Our 2025 Natural Helpers

With a passion and a focus for Language Access, Carina works tirelessly to connect the broader Lusophone community with language interpretation and translation. An advocate for mental health support, Carina is quick to refer community members to services that can best support their mental healthcare needs. 2 years ago, Carina created and began facilitating a whatsapp group, Comunidade Lusófona de Maine, which has grown to almost 400 members and serves as a vital resource sharing and community celebration platform.

Positive, energetic, and optimistic, Carla brings a light to every room she enters. Having arrived in Maine 3 years ago from Peru, Carla at first struggled to feel connected in her new home. Leaving behind a non-profit organization in Peru where she focused on social issues, she felt unsure of what issues existed in Maine and how to address them. Through her experience with the Natural Helpers Fellowship, she gained a deeper understanding of the unique experiences that affect Mainers (both newcomers and non) and understands how to leverage resources to meet their needs.

An unstoppable powerhouse in connecting asylum seekers and refugees with resources through her role at Catholic Charities, Belviga works tirelessly to connect newly arrived Mainers with the support that they need to live fully integrated lives in Maine. She humbly leads others as a quiet internal leader that believes in the importance of supporting everyone. Through Natural Helpers, she has learned that change happens when one steps out of their comfort zone, takes a risk in the position they were given, and share with others the resources they need to live a fulfilling life.

Serving as a property manager for a large apartment complex, Ethan understands the need for authentic community building. After his apartment building began to house a large number of international Roux students, he became more aware of the unique issues facing international students who may be trying to secure a living in a new country post-graduation. In addition to his community-building experience, Ethan is also an advocate for young business entrepreneurs, serving on the board for the young professionals networking organization through Portland’s Chamber of Commerce.

Francys shines as a beacon for the Spanish-speaking community of Maine. With a cheerful attitude, an engaging personality, and quick humor, Francys is key at connecting folks to resources and advocating for their rights. She hosts bi-monthly Latin dances where she creates a beautiful space for community, while simultaneously sharing resources and knowledge in a comfortable and informal setting. She believes deeply in the power of education, and works tirelessly to increase English-language access for Spanish- speakers in the greater Bangor area.

With dedication to supporting his family, neighbors and community, João works tirelessly as the Program Manager for Greater Portland Family Promise. When he received the news that a family shelter that he managed was closing due to lack of funding, João secured housing for everyone under his care and helped all his laid-off coworkers find new employment. A creative entrepreneur, João dreams of owning his own business one day. This has inspired him to take part in CEI business entrepreneurship classes so that one day he may be able to contribute to Portland’s vibrant small business community.

When Darlene began the Natural Helpers Fellowship, she had only been living in the U.S. for six months. Still adjusting to a new culture and way of life, she hadn’t yet fully grasped the systems around her. The fellowship changed that, offering her knowledge, resources, and most importantly, a sense of community. During her time with Natural Helpers, Darlene secured a position at a local nonprofit teaching leadership classes and gained critical insights into navigating life in Maine. In particular, she developed her knowledge about tenants’ rights, allowing her to support both her own family and others in her community by sharing information about housing and heating protections. With positivity and a growth mindset, Darlene is now secure and confident that she can make a difference in her new home.

When Joelle began the Natural Helpers Fellowship, she didn’t quite know what she was getting into, nor did she consider herself a leader. “For me, I love learning,” she reflected. “I was invited to come, and so I came with open ears to learn.” And learn she did. Through active participation in history and economic tours, meaningful conversations with her mentor, and one-on-one discussions with diverse Fellows, Joelle began to see the city around her with fresh eyes. Over time, she also came to see herself differently, recognizing that through her community work, others already viewed her as a leader: a leader who asks thoughtful questions and builds strong authentic connections.

With quiet introspection, Musa shows up fully to every occasion and lets others feel seen when they do too. A board member for the Azerbaijan Society of Maine, Musa understands the complexity facing community members who lack proper language access, and how this challenge affects every aspect of their lives, from housing, to healthcare, to financial literacy. Dedicated to supporting the new community that he now calls home, Musa was inspired to join the Air National Guard to further put his innate natural helper leadership skills to work in new and meaningful ways.

A professional chef at a local nursing home, Nio understands the intricate relationship between hospitality work, mental health access, and substance misuse. As Executive Director of Serving up Support: Maine, as well as a chief ambassador for the Burnt Chef Project, Nio is quick to discuss with other chefs and hospitality leaders resources to promote healthy workspaces. Her work reaches individuals as well, as she meets with hospitality workers across northern New England who may be experiencing substance abuse issues, labor rights violations, and struggling to be connected with healthcare resources. Through all of this, Nio, with a heart full of empathy, compassion, and persistence, meets with them to make their workspaces a little more healthier.

In her role as a Senior Housing Navigator, Severina does more than just connect individuals to housing resources in the Greater Portland area. Her work spills over in connecting individuals with legal rights, whether it is in the realm of TPS, child custody issues, asylum cases, or tenants facing eviction. In addition, Severina was encouraged through the Natural Helpers fellowship to take a closer look at mental health and self-care strategies to avoid burnout and stress during her daily life. This introspection led her to petition her boss for the whole office to take daily walks together outside, in an effort to decrease stress and burnout, while simultaneously increasing workplace culture and physical wellness.

Sloane believes in the power of civic engagement, and spends her time connecting university students with a deeper understanding on how to be civically involved through her work as a community engagement specialist at USM. To her, the greatest gift she can give students is understanding how to be civic leaders. She believes in the power of the collective to make change, and she shows up as her authentic self to support and care for those around her.