports the foundation named in his honor, should consider playing or sponsoring an event.”

The golf tournament represents four years of an effort to bring the community together while supporting organizations that are serving local residents, and this year, Cianchette says he hopes that support will help continue Pat Moody’s legacy of giving back to the community through youth athletics. <

Goodwill launches new program to strengthen behavioral health services in New England

Goodwill Northern New England has launched Healthy Communities AmeriCorps (HCA), a new program designed to expand access to substance use recovery and youth mental health services in rural communities and communities experiencing concentrated poverty across Maine and New Hampshire.

Through the program, 40 AmeriCorps members will serve with public agencies and community-based organizations, helping increase access to evidence-based behavioral health interventions for underserved populations while strengthening the capacity of local organizations.

"Healthy Communities AmeriCorps is about strengthening communities today while building the behavioral health workforce of tomorrow," said Steve Niles, Director of AmeriCorps Programs at Goodwill Northern New England. "Our members will help expand access to substance use recovery and youth mental health services in communities that need them most while gaining hands-on experience that prepares them for careers in behavioral health.”

The Healthy Communities AmeriCorps program builds on the success of Goodwill NNE's Public Health AmeriCorps program and focuses specifically on improving behavioral health outcomes through partnerships with substance use recovery providers, youth-serving organizations, after-school programs, rural behavioral health providers, and other community organizations.

"Healthy Communities AmeriCorps represents an important investment in the health and well-being of our communities," Niles said. "By placing AmeriCorps members with organizations already doing vital work, we’re helping expand services for people who need them most while preparing the next generation of behavioral health professionals.”

Over the first year of the program, AmeriCorps members will implement evidence-based behavioral health interventions designed to improve substance use recovery and youth mental health outcomes. Members will serve with 15 partner organizations, helping those agencies increase their capacity to provide critical services and support to vulnerable populations.

In addition to direct service, Healthy Communities AmeriCorps members will recruit and engage 75 volunteers who will support the implementation of evidence-based behavioral health interventions across participating communities.

Members will gain valuable hands-on experience and training in behavioral health services throughout their terms of service, helping prepare them for careers in the behavioral health workforce upon completion of the program.

Healthy Communities AmeriCorps is supported by a federal AmeriCorps investment of $507,250, along with $15,218 in public funding and $60,873 in private funding to support program operations and community impact.

The program reflects Goodwill NNE's ongoing commitment to strengthening communities through service, workforce development, and partnerships that address critical local needs. By expanding the capacity of organizations working in substance use recovery and youth mental health, Healthy Communities AmeriCorps aims to improve long-term health outcomes in communities that often face barriers to accessing behavioral health services.

To learn more about Goodwill NNE AmeriCorps programs, visit goodwillnne.org/programs/americorps or visit linktr.ee/goodwillamericorps <