BBsquared

Check out my good peer friend Lisa Drennan's MERGE new reel about MERGE's expertise and disability inclusion consultation services! Lisa is an absolute "go to" if you, your community or organization are looking for how to imbed disability inclusion into your everyday spaces. Bravo, Lisa! 👏

MERGE: Lisa Drennan Speaker Reel After years of training, listening, learning, and refining—this reel captures the heart of my work.Disability inclusion isn’t a program. It’s a culture shift...

At this time of year, many of us celebrate traditions from our upbringings and our culture. As we all journey this world, we realize others may celebrate differently, based upon their different life experiences. It becomes enlightening when we're able to cross-connect amongst traditions, discovering both the distinctions but often the similarities in how we may acknowledge and celebrate. I hope you might join me and other Brick Store Museum members, at a Brick Store Museum pop up at the lighting of a public menorah in Downtown Biddeford (Main Street across from City Hall - the little park next to Bangor Savings) tonight December 20th 5:30 p.m.! This will be the seventh night of eight in the lighting of the menorah during Hanukkah! It's a wonderful way to co-participate as one community during this Season of holidays across the many traditions that we've all come from. ☮️ A shout out 👏 to Heart of Biddeford for being the lead host of this community happening for the past several years!

The Museum is a collaborative partner in the upcoming Cultural Passport calendar to share the stories, experiences and traditions of those in our communities. With so much in common, there are plenty of events and celebrations to come in the new year! To begin, our Passport Calendar highlights the Menorah Lighting in Biddeford!

In 2025, Hanukkah will start on Sunday, December 14th at sunset and will end Monday, December 22nd, at sunset.

Join Heart of Biddeford as they host a lighting of the Hanukkiah (Hanukkah Menorah) at 5:30 p.m. on the first night of Hanukkah. Everyone in the community is welcome to celebrate the Festival of Lights and the themes of Hanukkah. The Hanukkiaah will be lit at 5:30 p.m. for each of the 8 nights of Hanukkah.

Special Meet Up:
Join a group from the Brick Store Museum at the lighting on Saturday, December 20th!

Having done most posts via my personal Instagram, was nice seeing Hearth and Soul’s flag today. The reminder that we maintain all the year through. Thank you for being an 🌈 💙

As a headquartered in , shout out to Maine for joining fifteen other State Attorney Generals in affirming the legality AND proven value of . Good work will always remain good work, and always result in greater success and results for EVERYONE. Appreciating diversity through our connectedness as human beings is what's it's always been about. 💙
https://mainephilanthropy.org/news/me-ags-office-affirms-legality-dei-efforts?fbclid=IwY2xjawIljq1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdVA-t2bh8rhewGZnyGkWaA4M6EbCVq2Pz2_xjywv2p0uI5_0jW5PdnGyA_aem_51QNJnBnc_r-Mc3dDXPZcA

ME AG's Office Affirms Legality of DEI Efforts Maine's AG's office affirms the legality of DEI efforts and provides guidance.

Love the design of this two-day event acknowledging through an informative program overviewing the barriers that BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities often face around access to healthcare while deploying information about ways these barriers can be avoided and overcome. Thank you Cross Cultural Community Services for hosting such a powerful forum!
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/5th-black-history-month-community-wellness-fair-3954853?fbclid=IwY2xjawIbFfpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVZrjy_qCsnQEZUa0CM20-N5V4mXmeS54ndPxWecI8F0ZIXx6zzq6507-g_aem_ff-PljoiQBbmdkc95SUBfw

5th Black History Month Community Wellness Fair The 5th Annual Black History Month Community Wellness Fair has organized a two-day event on Racism: A Public Health Issue. Day 1 explores barriers faced by BIPOC and the LGBTQ+ community in accessing healthcare, while Day 2 presents solutions.

Thank you Senator Joe Rafferty for reminding Mainers that expansive history includes all of the many layers of history that exists in our journeys. History is not about cherry picking. Some history is easier to digest than other history; facing and learning about complicated history is what makes us better individuals and strengthens us within and across communities.

Happy first day of Black History Month, everyone! Throughout the month, our caucus will celebrate and uplift the generations of Black Americans who have contributed to our state—because Black Maine history is Maine history.

Today, we're highlighting the role Maine, specifically Portland, played in the Underground Railroad. In her floor remarks last year, Jill Duson spoke about the Portland Freedom Trail that now exists thanks to the work of Rachel Talbot Ross and others.

"The walking tour...officially starts at the Franklin Street Wharf, where slaves once arrived as stowaways, and leads into downtown Portland. Many of the physical buildings no longer exist, yet these stories remain to be told. The trail is dotted with engraved granite markers that explain the history behind each location and the people involved with helping human beings escape from enslavement...

"Regardless of the weathering of buildings on the breezy Maine coast, walking the Portland Freedom Trail is a window on the rich history of African-Americans in Maine and the trail, itself, holds a rich historical significance in the city."

So, if you haven't yet, we'd encourage you to take a hike in Portland to learn Maine's history. Learn more about the Portland Freedom Trail here: www.mainehistory.org/documents/41/Portland_Freedom_Trail.pdf

A 2025 action commitment: BBsquared shall regularly share opportunities to participate in a cultural event other than might normally be on one's everyday radar screen. We are all creatures of habit; it's how we tick. To grow and learn, the challenge is to push oneself out of one's own boxes. It is natural we know about and participate in things directly connected to our own life markers. My challenge to everyone; look for ways to experience a tradition, culture or community that you might not otherwise have been historically exposed to or connected with. This Lunar New Year event that the Chinese and American Friendship Association of Maine (CAFAM) Chinese & American Friendship Association of Maine is hosting on February 15, 2025 is a perfect chance to celebrate one community's unique tradition amongst participants from multiple communities! I hope you consider going!

Tickets on Sale for Lunar New Year 2025! We welcome all CAFAM members and friends to join us at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center for our annual Lunar New Year Celebration! This year's exciting program will include a cultural village of crafts and vendors, performances of Chinese dance and music, lectures and demonstrations, tea tasting...

Today: May we all be reminded of and lifted up by the amazing spirit of true leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. …. Such legacies stand the true test of time. ☮️ 💗

To all of BBsquared’s client, community and peer partners — thinking of you and reminding us all of the capacity we always maintain, no matter what’s swirling around us, to make our world a better place— ☮️💙

Humbled and honored to be a part of this special "Cookie Davis" mural project, adjacent to the Brick Store Museum's current Summer exhibit "Bold Visions" which also contains dozens of loaned works of Coleman Davis/Dominique London. Cookie was a special person in and to this community, and their spirit has additionally illuminated this effort. We hope you'll visit the exhibit and mural > up through the end of August! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

BBsquared is happy to acknowledge its Ally Sponsorship for PRIDE in The Bunks 2024! Mark you calendars for June 8th (event details TBA soon!). A shout out to all my Kennebunks and Arundel peers to join us in support of this wonderful celebration. Feel free to message BBsquared with interest, or reach out directly to Go Kennebunks: Kennebunk, Kennebunkport & Arundel Chamber with questions about or to commit to sponsorship!