ID: participant wearing a green STRIVE Rocks shirt and holing an inflatable guitar
The countdown is on - we're less than 3 weeks away from STRIVE Rocks 2025!
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 as well as special prizes for our Top Fundraisers!Check out some of those prizes below!
ID: blue background with fundraising prizes in the center and the STRIVE Rocks logo in the bottom left
STRIVE Rocks 2025 will take place from 8pm Friday, May 16th-8am, Saturday, May 17th at Sullivan Gym (USM Portland Campus - 66 Falmouth St, Portland 04103). We'll have everything you loved about past in-person events -- bands, theme hours, games & activities, prizes, and of course...dancing!
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.
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
STRIVE U Residents have officially completed the academic semester at SMCC and have been making the most of their spring by exploring the beautiful walking and hiking trails throughout the Portland area. These outdoor experiences have offered a great opportunity for relaxation and connection with the local environment. Some of the residents recently celebrated at the SMCC semi-formal dance, where students enjoyed an evening of dancing and fun!
As we move into the spring months, we’re excited for the warm weather and all the opportunities it brings—for relaxation, outdoor activities, and continued personal growth. We are starting preparations for our second-year graduation! This important milestone is just around the corner, and we’re looking forward to recognizing the tremendous accomplishments of our students.
ID: STRIVE U residents playing bingo in the lounge
ID: STRIVE U resident and staff with trash bags cleaning up outside
ID: STRIVE U residents sitting in the student lounge
ID: STRIVE U residents and staff outside, smiling
ID: STRIVE U residents wearing heart shaped sunglasses and posing in front of a sparkly backdrop
STRIVE U is a comprehensive two-year residential, post-secondary educational opportunity for residents 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 we have continued to practice a lot of independent living skills, such as meal planning, cooking, and trying new leisure activities. In April we made sourdough crumpets for National Sourdough Cooking Day. Also, we had the unique opportunity to take a tour of Holy Donut in Portland and learned how to glaze donuts. Throughout this month, we have made milkshakes, quesadillas, taco bowls, and more. Additionally, students used ChatGPT to discover and make a recipe using the ingredients we already have in stock in our fridge, freezer and pantry inventories. This was a really fun way to use technology and utilize the ingredients we already have on hand.
Students had the wonderful opportunity to learn ceramics at STRIVE Studios, throwing pots on the wheel, glazing them and getting them ready to be fired in the kiln. Students also tried a new skill called Claymation or stop-animation, in which they used play-doh and took pictures of their sculptures, showing movement over time, like the famous "Wallace and Gromit".
Other leisure activities that students tried this month include practicing their golf swing at the driving range, playing squash, pickleball, and disc golf.
Other topics that we have covered at TOPS this month include learning about online safety and dating, weather preparedness, communication in healthy relationships, important paperwork, and inspiration and motivation workshops.
ID: student glazing a donut
ID: student fipping pancakes on a grill
ID: two students glazing at table
ID: students taking inventory of food
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.
Interested in scholarship opportunities? Click HERE!
ID: flyer with upcoming STRIVE WorldWIDE summer course schedule. The STRIVE and STRIVE WorldWIDE log are on the top.
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.
This month at Bayside, we’ve been as busy as bees—and just as sweet! Our teams rolled up their sleeves to make blueberry pancakes from scratch—complete with gluten and dairy-free options—and, of course, enjoyed the best part: taste-testing. While we're focused on building our cleaning skills, there's still room for creativity and fun, like crafting paper towel tube binoculars for our sightseeing activities.
With spring in full bloom, we’ve taken advantage of the weather for neighborhood navigation walks and bus trips to Brunswick, tracking our routes and taking in the changing season. We've also been out in the community, visiting local businesses and exploring different employment options to learn more about the world of work and what opportunities may be a good fit.
Just like the budding trees, we’re growing—welcoming new participants and continuing to grow and evolve.
ID: participants and staff looking at recipes and cooking
ID: participant sitting on a bus, looking out the window
ID: participant standing in front of a griddle
ID: participant looking through binoculors
For more information on Bayside, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org.
ACTIVE: This month, our ACTIVE program wrapped up another exciting season of our annual Bowling League! Over the past 10 weeks, both staff and participants hit the lanes weekly, competing in friendly matches to see who could achieve the highest average score. The Bowling League has been a fantastic way to stay active, engaged, and connected during the colder months. In May, we will be hosting a special celebration to honor not only our Bowling League participants but also those who took part in our Air Hockey Tournament and Football Pool. We can't wait to come together to recognize everyone's efforts!
WAVES: This month, the WAVES group celebrated the conclusion of an incredible series of nature presentations led by Sydney, a Park Ranger for the city of South Portland. Over the past several months, Sydney has joined us to share her knowledge of the natural world through a variety of presentations. Some of the highlights included "Maine Shark Week," "Festive Flora and Fauna," and "The Wonderful World of Insects." Sydney wrapped up her final visit with a session on "Wild and Wacky Animals," where we discovered some of the most unusual and amazing creatures from around the world. We learned so much and had so much fun!
ID: three participants at the bowling alley holding their bowling balls and giving a thumbs up
ID: two participants and volunteer standing in front of a TV with a butterfly
For more information on ACTIVE or WAVES, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org.
It’s been a vibrant month at STRIVE Studios! We recently wrapped up our Painting in Acrylic class—part of our exciting new Tuesday Studio Series—with a pop-up gallery show. Students were able to share and celebrate the hard work they had put in over the last 8 weeks. The variety of paintings included studies in still life, portraiture, landscape, and abstract work.
Meanwhile, our community support participants have been diving into a range of creative projects to welcome the warmer weather. From cheerful cards and digital designs to blooming flower drawings, their artwork has been full of color and seasonal spirit. Stay tuned for more work as we head into summer!
ID: Participants and staff at an art table, painting
ID: gallery of pictures on a wall
For more information on STRIVE Studios, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org.
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.
STRIVE's next Tuesday Studio Series is Lessons in Ceramics! Lessons in Ceramics will run Tuesday evening from May 13th - July 1st! The cost is $80.
Registrations is OPEN and will be capped at 10 - we hope to see you there! Register HERE!
ID: red border with red circles, white dashes, and orange wavy lines. Program information is in the enter and there is a row of vases.
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 Independent Living Series will continue through the month of May! Check out our upcoming courses through the summer if you are interested in signing up for a future class. Have any course suggestions or ideas - let us know! We're always looking to provide topics that YOU want to learn about!
ID: pink, purple, and blue tie due background with upcoming course information and contact information in the center
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 Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org.
Summer Camp Registration is now open! This summer, camp will run from June 16th - August 29th. Both half day and full day sessions will be offered with spots being first come first served!
Theme weeks and the camp schedule will be coming soon - check out our website for updates! Register HERE if you're ready to sign up today!
ID: blue background with information down the center. There are three images on the right of campers and staff - the top image is campers at the big LL Bean boot, the center image is campers and staff on a bridge outside in the woods, and the bottom image is three campers smiling and laughing
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 Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org.
Tweens
April wrapped up our time with the UNE OT students for this year. A HUGE thank you to all the students who came to lead activities and hang out with us this semester - we loved having you!
Tweens has a fun May lined up full of hands-on activities! Check out the schedule below, we're excited! (As a reminder, there is no Tweens on May 16th due to STRIVE Rocks).
ID: cream colored background with leaves and flowers throughout. There is also a bee on the top left.
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 Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org.
We're excited to introduce our new STRIVE Night Advisory Board! Shoutout to everyone who ran and made a speech and congratulations to our newly elected board members! They had their first meeting in April and are already hard at working planning karaoke and trivia nights and a STRIVE Night Spring Fling dance!
ID: 5 of the 7 new STRIVE Night Advisory Board members sitting at a table
The STRIVE Night Advisory Board is currently planning several themed events for May! Stay tuned for more information! (Reminder - there will be no STRIVE Night on May 16th due to STRIVE Rocks)
ID: white background with yellow and white flowers along the top and bottom. There is program information and a blue disco ball in the center
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 Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org.
STRIVE 25 will meet Thursday, May 1st this month! Reminder - we always get together the first Thursday of each month for a delicious meal and a great time with friends!
Save the date for our upcoming social event on Thursday, June 5th!
ID: white background with pink flowers in the top two corners and the bottom right corner. Program information is in the center.
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 Ash at abahi@pslstrive.org!
Join us for our next STRIVE Senior Social - Tuesday, May 6th!
ID: light background with wavy lines and a coffee cup in the top center. The PSL Service / STRIVE logo is in the top left.
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!
PSL Services / STRIVE is hosting a career fair on Tuesday, May 6th from 12-6pm at 39 Darling Ave, South Portland ME! If you're looking for a rewarding career in a supportive environment, we may have a position for you. We have a number of full time, part time, and per diem positions available!
ID: Gray background with the PSL Services / STRIVE logo in the bottom right. In the center are three images of staff and participants.
STRIVE Rocks 2025
We told you all about STRIVE Rocks above, but there are so many other ways to be part of this exciting event that don't involve staying up all night!Take a look at some of our needs below. Don't forget- STRIVE Rocks will take place from 8pm, Friday, May 16th until 8am, Saturday, May 17th!
ID: STRIVE Rocks flyer with information about ways to be involved in the event. The STRIVE Rocks logo is in the top corner and there are colorful blocks with opportunity information in them.
Volunteer for a STRIVE Rocks shift! Email Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org to learn more about what is available!
Become a sponsor! See our available sponsorship opportunities HERE!
Share your talents! We're looking for event entertainment- bands, magicians, trivia hosts, special guests, interactive entertainment, and more!
Donate a prize! Our top fundraisers receive special prizes at the end of the event!
Provide food! One favorite of STRIVE Rocks is that there's great food and snacks all night long! Are you a restaurant owner or have a friend who owns a business? We're looking for food that we can provide to our participants throughout the night.
Get others involved! STRIVE Rocks is a community event and we'd love to get as many people involved as possible-especially students! Do you have connections to a high school club, group, or team? We'd love to talk to them!
Help us reach our goal! It's not too early to make a financial contribution! Donate to STRIVE Rocks 2025 HERE!
Have other ways you'd like to be involved? We'd love to hear them!
STRIVE for 5 - 5K
It's not too early to register for the STRIVE for 5: Foden Road 5K! This year's event will take place Sunday, July 13th at 8:30am. The race will be here in the South Portland Foden Road neighborhood, but there's a virtual race option as well! Registration is $30 and participants 12 and under are free with a registered adult. For more information, or to register today, visit our event website HERE!
ID: STRIVE logo is on the top right and in the center is an image of runners running through the start arch..
Beach to Beacon
Want to run one of the greatest Maine road races and support STRIVE at the same time? We have a limited number of bibs available for this year's Beach to Beacon 10K - taking place on Saturday, August 2nd. We ask everyone who runs on behalf of STRIVE to fundraise $350. Interest or have questions? Email Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org!
ID: teal overlay over an image of a road. On the bottom left is the STRIVE logo, and image of people running on a road, and the Beach to Beacon logo.
STRIVE Shout Outs
Thank you to our April Donors!
Karen Jannace - In Memory of Philip Brown
Cynthia and David Bernard
Margaret Salt
James Kilkenny - In Memory of Michael and Karen
MaryAnn Schwanda
Ellen Decotis
Judith and David Berghuis
Kurt and Kelly Stokes
Caroline Janover
Paul Daniels
Glen and Jean Ramsay - In Honor of Nicholas Thompson
Esther Pappas
Daniel Reardon
Gordon and Laurie Oliver
Greg and Lorraine Cyr
Mark and Anna Cloutier
Bruce McFarland - In Memory of Mike Spadinger
Alan Rowell - In Honor of Amanda Thompson
John Forbes
Catherine Campbell
Stephen Hemberger - In Honor of Liam and Owen Frey
Great Falls Family Foundation - In Honor of Cole Shiers
Eric and Jeanne Lazo-Wasem
Johnson and Jordan Mechanical Contractors
Minna Brewster
Anne Button - In Honor of Bennett Agnew
John Cossaboom
Kate Ryan - In Memory of Tonami Hanna
Shari Chaney
Amy Keenan
Roberta O'Brion
Annemarie Muccino-Salzberg
Tom and Carol Brewster
... and everyone who has donated to our STRIVE Rocks or Beach to Beacon registrants!
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 Elizabeth. Elizabeth is standing in front of a colorful wall and smiling
Meet Elizabeth! Elizabeth works in our Community Supports program and has also helped out in both Camp STRIVE and STRIVE Night! Elizabeth says "I love the sense of community at STRIVE. I always feel good coming to work...even on Mondays!" Thanks, Elizabeth, we're grateful to have you on the team!
Member Spotlight
Meet Clare! Clare is a STRIVE U graduate and is on the STRIVE Rocks Planning Committe, helping to plan this year's event! Her favorite part of STRIVE Rocks is being able to be present , have fun, and dance! Thanks, Clare!
ID: photo of Claire wearing a pink STRIVE Rocks shirt and holding a caricature picture of herself.
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy birthday to our STRIVE Members with a birthday in May!
ID: Colorful happy birthday candles on a chocolate cake
Madeleine Joyce
Bella Joyce
Damian Thress
Mary Burke
Molly Snowden
Sally Alexander
Lauren Chapman
Eric Hughes
Landon Rideout
Scotty Carignan
Maya Advani
Kristen Tully
Niels Doughty
Emily Feldhaus
Conor Sullivan
Mary Burke
Nick Watkins
Aphrodite Makrides
Alli Brooking
Christina Creedon
John Luke Cossaboom
Lucy Rhodes
National Volunteer Week!
April 21st - 25th was National Volunteer Week, and we’re wanted to send the BIGGEST thank you to all the incredible volunteers who help make STRIVE what it is. Year after year, event after event, moment by moment.
From haunted hallways to yard work, fundraisers to everyday programs, your time, energy, and compassion help STRIVE shine brighter. Because of YOU, we continue to grow, connect, and create unforgettable experiences for our participants.
Thank you for showing up and for helping STRIVE be its very best. We couldn’t do it without you and we wouldn’t want to!
ID: collage of volunteers and participants doing various things around STRIVE
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!
Hope to see you at an upcoming meeting!
ID: blue flyer with information about the STRIVE Business to Business Networking Group and the next 2 upcoming meetings.
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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