Year To Date Recap Newsletter
Read all about what we have been up to since January !
ISUKEN’s RISING & FARMING INITIATIVES
Since the beginning of the year, Isuken has had significant growth. At SLRO, as service providers to Isuken, we have been supporting them with transportation and interpretation services. We also assist with paperwork, including the renewal of food truck and catering licenses and recertifications. In addition to that, we also support Isuken at their events and help manage their social media presence.
During the winter, Isuken enters its off-season, primarily focusing on catering, as they do not attend farmer’s markets or farm during this time, unlike in the spring, summer, and fall seasons. From January to March, Isuken concentrated mainly on catering. In March, during Ramadan, Isuken catered a vent hosted by Catholic Charities, delivering Sambusas, Somali Chai tea, and Somali rice with meat and salad. The feedback from Catholic Charities was overwhelmingly positive, with guests praising the quality of the food, there was also a to-go-box option for those who were observing Ramadan. Isuken was happy to know they had once again satisfied their customers.
In April, Isuken began their farming activities. They have a small farm in Auburn where they grow vegetables for themselves, their families, and the food truck. All members of Isuken are also farmers. In May, Isuken collaborated with the Maine Marina Project for an event at Edward Little High School. They served lunch to students, staff, and volunteers, offering their popular Sambusas in beef, chicken, and veggie varieties, as well as Injera. The Maine Marinara Project contributed homemade marinara sauce. The event was a great success, with positive feedback from students, staff, and volunteers.
COOKING WITH THE SLRO ! LED BY ZAMS FINE DINING
Since the beginning of the year, we have successfully held six cooking classes, reaching and serving over five hundred community members. These classes were led by Zamzam Elmoge, our Director of Operations and the owner of Zam’s Fine Dining, which has quickly gained popularity within the community over the last three years. Each of these cooking sessions were made not only to teach participants how to cook delicious meals but also to educate them on critical aspects of food safety and nutrition.
Each class began with a thorough review of a food safety guide, where participants learned important skills such as proper food handling, hygiene, and storage techniques. Following this, they were guided step-by-step through the recipe of the day, creating a hands-on learning experience that was both educational and enjoyable.
In January, we kicked off the year by preparing mouth-watering tacos. February brought the flavors of classic comfort food like Mac N Cheese, Wings, and Corn Bread. March was when participants mastered the art of Somali food with a focus on ‘barris’ and ‘baasto’. April was another taco-filled month, where we prepared over 100 tacos, which were handed out to the community for Iftar. and finally in June, for our last cooking class, participants learned how to make Indian food.
Beyond the cooking classes, we have made it a priority to cultivate stronger involvement within the community on topics related to food, nutrition, and agriculture. We have collaborated with organizations like Community Organizing Alliance to address important issues surrounding Climate, Food, and Justice. In April, we also co-hosted a Community Iftar Event during Ramadan, as a closing for our summer soccer tournament bringing together the community to share a meal.
WE ESTABLISHED A MOTHERS WELLNESS GROUP
Our Mothers Wellness Group has been an essential space of support and growth for a dedicated group of mothers in our community. Throughout the year, we've held regular sessions focused on nurturing mental health and emotional well-being, providing a safe and welcoming environment for these women to explore their passions and interests beyond their roles as mothers and wives.
Each session has been designed to encourage self-reflection and personal growth. We've engaged in meaningful conversations about mental health, exploring how to balance personal needs with the demands of family life. This group of wonderful women have also discussed what passions they have, identifying areas of their lives they wish to explore further, and taking steps toward personal fulfillment. One of the highlights was a trip to Old Orchard Beach, where they were able to relax, enjoy the water, and reconnect with themselves. For most, this was the first time they had been to the beach in years.
The Mothers Wellness Group has become a cornerstone of our community support efforts, offering these women not only a break from their daly lives but also a chance to grow, reflect. We look forward to continuing this journey with them.
PATHWAY TO DREAMS: FIRST COHORT
Over the past five months, our Pathway to Dreams initiative has provided a series of impactful and engaging experiences for our youth. From the outset, our participants were introduced to the program’s vision and goals, where they embraced the opportunities for growth and learning.
Throughout these months, our youth have been goal-setting and working towards achieving both their short and long term goals. Our Youth Leadership team works hard to make share each youth is provided with the right tools and resources in order to help them move forward with ‘dream journey.’ There were several activities, workshops and events our Pathway youth were able to be actively , engaged in. Some memorable moments were the workshops led by guest speakers, who come our community and have gone onto to achieve their own career goals, and came to inspire our kids.
The program wrapped up with a closing ceremony that recognized the hard work and dedication of each of our youth, where they received certificates, and the event was filled with joy, marking the end of a successful cohort. As a final trip, we were able to bring the kids and over 10 volunteers to Funtown Splashtown USA. They spent the day on rides, water slides, and enjoying the park, creating memories and stronger bonds with peers.
In just five months, the Pathway to Dreams initiative made a significant impact on the lives of our youth. We are proud of their accomplishments and look forward to supporting their continued growth in the future.
UNITY IN ACTION : SOCCER TOURNAMENTS
This tournament has been a true community effort, with everyone from the players to our community members coming together to make it happen. It’s a great way to help our youth get started in their athletic careers, while also keeping them active and engaged through soccer.
Our Unity In Action Initiative started strong with the Lewiston/Auburn Soccer Tournament, which ran from June 12th to July 14th. The tournament had five youth teams, ages 17 and under, and adult teams for those 18 and up. The games were held at Mike McGraw Field, with playoffs at Lewiston High School. Every year, this event gets bigger and better, and you can see the joy on the faces of the young players. It’s been especially meaningful for our youth, given the tough times our community has faced. This is quickly becoming one of the most loved events of the year.
This marked the second annual summer soccer tournament, and SLRO's debut as hosts, the turnout was incredible. So many had com to show support. Although there could only be one champion, we saw many victories in the way the community came together to cheer on the teams all summer long.
In collaboration with other sports-focused organizations across Lewiston, we also held a Ramadan Soccer Tournament, which took place during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The tournament runs for the first 20 days of Ramadan, with games three times a week. During the last 10 days, we focus on encouraging the youth to attend the mosque, as these days are believed to be when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet.
This year, six youth teams competed in the Ramadan tournament, and with support from JFM, we were able to give 25 iPads to the winning team. We couldn’t have made this happen without the help of other local nonprofits and, of course, the youth who put their trust in us.
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS: FROM MENTAL HEALTH TO TACKLING GUN VIOLENCE
Over the last few months, there has been a troubling increase in gun violence in our community, to the point where our community has become almost desensitized to these traumatic events happening repeatedly. On July 14th, our community tragically lost another young life to senseless gun violence. This devastating night was a reminder of the urgent need to address the pressing issue of gun violence that has plagued both our country and our community.
Since then, organizations across Lewiston/Auburn have collaborated to organize additional events, forums, and conversations aimed at tackling the rise in violence. SLRO remains actively involved in these efforts, focusing on the intersection of gun violence and mental health, and the significant impact these issues have on our community, especially on mothers and children.
Moving forward, SLRO is committed to expanding our initiatives to create a more comprehensive response to this crisis. We will be working on developing a new support group specifically designed to provide a safe space for those affected by gun violence. We also recognize the need for stronger community ties, and we will be organizing more frequent community gatherings that advocates collective action.