STRIVE Rocks 2025 is coming up from 8pm Friday, May 16th-8am, Saturday, May 17th! This year's event is going back to where it all began - Sullivan Gym at USM's Portland Campus (66 Falmouth Street, Portland, Maine). We'll have everything you loved about past in-person events -- bands, theme hours, games & activities, prizes, and of course...dancing! PLUS, this year we're going to have some new entertainment and activities throughout the night...stay tuned to hear what some of them will be! Whether you are returning or a new recruit, we are glad to have you as we gear up to make a difference in the lives of over 1,400 young adults with intellectual disabilities from across our communities.
It's not too early to get in on the fun! All you'll need to do is fundraise a minimum of $75 to participate! We also have other incentives if you’d like to continue your fundraising! • Raise $100 or more and you'll get a STRIVE Rocks T-Shirt! • Raise $250, $500 or $1,000 (or more), to become a STRIVE Rocks All Star/MVP/VIP and get even more special STRIVE gear!
(These videos will be shared on social media as promotional material for STRIVE Rocks to help us spread the word and encourage others to register, fundraise, and support)
Check out this video below of why Niels rocks for STRIVE Rocks!
Have more questions about STRIVE Rocks, or ideas of other ways you would like to be involved? Are you or a business you know interested in giving back to the community? We're looking for event sponsors and volunteers and we have a number of opportunities. Contact STRIVE Program Director, Alex Woodhouse, at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org or 207.774.6278!
PROGRAMS
STRIVE U
We are thrilled to share some of the exciting activities that our STRIVE U students have been up to this month! Students had the opportunity to explore the Portland Museum of Art during their free Thursday night event. Students enjoyed looking at art and sampling the different marshmallow flavors from the food cart! Students also had the opportunity to attend a Maine Celtics basketball game! They enjoyed rooting for the home team!
And of course, what’s winter without some snow-filled adventures? STRIVE U students embraced the snowy weather by heading out to the local park sledding! It was a great way to enjoy the winter!
ID: STRIVE U students and alumni in the stands of a Maine Celtics game
ID: STRIVE U student posing with Crusher, the Maine Mariners mascot
ID: STRIVE U student standing outside with a smore on a plate
ID: STRIVE U students standing outside with smores
STRIVE U is a comprehensive two-year residential, post-secondary educational opportunity for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To learn more about the program, schedule a tour, or get an application, please contact admissions@pslstrive.org or call (207) 774.6278.
This month at TOPS, we have been very busy with lots of learning and leisure activities. We have done a lot of cooking this month. We made a vegetarian sweet potato and black bean chili. Also, we had a chef visit and learned about knife safety skills. During this month we took advantage of the opportunity to try snowshoeing. Many students tried snowshoeing at a variety of locations including Bug Light and River Meadow. Students also learned some mindfulness activities, such as watercolor painting. Students at TOPS continue to practice job skills and independent living skills, such as doing laundry, sweeping and cleaning tables. Additionally, students are learning more about leisure activities, such as bowling.
ID: student mixing a pot of food on the stove
ID: TOPS student snowshoeing with a lighthouse in the background
ID: TOPS student painting with watercolors
ID: action shot of a TOPS student bowling
TOPS (Transition Outcomes Program for Students) provides transition programming for high school students from area school districts who are typically 18 years and older. For more information, please contact Ryanne Desjardins at rdesjardins@pslstrive.org or by phone at 207-879-0847.
ID: April term and scholarship information with a QR code in the bottom left
STRIVE WorldWIDE is STRIVE's online program that teaching independent living skills. For more information about STRIVE WorldWIDE, contact Courtney Veinotte at cveinotte@pslstrive.org or call 207-712-0048.
Things are getting a little quieter here at Bayside with the stillness of winter and another graduation behind us. On the 7th, we celebrated HM’s graduation with a lively and informative round of Jeopardy followed by the graduation classic: Truth-be-Told. And naturally, lunch. Hayden whipped up a savory hamburger and rice casserole, paired with corn, fruit punch, and topped off with a delicious Pepperidge Farm lemon cake. Talk about a feast!
Congratulations, HM, on all the hard work you've put in over the years! We can’t wait to see where your next adventure in career exploration and volunteer work takes you.
Meanwhile, we’ll keep hustling over here, eagerly awaiting spring’s warm embrace, by cooking up some sweet treats, and savory meals. The perfect fuel to power us through the rest of winter.
ID: staff and students playing jeopardy on a TV screen
ID: Bayside participants pouring rice into a measuring cup
ID: STRIVE Bayside participants and staff posing for a photo
For more information on Bayside, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org.
WAVES: This month, the WAVES program kicked off each Monday with music and fun, thanks to Robbie, our talented Music Therapist from 317 Maine! Music therapy offers a range of benefits and can even help to boost your mood. We had a blast learning new songs, exploring different instruments, and playing interactive musical games!
ACTIVE: This month in the ACTIVE program, we had a sweet time at our Valentine’s Day Bake Sale, organized by our incredible Aktion Club! This dedicated group works year-round to raise funds to support families in need with their holiday gifts. Throughout the year, they’ll be hosting other exciting fundraisers, including car washes, bottle drives, and more. A huge thank you to the Aktion Club crew for the delicious treats and all the hard work you do!
ID: Participant and staff sitting and holding musical instruments
ID: participants and volunteer sitting a ta table covered with a pink table cloth and Valentine's Day teats. There is a staff member and participant standing near the table
For more information on ACTIVE or WAVES, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org.
This month at STRIVE Studios, our photography groups have been diving into the world of abstract photography. We’ve been getting creative by hunting for fun and unusual objects around the studio, then using them as the building blocks to create our own unique worlds. Then, we practiced our photography skills and documented the new worlds we created. Meanwhile, our talented ceramic artists had a fresh batch of artwork fired in the kiln, which included everything from ceramic magnets to glazed plates and amusing sculptures. It’s been an exciting month full of creativity, exploration, and new techniques!
ID: Participant standing and holding a camera
ID: photograph of a table with cards, beads, Jenga blocks, and small sculptures.
ID: purple and red ceramic sculpture
For more information on STRIVE Studios, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org.
Our newest program - STRIVE’s Tuesday Studio Series offers a variety of artistic classes designed to explore different mediums and foster creativity.
These classes are for artists ages 15-24 with intellectual and developmental disabilities and are held every Tuesday evening from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Class takes place at STRIVE Studios, 202 Warren Ave in Portland.
Participants will have the opportunity to work on projects in painting, ceramics, drawing, digital art, and more. Each 8-week session focuses on a specific art form, with support from STRIVE staff to help guide each participant’s artistic journey.
Our first 8-week series is Painting in Acrylic! This series will feature the following lessons: still life, portraiture, and landscape painting. This series runs from March 4th - April 22nd and is $60 for the full 8 weeks. This price covers the cost of all materials as well. Registration is open and can be found HERE!*Registration is first come, first served and will be capped at 10 students*
ID: white background with a border of art supplies. Supplies include crayons, ink, stamps, paper, scissors, paintbrushes,
The Tuesday Studio Series is held Tuesdays in person at our STRIVE Studio location for participants 15-24 years old. Series length, cost and topics vary month to month. For more information or to join class, contact Liam at lrademacher@pslstrive.org.
Our March Wednesday Night Ed Series focuses on organization, time management, and goal setting! In this series, students will learn how to build and plan schedules, prioritize their time, and create SMART goals. This four-week series will take place throughout the entire month of March!
ID: green background with green boxes throughout. There is an image of a clock, planner, and person on the top right.
The Wednesday Night Educational Series is held every Wednesday in person for participants 15-24 years old. Series are between 4 and 8 weeks and topics vary from month to month! The price per series is $30-$50, depending on the series' length. For more information or to join class, contact Ash at abahi@pslstrive.org.
February Camp STRIVE had a fantastic week! Campers participated in minute-to-win-it games, went bowling, enjoyed snowshoeing and tubing at Payson Park, and created the inaugural edition of the Camp STRIVE Chronicles (newspaper). We even organized a Cabela’s scavenger hunt and concluded the week with some baking and a movie afternoon. There were countless quizzes, arts and crafts, and so much more! Thank you to everyone who joined in on the fun!
ID: participant celebrating after game with a sock on their head
ID: participant jumping down a ramp with a snow tube
ID: participant looking at fish
ID: participant smiling with Oreo on their face
ID: participant bowling
ID: participant writing with pen & paper
We will also be hosting a camp during the April break! Stay tuned for more information!
Camp STRIVE is a day-camp experience for campers between the ages of 11-24. Camp STRIVE is held every school vacation (Winter, February, and April) as well as for the full summer. For more information about Camp STRIVE, contact Ash Bahi at abahi@pslstrive.org.
Tweens
Tweens had a fantastic February! Students from the UNE Occupational Therapy department joined us to lead a variety of activities, including planet pals, where we learned about planets and created planet-themed cake pops. We also participated in adaptive mini-games. Additionally, we crafted glow-in-the-dark lava lamps and made cloud dough.
ID: Tween giving a thumbs up with his cake pops.
ID: Tweens in the kitchen reading recipes and whisking ingredients. UNE OT students in background.
ID: Tween smiling while playing tabletop video games
March is shaping up to be another fantastic month for Tweens! We are excited to welcome more UNE OT students who will continue to lead fun and engaging activities—we love having them join us!
ID: light yellow background with leaves, flowers, and a snail along the bottom. There are green leaves in the top left and three orange flowers in the top right.
Tweens is a safe and fun environment to build new friendships and learn new skills for folks 11-14 years old. We run every Friday from 3:30-5:30pm. We have a scheduled activity each week, with free time built in to maximize socialization. For more information about STRIVE Tweens, contact Ash Bahi at abahi@pslstrive.org.
We had several exciting events planned for February, including a Super Bowl party, a Valentine's Day party, trivia night, and karaoke. Everyone had a fantastic time participating, and the highlight was undoubtedly the love song roulette. Thank you to everyone who attended; here's to many more enjoyable nights in the future!
ID: STRIVE Night participants in group photo with hands in the air
ID: two participants with arms folded standing back to back
We have several exciting themed nights planned for March, including our board elections and a St. Patrick's Day party. We hope to see you there!
ID: cream background with gold patterns with green border with green corners in bottom left and top right. Graphics include 3 clovers
Friday Night at STRIVE, fondly referred to as "STRIVE Night," is a relaxed but fun evening of socialization for 15-24 year olds. New members are always welcome, and your first night is free! STRIVE Night is Friday from 6-9pm, with at least one special "theme" night happening each month. For more information, contact Ash Bahi at abahi@pslstrive.org.
With heavy snowfall this month, our February STRIVE 25 was transitioned from in-person to Zoom. Despite the last-minute change, we had a brilliant time playing human scavenger hunt, Scattergories, and bingo! We also elected a new advisory board, allowing all members the opportunity to run for a position and cast their votes. Congratulations to those who were elected!
Save the date for our next two STRIVE 25 socials - March 6th and April 3rd! April 3rd is our biannual STRIVE 25 Talent Show!
ID: light green background with green rainbows in the top right and bottom left. There is a green leaf in the top left
STRIVE 25 is a social event for folks 25 and older. It currently runs in-person on the first Thursday of every month from 6-8pm For more information on STRIVE 25, contact Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org!
Join us for our next STRIVE Senior Social - Tuesday, March 4th!
ID: green flyer with program information. There is a coffee cup and a plate of cookies in the center.
STRIVE's Senior Social is a social event for individuals 55 and up. It takes place in-person on the first Tuesday of every month from 3-4:30pm. For more information on STRIVE Senior Social, contact Abby at abohlen@pslstrive.org!
Cheer on your favorite basketball team while supporting STRIVE at the same time! The Maine Celtics and Hammond Lumber Company are teaming up again for 3-Points for STRIVE! For every 3-Pointer made at home, Hammond Lumber will donate $50 to STRIVE. Make your own pledge today! Thank you to Hammond Lumber and the Maine Celtics for supporting STRIVE again this winter!
ID: Photo of a basketball hoop and basketball. There's also the logos for STRIVE, Maine Celtics, and Hammond Lumber Company.
STRIVE at the Maine Mariners!
You're invited to join the STRIVE Community on Sunday, March 23rd to cheer on our Maine Mariners! They're taking on the Adirondack Thunder AND celebrating Beacon's birthday - you won't want to miss this game!
We have a section reserved just for us and a portion of each sales using the link below will go directly to STRIVE! Doors open at 2:00pm and puck drops at 3:00pm - we hope to see you there! Buy your tickets HERE!
ID: white background with a green strip down the left side. There is an image of a hockey player and the STRIVE logo and the Mariners logos are on the bottom.
STRIVE Shout Outs
Thank you to our February Donors!
Barry Dunalp- In honor of Caleb Dunalp
The Flying Cow Inc. - In honor of Nate DiBiase
Hub Furniture Company - In Memory of Philip Brown
Glenn and Doris Meehan- In Honor of Katherine Dunton
Jeffrey Scribner
Roberta O’Brion
Shari Cahney
Crispy Gai
Kelly Bristol- In Memory of Nancy Romano
Leslie Webber- In Memory of Nancy Romano
Jim DiBiase- In Memory of Nancy Romano
Andi and Ron Winson- In Memory of Nancy Romano
Barbara Romano- In Memory of Nancy Romano
Jennifer Breton- In Memory of Nancy Romano
Martha Tarling - In Memory of Nancy Romano
Nancy Tolan - In Memory of Nancy Romano
Samantha Leavitt
ID: STRIVE participant smiling and holding a colorful sign that says "thank you". Games in the STRIVE Teen Center are behind him.
Thank you for your generous support of STRIVE!
With your support, we are able to continue our work each and every day.
Staff Spotlight
ID: photo of Katie
Meet Katie! Katie is the Transition Coordinator at STRIVE U!
Katie is eager to learn all there is about this fabulous program and organization. While not working, Katie loves to read and eat delicious food she hasn't prepared herself. We're excited to have you on the team, Katie!
Member Spotlight
Meet Colin! Colin attends STRIVE Bayside! He likes doing his goals in shopping, banking, and learning how to take the bus. His most favorite thing to do is going to the Art Studios then going out to lunch with his peers and staff on Fridays - this is called Adventure Day! Colin is graduating Bayside in June and then plans to go to ACTIVE. Thanks, Colin!
ID: photo of Colin - he is standing in a kitchen with a dish of mac and cheese
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy birthday to our STRIVE Members with a birthday in March!
ID: Colorful happy birthday candles on a chocolate cake
Eddie Wickwire
Carley Chapman
Austin Pietras
Methos Barna
Kaley Young
Calvin Mahoney
Nicholas Smith
Jayden Nichols
Bridget Kusturin
Charles (Whit) Jackson
Jack Parker
Crystal Miller
Marie Christie
Dylan Perreault
Scott Pottle
Kristen Grant
Amanda Groder
Sean Caulfield
General Announcements
Join Our Team!
We're Hiring!
ID: Hand with marker writing We Are HiringI
Are you, or someone you know in the market for a new job?
We're hiring for a number of positions!
We have full time, part time, and per diem opportunities available- including weekdays, evenings, and weekends!
We are also offering a $1,500 sign on bonus (after 60 days of successful employment and completed training) plus an additional $250 bonus for those that are already DSP, MHRT, or CRMA certified!
ID: Image of business partners discussing at a meeting table
Did you know we host a free monthly networking group for our local community? The STRIVE Business to Business Networking Group is just one way we work to be a mutually beneficial partner, with the hope of expanding our partnerships with local businesses.
We are looking to grow! The group meets virtually on the last Wednesday the month at 12pm . Contact Pete or Whitney to find out more about joining us this month!
Shop STRIVE!
We have an online store to purchase all your STRIVE swag needs! Take a look at all the shop has to offer! There are so many items to choose from AND you can customize any item by choosing the color and STRIVE logo that you want. Happy shopping!
ID: white background with two rows of swag. Top row from left to right is a gray backpack with the STRIVE WorldWIDE logo, a black mug with the STRIVECast logo, a white t-shirt with the STRIVE logo, and a blue baseball hat with a STRIVE U logo. Bottom row from left to right is a blue tote bag with a PSL Services/STRIVE logo, a gray sweatshirt with a STRIVE U logo, and a white travel mug with a STRIVE logo.
Listen to the STRIVECast
ID: STRIVECast flyer with images of our two hosts and sound and video engineer.
The STRIVECast is a podcast brought to you by the team at PSL Services/STRIVE in South Portland, Maine — bringing you engaging, hilarious, and thoughtful conversation through one interview week by week. Co-Hosted by two young men with Down Syndrome, the STRIVECast aims to change the voices we typically hear on the radio and through podcasts, as well as to provide meaningful dialogues with all sorts of public figures in our world. We are very proud to be both hosted, produced AND edited by people with disabilities! Like what you hear? Shoot us an email at strivecast@pslstrive.org!
Have questions or comments about any of our programs and events?
Email info@pslstrive.org to update your address or speak to a STRIVE staff member!
New members: You will be asked to complete an updated information form upon your arrival to Tweens, STRIVE Night or STRIVE 25. Want to get a head start? Visit https://pslstrive.org/strive-membership-form to submit your membership form today!
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