Common Cents 2024 Nominees

1. Atlantic Challenge USA keeps traditional maritime skills alive through community rowing, sail training, coastal camping expeditions, and participation in international Contests of Seamanship. Our aim since 1986 is to provide experiences for personal development, community building, seamanship skills, and a connection to maritime heritage through building, rowing, and sailing traditional wooden boats, primarily Bantry Bay gigs. The 2024 International Contest will be held in Belfast, Maine in July of 2024.

2. The mission of Belfast Flying Shoes is to bolster the spirited dance and music community in Midcoast Maine. According to our bylaws, the purpose of our nonprofit public benefit corporation is to promote the presentation, preservation, perpetuation, participatory enjoyment, and continuing evolution of traditional folk dance and music.

3. The Belfast Historical Society and Museum is dedicated to the collection, conservation, preservation, and interpretation of artifacts relevant to Belfast history. Visitors to the Museum will enjoy vintage photographs, maps, postcard collections, and interpretive displays. An extensive archive and library are available for research.

4. Belfast Public Health Nursing Association has been providing health care and other critical support services to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members of our community for over one hundred years.

5. Belfast Senior College provides a diverse curriculum of programs, classes, and special events for those 50 years and older. They are an all-volunteer, non-profit educational organization dedicated to life-long learning. Their members volunteer to teach courses and make presentations about topics they have experience with or are interested in.

6. But Still I Am One is providing services to young adults ages 16 to 21 who are unhoused or home-insecure in Waldo County. They are a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit, and their vision is to one day be able to provide them a safe haven. A place that they can call their home!

7. The Carver Memorial Library is deeply engaged in educating and empowering the residents of Waldo County to learn about, participate in, and improve equitable access to local food throughout the entire year. Access to information is the core mission of public libraries, which exist to offer resources equitably and efficiently to enrich the entire community.

8. Coastal Mountains Land Trust permanently conserves land for the benefit of the natural and human communities of the western Penobscot Bay region.

9. The Coastal Recovery Community Center (CRCC) seeks to provide a safe, welcoming environment where people who are in recovery from substance use disorder can find information, resources, support, fellowship, and hope at any point in their journey to wellness. Trained recovery coaches help those seeking support, in a place where everyone is respected, appreciated, and listened to. Recovery coaches assist recoveries in finding and accessing existing community services and provide support to their families and anyone affected by substance use disorders.

10. Come Boating is a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to create educational boating-related (rowing) activities that preserve & broaden the maritime heritage shared by the Belfast area community & strengthen our connection to the sea. We offer rowing for all levels from novice to racing. We’re committed to bringing people together to enjoy beautiful Belfast Harbor safely & have fun.

11. The Ecology Learning Center is a publicly funded charter high school in Unity, Maine. Our mission is to deeply root students in Maine’s ecological & cultural landscapes, foster authentic real-world learning through mentorship & craft, and cultivate compassionate and resilient leaders prepared to engage in the challenges of today & tomorrow. We welcome and celebrate students of all skills and backgrounds.

12. The mission of Family Promise of MidCoast Maine is to help families without housing and families who struggle with impending housing loss to achieve their housing goals through a community-based response.

13. The Farwell Project’s plan is to create a Storytelling Museum and Store that encompasses the general store, mill, apothecary, and the collections of artifacts they unearth in their work. A primary goal is to include local communities in the work as much as possible, to impart the skills and produce items to be sold in the Museum Store.

14. Finding Our Voices are survivors of domestic abuse mitigating the economic abuse, isolation, and shame that are the barriers to safety and freedom for Maine sisters. They do this through bold public awareness campaigns and programs including financial assistance and pro bono dental care. By gathering and amplifying survivor voices, we galvanize action toward more safety, rights, services, and justice for Maine women and children.

15. Friends of Belfast Parks is a membership-driven, volunteer-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, continued improvement, and respectful use of our local parks and green spaces. Membership is open to anyone who has an interest in our local parks and a desire to help protect and improve them for future generations. We heartily welcome new members and hope you will consider becoming a member. The annual membership fee is quite nominal, but the rewards are immense!

16. Friends of Haystack Mountain is a group of local citizens organized to protect Haystack Mountain in Liberty, Maine.

17. The Katahdin Learning Project is a place-based learning program in the Katahdin region offering a variety of programs to nurture connections between learners and land in Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and the surrounding communities. Programs vary through the seasons and include lessons and activities in the national monument, outdoor learning at local schools, place-based and service-learning projects, trail crew opportunities, and teacher professional development.

18. GreenStreets! is a community group that plants, protects, cares for, and advocates for trees in Belfast Maine.

19. Habitat for Humanity of Waldo County (HFHWC) is a local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Our mission is to build strength, stability, self-reliance, and shelter in partnership with low-income residents of Waldo County. In addition, HFHWC shares a mission with other worldwide affiliates which “seek to put God’s love into action that brings people together to build homes, hope, and a sense of community”.

20. Jobs for Maine’s Graduates serves more than 12,000 students with programs in all 16 Maine counties. JMG partners with public education and private businesses to offer results-driven solutions and a continuum of support to ensure all Maine students graduate, attain post-secondary credentials, and pursue meaningful careers.

21. The Lincolnville Community Library in Lincolnville, Maine is the heart of the community, connecting neighbors, providing resources, and fostering lifelong learning.

22. Maine Coast Animal Rescue is a private, non-profit, kennel-free organization, female-owned and run. Their aim is a world where every four-legged friend has a chance at a safe, healthy, loving life.

23. Maine Search And Rescue Dogs (MESARD), founded in 1983, is a non-profit, all-volunteer K9 Search and Rescue group in Maine that supports search missions conducted by the Maine Warden Service, State Police, and other law enforcement agencies across Maine. A MESARD team consists of a K9 handler and a search dog that has completed extensive training and passed certifications. All MESARD teams comply with the Maine Association for Search and Rescue standards.

24. Maine Youth Power is an inclusive movement of young Mainers working in solidarity for human dignity, access, and a livable future by building power across rural and suburban Maine.

25. Marine Mammals of Maine responds to stranded marine mammals and sea turtles in southern and midcoast Maine, cares for sick, injured, and abandoned seals from all over New England, studies East Coast marine mammal populations, and educates about global marine mammal conservation.

26. Out in the Open connects rural LGBTQ+ people to build community, visibility, knowledge, and power. They are a 501(c)3 nonprofit supported by donations, volunteers, and foundations.

27. PAWS mission is to provide care for homeless dogs and cats until they can be placed in permanent, responsible homes while promoting humane values in our community through outreach and educational programs.

28. Pay It Forward for Kids is a 501(3)c organization located in Waldo County Maine. They are a local resource collaborating efforts with state and local family organizations to help children live fuller, happier, more enriching lives.

29. Peace Ridge Sanctuary’s mission is to provide permanent sanctuary to once-abused and neglected animals, with a particular focus on farmed animals. We also promote compassionate lifestyle choices through humane education.

30. Founded in Belfast, Maine, the Penobscot Bay Singers have been performing throughout the midcoast Maine area for the past 50 years, bringing fine choral music to many communities. Members gather weekly from Waldo and Knox Counties throughout the season to rehearse in preparation for winter, spring, and early summer (pops) concerts.

31. Rock Coast Roller Derby is Midcoast Maine’s one and only roller derby league. We are a skater-owned, volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 2011. We have been proud members of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) since 2014.

32. Sweetser is a behavioral health nonprofit that provides evidence-based treatment, support and hope through a statewide network of community-based mental health, recovery, and educational services.

33. The Healing Garden is dedicated to community-centered, conscious healing modalities in a beautiful natural environment. We are an economic incubator, as we provide a connection hub between healers & holistic practitioners and those in need of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing.

34. The Soap Closet provides personal hygiene products to low-income individuals, families, children, and seniors in Waldo County. These are items that cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits such as dish soap, laundry detergent, deodorant, hand soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, and feminine hygiene products.

35. The Waldo County Humane Society was founded in 1895 to protect children and animals. The Waldo County Humane Society is a 501c3 organization.

36. Waldo County Triad is a partnership of seniors, law enforcement, and local organizations dedicated to improving the safety of people 50 and older in their homes and communities through education and service.

37. Waterfall Arts helps artists develop and deepen their creative practice. They build community through the arts and help individuals explore their own potential and their connection with others and the environment, through the power of art. Founded in 2000, Waterfall Arts is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization. Waterfall Arts is a community arts center located in Belfast, Maine, that meets its mission through classes and workshops, exhibitions, community studios, events, and arts-outreach programs.