The South Sudanese Community of Maine gathered on January 5th at the Root Cellar in Portland. “We joined together to celebrate the New Year and march into 2019 together!” said John Ochira, president of the association. Mayor Ethan Strimling, Councilor Pious Ali, South Portland City Councilor Deqa Dhalac, and other leaders from the immigrant community attended the event and addressed the crowd. Everyone enjoyed traditional food, music, and activities on the dance floor. The mission of the South Sudanese Community of Maine is to unify, highlight, and advocate for the needs of the community. The party was a wonderful night of fun for all.