MaineWorks

For those trying to recover from substance abuse or felony convictions, the road back to having stable employment and financial freedom can be long and tiresome. Luckily, Portland is home to MaineWorks, led by Margo Walsh, which has a profound social mission: to dignify the experience for people who face real barriers to  workforce reentry.

Since its establishment in 2010, MaineWorks has provided hundreds of quality, long-term employment placements. With that said, employment is only one element of the reentry process. Amanda Lavoie, Branch Manager of our Portland location, took notice of this opportunity after crossing paths with longtime friend Margo. Not long after, Androscoggin entered into a partnership with MaineWorks.

One piece of the collaboration involves employees from the Bank joining MaineWorks’ fireside chats.

Our commitment also extended to the Financial Stability Program, where multiple Bank employees actively engaged and presented about budgeting and credit to three nearby sober-living houses. Amanda has been instrumental in providing personalized financial guidance through one-on-one meetings with over a dozen MaineWorks
employees. For Amanda, the most fulfilling part of this collaboration is the connections formed with MaineWorks employees. Understanding their stories and sharing personal experiences have created a foundation of trust.

Looking ahead, the vision for the future is ambitious. “My hope for the coming years is to move the Financial Stability Program from just a pilot to a live program, with employees in different parts of the Bank engaged and excited to present these financial literacy workshops to our communities,” Amanda said. “I also hope we continue to support MaineWorks in any way possible and help their employees rebuild credit and pay off debt.” The anticipation for what Androscoggin Bank and MaineWorks can achieve next is filled with optimism and a shared commitment to community impact.