About this session

Session Host: The Third Place

Time: 1:00-2:00

Format: Panel Session (with Q&A)

Speakers: Adilah Muhammad and Red Fong

Description: There is a critical lack of cultural infrastructure that exists in Maine’s Black communities. This lack of infrastructure impacts the ability to create a sense of place among Black Mainers that can be both professionally and socially isolating. This impact goes beyond the individual effects of isolation and impedes the ability of Maine’s economic sectors to recruit and retain a skilled and ethnically diverse workforce in cities and towns across the state. The Third Place will discuss the necessity of organizing BIPOC groups across economic sectors to build social and professional networks, address sector specific challenges to achieving racial equity and justice, and the imperative to lead these networks to a framework for institution-building.

The conversation will be led by Adilah Muhammad, founder of The Third Place and Red Fong, Program Manager, Maine Environmental Education Association and Southern Maine Conservation Collaborative.