Programs
Place Matters staff work with state, local, and national partners to develop and facilitate programs focused on creating supportive communities of belonging, learning, and connection. Read more about these programs below and check out their websites for more information.
Young People’s Caucus (YPC)
YPC is based at the University of Southern Maine, Catherine Cutler Institute, Place Matters Project and is a partnership between the Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC), the Juvenile Justice Advisory Group (JJAG), the Youth and Community Engagement (YCE) team, Maine Youth Action Network (MYAN), and our community and legislative partners. The Young People’s Caucus (YPC) builds pathways for young people who have been directly impacted by systems involvement and systemic oppression to have a genuine voice and power in decision making in Maine. YPC creates opportunities and connects young people, agency partners, and policy makers to work together to create public systems that support and empower all young people, with a focus on youth who have experienced the juvenile justice and foster care systems. For more information about YPC reach out to YPC@maine.edu. Stay tuned for YPC’s new website to be launched this Spring!
dee Clarke Justice Fellowship (dCJF)
The dee Clarke Justice Fellowship (dCJF) provides opportunities for individuals to learn about research, policy, and community engagement and to work with the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous, and Tribal Populations on initiatives that align with the mission to create more positive outcomes for historically marginalized BIPOC communities in Maine. dCJF envisions a future where all Maine residents have equitable access and feel a sense of belonging in the spaces where policy decisions are made so that decisions are made by, and with, those who are most directly impacted. The fellowship program is facilitated by the Place Matters team in partnership with the Permanent Commission and our community partners. The fellowship aims to provide a supportive learning environment where a small cohort of fellows will develop skills, connect with positive professional mentors, and complete a self-designed project that aligns with the mission of the Permanent Commission. The fellowship is currently in the first pilot year. For more information visit pcritp.me/dCJF.
Opportunity Scholars
The Opportunity Scholars initiative started at USM in 2019 with the goal of supporting people with lived experience in the carceral system to connect to higher education and fulfilling careers. In the fall of 2023, the Opportunity Scholars program moved from USM to the Center for Effective Public Policy (CEPP) to allow the initiative to grow and provide opportunities in Maine and beyond. For more information check out the CEPP website.
Some of our past scholars have worked on research projects, planned and participated in advocacy events, shared their voice through creative methods, and completed internships with a variety of organizations.
