ID: flyer with an image of people running through an inflatable start arch. The STRIVE logo is on the top right.
Registration is now open for this year's STRIVE for 5: Foden Road 5K! This year's event will take place on Sunday, July 13th- rain or shine! Can't make it? We have virtual race options too!
Our event kicks off with a free Kids Fun Run (for children 12 and under) at 8am, and the 5K walk/run taking place immediately after at 8:30am.
The STRIVE for 5: Foden Road 5K begins at STRIVE (Foden Road, South Portland), goes through Texas Instruments campus, down Jetport Plaza Road and back. See a course map HERE!
Registration is $30 on or before 07/11 and $35 on 07/12 and 07/13. Participants 12 and under are free with a registered adult. All registrants receive a race t-shirt and finisher's medal.
Questions about this year's STRIVE for 5? Contact STRIVE Program Director, Alex Woodhouse, at awodhouse@pslstrive.org or 207-774-6278.
At the end of June, STRIVE U proudly celebrated the graduation of six remarkable young adults. Over the past two years, these students have demonstrated dedication and resilience as they completed their education at SMCC and STRIVE U, gained valuable paid work experience, and developed key independent living skills. We wish them all the best as they enter this next chapter.
We’re also thrilled to welcome the STRIVE U Class of 2027 to campus! As they get settled, we look forward to seeing all that they will achieve in the coming years.
ID: STRIVE U residents standing with graduation speaker, Katie Sampson.
ID: Four STRIVE U residents smiling and posing in blue caps and gowns
ID: Three STRIVE U residents standing outside and smiling
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.
The last few weeks of TOPS were held in the first few weeks of June and marked the end of our academic year. We took advantage of the warm weather by getting outside and trying several sports such as croquet, pickleball, basketball, and frisbee. We enjoyed a picnic outside at Bug Light and a walk at Macworth Island. Students practiced taking the metro to Deering Oaks Park to visit the farmer’s market.
Students at TOPS continued to practice skills such as cooking, money exchange, and riding the metro. The rest of the month has been pretty quiet here at TOPS. Teachers have been busy preparing for ESY, starting on the last day of June! We are excited to welcome back some students and introduce TOPS to some new students during our extended school year program (ESY).
ID: student having a picnic outside
ID: student checking out at a store
ID: student standing outside a lighthouse
ID: student standing outside in front of a tree
ID: students sitting on a metro bus
ID: students playing basketball
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.
Have you heard of STRIVE WorldWIDE's SubSTRIVErs Club?! All the info you need to join is below!
ID: flyer with information about the SubSTRIVErs Club. There is an image of a submarine and the STRIVE WorldWIDE logo on the top 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.
We kicked things off by getting our hands dirty (in the best way) at the Rowe School Arbor Day event, helping the kids plant trees to take home. We left with muddy shoes, happy hearts, and a newfound appreciation for local bugs and trees—who knew learning about creepy crawlies could be so fun?
We blew off steam at The Desert of Maine for some mini golf. Sand, sun, and a healthy dose of competitive spirit!
And the grand finale? Colin’s graduation celebration! We sent him off in style with our traditional “truth-be-told,” a front-yard cornhole showdown, and a stroll down memory lane via a picture slideshow. Chef Colin even whipped up a feast—Italian sandwiches, chips, watermelon, Hawaiian Punch, and lemonade, all capped off with cupcakes for dessert. Congrats, we’re so proud of you. Good luck at Active and on the job—your hard work is already paying off, and we can’t wait to see what you do next!
ID: participants hugging a tree mascot
ID: participant and staff posing with a graduation certificate
ID: participants and staff posing outside
For more information on Bayside, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org.
ACTIVE: This month in ACTIVE, we were thrilled to hop back on the bikes with our friends at Portland Wheelers! Portland Wheelers is a dedicated volunteer-led nonprofit based in Portland that makes it possible for individuals of all abilities to enjoy adaptive bike riding. Their team of incredible volunteers brings us out to explore local parks, and our favorite cruising spot continues to be Memorial Park in Scarborough. These rides give us the chance to connect, build confidence, enjoy the sunshine, and have a whole lot of fun. We’re so grateful for the Portland Wheelers team. Thank you for keeping us moving!
WAVES: This month, WAVES participants have been lending a helping hand at Ruth’s Reusable Resources, a long-time volunteer partner. Ruth’s is a Portland-based nonprofit that ensures students from Pre-K through high school have access to essential supplies and resources for literacy, STEAM learning, and health education. Each week, our volunteers head over to help sort donated items and connect with other community members. We’re always excited to support such an important mission while building skills and friendships along the way!
ID: participant sitting on a bike giving a thumbs up with a volunteer behind him
ID: participant opening a box to help sort donated items
For more information on ACTIVE or WAVES, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org.
Happy Summer! We had our first art show of the year on June 12th. The work on display included digital art, paintings, ceramics, photography, and more. Our artists have been working diligently over the last few months, and we are always thrilled to have the opportunity to share these projects with the community! Alongside prepping for our show, STRIVE Studios has continued to host our Tuesday Studio Series: Lessons in Ceramics, where students have been working on a variety of assignments, including bobble heads and maracas. We look forward to another summer filled with creativity!
ID: guitar hanging on wall surrounded by four pieces of art
ID: canvas painted green and brown.
ID: student sitting at a table, glazing their ceramics.
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 current Tuesday Studio Series is Lessons in Ceramics. Registration is currently closed but watch this space for information about future Tuesday Studio Series!
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.
We have a new series starting on Wednesday, July 2nd! This series will run for five weeks, through July 30th, and will allow students to explore their interests and passions, learn about resumes and cover letters, practice interviewing, and what to do after getting a job. The cost for this series is $30, and registration will close at 4pm on Wednesday, July 2nd! Register HERE!
ID: blue background with program information in the center. There is an image of people representing various jobs at the bottom.
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.
What a great, and warm, first couple weeks of Camp STRIVE! We were able to beat the heat by heading to the beach and some local, shaded trails! We also tie dyed our camp shirts, made slime, played basketball and capture the flag and made lots of new friends! We can't wait for what the rest of the summer will bring us!
Want to get in on the fun? We have still have some availability during certain weeks! Email Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org for more information! ☀️
ID: selfie of staff and campers standing outside a lighthouse with the ocean in the background.
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
ID: tween standing in a handmade cardboard castle
Tweens explored their creative sides in June with some fun, hands on activities. Check out the cardboard castle and tie dyed shirts they made above!
Tweens has a fun May lined up full of summer themed activities! Check out the schedule below, we're excited and we hope to see you there! As a reminder, STRIVE is closed on Friday, July 4th so there is no Tweens.
ID: colorful background with beach themed images. Images include a beach ball, starfish, flippers, beach umbrellas, a pineapple, flip flops, and summer hat. Program information is in the center.
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 had the best June celebrating STRIVE Pride Night and STRIVE Prom!
ID: group of STRIVE Night participants posing in front of the DJ booth
We're excited for July as well! Stay tuned for more information about our Theme night - planned by our STRIVE Night Advisory Board. As a reminder, STRIVE is closed on July 4th so there is no STRIVE Night.
ID: white background with blue, yellow, and green flowers around the outside. Program information is 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, July 11th this month! Join us for a delicious meal, competitive bingo, and a great time with friends!
Save the date for our upcoming social event as well - a summer bash on Thursday, August 7th!
ID: light background with dark green, lime green, and pink flowers around the outside.
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, July 1st!
ID: colorful flyer with a steaming coffee cup 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!
STRIVE for 5: Foden Road 5K and Pancake Breakfast - Volunteers Needed!
Want to be involved with the 5K but don't want to run/walk? We have volunteer opportunities for you!
Volunteer at the race to assist with registration, be a flagger out on the course, run a water stop, or hand out medals at the finish line!
Volunteer to help prepare, cook, and serve at our first annual pancake breakfast!
ID: Flyer with volunteer information. There is an image of runners running through a start arch on the top middle.
STRIVE's Annual Auction - Join the Committee!
STRIVE's Annual Auction is coming up this November and we're looking for new members to join the planning committee! Interested? Reach out to Alex at awoodhouse@pslstrive.org or 207-774-6278!
ID: transparent background of wonders of the world, including Machu Picchu, The Taj Mahal, The Colosseum, waterfalls, the Grand Canyon, and Easter Island. There is a white square in the middle with information about joining the committee.
Dine In New England
ID: dark blue background with the Dine In New England logo in the center
We're thrilled to share information about Dine In New England! Dine In New England is a digital dining club that provides discounts to hundreds of restaurants throughout Maine. Over 50% of membership fees are donated to nonprofit organizations with 25% of membership fees donated to PSL Services/STRIVE in 2025! Check out their website for more information about what a DINE membership offers you!
STRIVE Shout Outs
Thank you to our June Donors!
Mary Anne Fillyaw
Fletcher Family Foundation
Barry Dunlap - In Honor of Caleb Dunlap
Martha Baum
Martha McSweeney Brower
Fraternal Order of Eagles 804
James Bourque
Roberta O'Brion
Shari Chaney
Alan Gibson
... 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 Lilly, smiling and standing with two STRIVE participants.
Meet Lilly! Lilly completed a year a yearlong internship with us this past academic year and has joined the STRIVE team as a camp counselor for the summer! Lilly's favorite thing about Camp STRIVE is "that it is a great opportunity for our campers to make great summer memories and lifelong friends! STRIVE provides a welcoming and safe environment for a diverse population of individuals helping foster inclusivity and kindness in the community!" Thanks, Lilly, we're happy to have you on the team!
Member Spotlight
Meet Josh! Josh is spending the summer with us at Camp STRIVE and his favorite part so far has been playing basketball with friends! We're glad you've joined us this summer, Josh!
ID: photo of Josh, dunking on a basketball hoop
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy birthday to our STRIVE Members with a birthday in July!
ID: Colorful happy birthday candles on a chocolate cake
Carter Harnden
Nate Murray
Gabby Sloan
Darren Ingraham
Patrick Taylor
Jakob McDonough
Nathan Ickes-Coon
Jack Christensen
Camden Ryan
Brady Fitzgerald
Georgia LeBlanc
Brooke Dempsey
Sawyer Marston
Julia Cofone
Nolan Dorrance
Lauren Bell
Tucker Scribner
Maggie D'Angio White
Nick Sanborn
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 ($500 paid after 30 days and new hire is billable and $1000 paid at 6 months of employment and all initial training is completed) 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
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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