Featured Non-profits

Some years ago, I attended a lecture by Colleen Clines of the Anchal Project about social enterprise. In her lecture she said that empathy is a choice, and empathy is necessary to change. Empathy is necessary to change. We can choose empathy. I want the center of my business to be empathy. I want to use it to help create change in the world. 10% of all gross sales will be donated to a non-profit of my choice each month. I welcome suggestions for non-profits, no matter how big or small. I will include ways for you to donate to these non-profits if you so choose.

Tree Street youth

The non-profit of my choice for the months of April and May is Tree Street Youth, an organization dedicated to supporting the youth of my hometown. Visit their website to learn more or to donate directly to their organization.

From their website:

Tree Street Youth supports the youth of Lewiston-Auburn, Maine through academics, the arts and athletics. We provide Lewiston-Auburn youth with a safe space that encourages healthy physical, social, emotional, and academic development while building unity across lines of difference.

Founded in 2011 by two Bates College alumnae, Tree Street Youth grew its roots from a local homework help program. The original program – supported by the Refugee Assistance Program, local AmeriCorps staff, and a host of community volunteers – offered 40-60 local youth access to learning opportunities specifically tailored to meet their needs. For many of these youth, their parents wanted to support their children academically, but lacked the language and academic skills to do so. Due to the relationships built over time and the demonstration of an exceptional level of cultural competency, families urged the local program to continue expanding the homework help program to ensure that their kids would receive the support that they themselves could not provide.