ID: participants holding up poster board with the total amount raised at STRIVE Rocks 2025
THANK YOU to everyone who supported STRIVE Rocks 2025! Whether you participated, volunteered, donated or more, YOU helped us raise over $112,000 for STRIVE programs! We couldn't have done it without you- thank you! STRIVE Rocks because of YOU!
Check out some of our favorite photos from the event below!
ID: participant standing in front of a band at STRIVE Rocks
ID: participant and staff in front of an inflatable obstacle course
ID: two STRIVE Rocks attendees wearing Velcro suits
ID: participants and volunteers playing blackjack
ID: participant dancing with Ariel, from The Little Mermaid
ID: participants posing for a caricature drawing
ID: participant holding a fishing rod with a fish attached
ID: participant dancing with Slugger, the Sea Dog
PROGRAMS
STRIVE U
It’s been a busy and exciting month here at STRIVE U! Our residents have been making the most of springtime by staying active, engaged, and exploring all that our community has to offer.
We recently celebrated the Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) graduation, and we couldn’t be more proud of our students for all of their hard work and accomplishments. With STRIVE U’s own graduation right around the corner, we’re now turning our attention to preparations for our big celebration at the end of the month—stay tuned!
Our residents have been out and about, making the most of the warmer weather and expanded transportation options. Highlights this month include a fun trip to Yarmouth, an exciting Sea Dogs game, and a scenic ride on the bus down to Old Orchard Beach. These outings are not only a great way to experience Maine, but also help build independence and confidence in navigating the community.
ID: STRIVE U residents standing outside, wearing caps and gowns
ID: STRIVE U residents smiling and posing while sitting on and standing near stairs
ID: STRIVE U resident and staff member standing in front of a waterfall
ID: STRIVE U residents wearing caps and gowns and sunglasses
ID: STRIVE U residents holding a STRIVE U flag while wearing their caps and gowns
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’s warm weather promoted more outdoor activities, such as an excursion to the driving range, basketball and pickleball. Additionally, we returned to Rivermeadow in Westbrook with a fervor and some loppers to continue to keep the trails maintained along the Presumpscot River. Students enjoyed the ability to get outside in lighter jackets or sweatshirts while exercising and trying new leisure activities.
Students continued to make a lot of wonderful recipes this month, including making quick dill pickles, dilly beans and pickled onions, a healthy chickpea bowl, smoothies, teriyaki steak, and grilled cheese, to name a few. Students love learning how to cook different foods and throughout this process are also learning how to plan a meal, find a recipe, use the Hannaford app to create a shopping list, all the while sticking to a budget. Additionally students are learning how to plan and organize the steps to follow in order to make these recipes, use appliances safely, read directions, clean up and follow kitchen safety guidelines. Best part of all is when students are willing and excited to try the recipes they’ve chosen to create!
We have had a very busy month, as students have been preparing for graduation, amped up about STRIVE Rocks and engaging in some new community experiences. Recently, we toured the EcoMaine Recycling facility, where students learned about how items are recycled, viewed the trash incinerator that provides power to the entire facility, their electric vehicles and back to the power grid, and witnessed firsthand the operating control room of the giant claw that sorts the trash. Students asked many questions, acted responsibly and respectfully, bravely navigated some uncomfortable terrain, and seemed to have an enjoyable experience.
Next the Bicycle Coalition of Maine entertained and taught TOPS students about bike safety, how to use an electric assist bike, and how to navigate and use turn signals on an obstacle course in a nearby parking lot. Students loved trying out the bikes and learned some necessary safety skills to help them learn how to ride more safely in their community.
Lastly, we collaborated with Adaptive Outdoor Education Center and brought four interested students to try rock climbing at EVO Rock Climbing Gym. The staff was incredibly supportive and encouraging and all the students felt safe to challenge themselves to rise to new heights, literally! Each student tried climbing in their harness, learned how to tie in, how to use climbing commands, and how to sit back and “walk” their feet back down the wall while rappelling. Students tried the treadwall, a revolving wall that you climb up at different speeds. Other students tried bouldering, climbing without a rope and other students tried climbing with a self-belay system. Overall students demonstrated that they could push themselves through tough times, even if they got a little scared, they trusted their staff and themselves and kept climbing upwards or set a higher goal for their next time! What a powerful experience this was for a few of our graduates!
ID: student making a sandwich on a hot plate
ID: student climbing on an indoor rock wall
ID: students outside, holding pruning sheers
ID: student standing outside in trees
ID: student wearing construction hat and vest in front of cardboard recycling
ID: student silcing cucumbers
ID: student at the driving range
ID: student splaying pickleball
ID: student on a bike in a parking lot
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.
Check out our upcoming STRIVE WorldWIDE summer classes below! And don't forget, we have scholarships available for Maine Residents - click HERE for more information!
ID: flyer with upcoming STRIVE WorldWIDE summer course schedule. The STRIVE WorldWIDE logo is in 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.
This month at Bayside, we’ve been busy with celebrations and summer preparations. From planting veggies in pots, filling the bird feeders, planning fun adventures, and enjoying our new picnic table when the weather cooperates, to making a sweet treat along the way—Rice Krispies, yum!
We celebrated Jaden’s graduation in full spirit. He made pizza burger sliders, fruit punch to wash them down, and an ice cream cake to complete the meal. He picked out some fun games, and we played our traditional Truth-be-Told, along with Jeopardy and Left Center Right. Congratulations, Jaden! Your quick wit and good work made a lasting impression. Wishing you all the best at ACTIVE.
Meanwhile, we continue to get out and explore new places, including some great lunch spots in Freeport—staying active and even playing a bit of squash.
ID: participants wearing blue gloves and preparing rice Krispies
ID: participant and staff posing with a graduation certificate
ID: participants sitting outside at a picnic table
ID: participants at a store
ID: participants playing squash
For more information on Bayside, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org.
ACTIVE: This month, the ACTIVE group had the opportunity to attend Opera Maine’s Opera for All program, held at the University of Southern Maine’s Gorham campus. This enriching experience introduced our group to the world of opera in a fun, interactive, and accessible way. We explored the rich history of opera and discovered the many different styles that have developed over time. Participants got hands-on with authentic opera props and even got to try on some fun costumes. The highlight of the day was a performance by talented USM opera students. We’re so grateful for programs like Opera for All that open the doors to experiences and help make the arts more inclusive and approachable for everyone.
WAVES: With the weather warming up, the WAVES group has been making the most of the great outdoors! You can find us out and about exploring some of our favorite local spots, including Memorial Park, Bug Light, Fort Williams, Capisic Pond, and many more destinations. These outdoor adventures give us the chance to soak up the sunshine, breathe in the fresh air, and enjoy the natural beauty of our community. Spending time in local parks keeps us moving, lifts our spirits, and creates opportunities to connect with others. Whether we’re walking the trails, enjoying a picnic, or simply taking in the view, being outside helps us stay active and engaged.
ID: STRIVE participants and members of Opera for All
ID: participants outside at a park
For more information on ACTIVE or WAVES, please contact Community Support Program Director, Veerle Pottie, at vpottie@pslstrive.org.
This month at STRIVE Studios, we have taken advantage of the warm weather by exploring different public art sites in Portland! We took a walk around the East Bayside neighborhood, looking out for sculptures, murals, and other instances of public art. Our Tuesday Studio Series have been learning ceramic hand-building techniques and have just begun the process of glazing their pieces. On top of everything, we are gearing up for our next STRIVE Studios Art Exhibition, which will take place on Thursday, June 12th from 11:00AM to 6:30PM. We hope to see you there!
ID: participants outside in front of a mural
ID: students glazing art pieces
ID: colorful postcard for the STRIVE Studios art show on June 12th. The STRIVE Studios logo is on the bottom center.
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, June 4th! This series will run for four weeks, through June 25th, and will focus on a variety of tools to maintain overall well-being. The cost for this series is $30, and registration will close at 4pm on Wednesday, June 4th! Register HERE!
ID: light background with abstract green shapes in the bottom right and top left corner. There are green leaves in various shades along the top.
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 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!
Check out the theme weeks and camp schedule below and then click HERE if you're ready to sign up today!
ID: camp schedule for the months of June, July, and August 2025 on a calender
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: tweens at a table building with cut up pool noodles
ID: 5 Tweens smiling for a photo in the teen center
ID: tweens and staff building with cut up pool noodle at a table
Tweens explored their creative sides in May with some fun, hands on activities. Check out the cool poodle creations the group made above!
Tweens has a fun June lined up full of summer themed activities! Check out the schedule below, we're excited and we hope to see you there!
ID: white background with blue waves along the outside. There is a pair of red, orange, and blue flip flops on the left side and an orange and red beach ball in the right corner.
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.
June is shaping up to be a great month at STRIVE Night! Our advisory board is planning TWO exciting theme nights this month - STRIVE Pride on June 20th and STRIVE Prom on June 27th!
ID: tan background with blue waves along the bottom. There is a sun in the top left and two flowers and two green trees.
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, June 5th 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 as well - a summer bash on Thursday, July 3rd!
ID: light background with blue waves along the bottom and two surfboards in the bottom right. There is a sun in the top left and program information 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, June 3rd!
ID: colorful flyer with an image of three people having coffee on the bottom left. There are two blue dice and the PSL Services / 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!
Looking to hit the ground running this summer? 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! Stick around after the race for a pancake breakfast as well!
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 few bibs still 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 May Donors!
Sarah Button
Barry Dunlap - In Honor of Caleb Dunlap
Robert and Margaret Murray
Carolyn Carson
Kevin Foley
Rosemary Goranites
Anne Button - In Honor of Bennett Agnew
John and Nicole Cressey
Roberta O'Brion
Bethany Woodworth
David Dyer
... 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 Megan. Megan is looking at the camera and smiling
Meet Megan! Megan is the Employment Coordinator at STRIVE U. Megan likes "working at STRIVE because of the kind and supportive community. Everyone has been so helpful, while I have gotten more confident in my role as employment coordinator. While at STRIVE U, I have seen the growth of the residents as I've worked with them and assisted them with gaining employment. Overall, I love seeing the impact this program has on the residents. Something I am looking forward to while at STRIVE U is getting to work with the incoming class of STRIVE U residents in June. It is exciting to be able to welcome the new class of residents to campus and be able to teach employment group classes on essentials to obtain employment. " Thanks, Megan, we're grateful to have you on the team!
Member Spotlight
This month we wanted to spotlight our eleven graduating TOPS students! Congratulations to all the graduates, we could not be prouder of all the work you put in and all the skills you've gained! We can't wait to see what you do next!
ID: photo of the eleven graduating TOPS students sitting and standing in front of a colorful wall
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy birthday to our STRIVE Members with a birthday in June!
ID: Colorful happy birthday candles on a chocolate cake
Carter Creedon
Ryan Hamilton
Zachary Horne
Roberta Anderson
Kiyah Draper
Charlie Saffian
Mary Leahy
Joshua Small
Harrison Holmes
Samantha Gauthier
Kyle Sargent
Hannah Holland
Niko Gagne
Colby Schmid
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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