I am in this, singing, and from what i hear, acting a bit as well. Come see it!

Thanks so much to all my volunteers! And to all who voted for me. Your support was wonderful. I won by almost 20%! I look forward to serving Portland and continuing the good work that has been done in the Portland Schools.

Thanks again!
Rebecca

My campaign signs are in! They look great, and we will be blitzing Portland with them this weekend. Let me know if you would like one for your window or yard. We could also some help getting them up, for which you will be rewarded with my famous brunch. Drop me a line if you are interested.

On another note, I am getting very, very close to my fundraising goal of $1000. The fundraising party at my house last weekend was a huge success, as well as a lot of fun! Any contributions are greatly appreciated.

Take care, and I'll see you on the campaign trail!

Rebecca

Lately, I have spend many hours meeting voters in District 1. It has been a very interesting experience, and it has reinforced what I love about Portland. People are so friendly--I have yet to have had a negative interaction, and quite a few people have thanked me for getting involved.

Almost everyone I have spoken with is very excited about the new East End Community School. I certainly share that excitement! I attended the opening, and watched the students sit very respectfully as a bunch of adults told them things that "they wouldn't understand until they were older". I watched the students proudly perform songs. I watched kids I know smear chocolate all over their faces from the fondue fountain--every kids' dream! This school is a wonderful example of Portland's strong sense of community. Strong communities need schools that are a place of pride. The green design, the first-rate location, and the expeditiary learning program of the East End Community School are all things that the East End and all of Portland can be very proud of. As an environmental educator whose education and experience are based in hands-on, community-based learning, I will work hard to make sure all students in Portland have access to the wonderful learning opportunities that the students at the East End Community School have.

My palm cards are finally in--I think my dad did a wonderful job on them! A huge thank you to him for all his work! My signs will be up soon, and palm cards will start adorning doors of District 1, as I have lots of work ahead of me. Feel free to join me, I can use the help!

Much action in recent days...

I am proud to announce that some dedicated volunteers (and dear friends) have stepped forward and offered their extra time and skills to my campaign. Emily Graham, who was my roommate for three years, will be serving as my treasurer. Emily is an educator, organic gardener, and passionate local-foodie. She also tells me she had always secretly wanted to be my personal financial advisor. Emily's organization skills were a great help in our living situation and will be an even greater help on my campaign.

Amanda Pleau, who works for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and who organizes the Mix Tape Collective of Portland, has offered herself as my campaign manager! Amanda had certainly proven to Portland that she is the kind of person who makes things happen: if you haven't attended a Mix Tape Collective Party at the White Heart, you are missing out on a great time. I look forward to working very hard on my campaign, and I feel very lucky to have two very strong women helping me out.

The candidate's forum on Portland Public Access went well! It was fun and interesting to hear everyone's views and get to know others in the race a bit. It also gave me some inspiration to work even harder, as I truly believe that I am the only candidate for District 1 that will bring the vision and experience that Portland needs to our school committee to help keep our neighborhood schools strong and successful.

In that note, I need your help! Last night I graciously received my first two (surprise) donations, but I have a long way to go toward my goal of raising $1000! Please take a moment to show your committment to progressive education and make a donation to my campaign. You may make your checks out to the Committee to Elect Rebecca Minnick, 53 Sheridan St. #2, Portland, ME 04101.

Thanks for your support. Keep checking the blog for more updates!

Rebecca

Rebecca Minnick--School Committee--District 1, Portland

A bit about me...

I began my career as an environmental educator in Maine almost 10 years ago at the now-defunct Environmental Schools. What a stroke of luck it was to take a random job in a state I had ever even thought of travelling to! I have fallen in love three-fold since then: first with a job field that I never knew had existed; then with a place that I never dreamed of moving to; and lastly, with my wonderful partner Jon.

This job inspired me to obtain an M.S. in environmental education (a year of which was actually in an M.Ed. program) from Antioch New England University in Keene, N.H., where I discovered a community of learners like me--passionate about progressive education and the environment. In Vermont, through a exciting partnership between the NPS, NWF, NFS, and Shelburne Farms, I worked as a consultant to help 17 teachers connect their classrooms with the community. Through this job, as well as my time at Antioch, I learned a great deal about community in education, and I realized I needed to get back to my community in my beloved Portland. It was all I could think about, and in 2002 I returned, this time on the other side of town. I have now lived in my lovely apartment on Munjoy Hill for 4 years! I currently work as an educator at Maine Audubon, serve on the board of the Munjoy Hill Neighborhood Organization, and act as the Co-chair of the Portland Green Independent Committee.

The key issues in my campaign are: preserving neighborhood schools without raising taxes, bringing more progressive education programs into the Portland Public schools, and bringing more green design into schools.

Stay tuned for more!