By Germain Mucyo and Rachel Ndjondjo
On Thursday, September 18, more than 200 community members, policymakers, and advocates gathered at Halo at Thompson’s Point in Portland for the Second Annual Maine Immigration Forum, an evening of shared food, performance, and conversation about Maine’s immigrant communities and their future. Organized by the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition under the theme “Embracing Our Diverse Roots, Cultivating Our Future in Maine,” the event blended celebration with urgent calls for action.
The evening began with a communal meal featuring dishes prepared by immigrant-owned caterers, a warm introduction to the forum’s focus on food as cultural heritage and community connection.
Following dinner, Jonah Fertig-Burd of InterRooted introduced the coalition’s cultural food hub project, a two-year planning initiative connecting groups such as the Somali Bantu Community Association and Presente! Maine. Fertig-Burd said, “We’re exploring how this cultural food hub can support cultural heritage with foods, access to those foods, sharing seeds, sharing stories, and sharing meals together … and build greater resilience and connection.”
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A panel discussion on “meeting the moment” brought together diverse perspectives. Jake Fahey of the Maine Council of Churches urged the audience to “love thy neighbor … it is up to us to show up for each other and to build a relationship and connection.”
Leana Amáez, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion at Bates College, spoke on the pressures facing immigrant students and staff in higher education: “The tenor of the moment is sitting really deeply with members of our community, either because it affects them personally or affects someone that they love.”
Ben Conniff, Co-Founder of Luke’s Lobster, highlighted how Maine’s economy and industries are “inextricably linked” to immigrant contributions.
In the interview with Amjambo Africa, Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition Advocacy Policy, and Communications Manager Ruben Torres underscored the forum’s purpose: “The world of immigration impacts so much of our everyday life that sometimes we just don’t even really think about it.”
The forum’s artistic highlight was a performance by Adanna Kai Jones, Assistant Professor of Dance at Bowdoin College. Her high-energy, Caribbean-inspired dance invited audience participation and underscored the cultural vibrancy immigrant communities bring to Maine.
The program closed with a keynote address from Dr. Marcelle Medford, Associate Professor of Sociology at Bates College. She invoked Angela Davis’s reminder that “Freedom is a constant struggle,” and called on attendees to act: “The imaginations we cultivate today will grow long roots for future generations, generations who will choose liberation and grasp things at the root.”
The Maine Immigration Forum’s central message was to celebrate immigrant heritage, while urging all Mainers to work collectively for a more just and connected future.
