Applications and nominations open: November 20th, 2023

Applications close: December 15th, 2023, by 5 pm

Interviews: December 18th-29th, 2023

Final selection of cohort: January 5th, 2024

Dates of training: February 10th - May 18th, 2024

Graduation: June 1st, 2024

All trainings are currently scheduled to take place at City Hall (389 Congress St.), however there will be some alternate sites. Sites will be provided to selected cohort.

We understand that your time is valuable, we also understand that to participate will be an additional task on top of the leadership each fellow provides to the community. Because of this, Natural Helpers program will provide the following stipends:

Childcare Stipend- Childcare Stipend will be provided for Fellows with families .

Transportation- Transportation Stipend for Fellows.

Fellowship Stipend- All Fellows will receive a stipend for participation. First payment at the midpoint of the program and last payment at the end.

We will provide Free breakfast and lunch.

Group network final dinner + graduation dinner.

We will provide Mentorship through various sources.

Access to Organization Leaders/ Networks across Portland.

Immersive experience with organizations from various sectors

OEO + NH Swag and clothing gear.

We will provide a Mayoral NH certificate, USM educational certificate and credentialing.

JANET LAFLAMME

PCC CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL COACH

Janet LaFlamme has held leadership positions in health care, higher education and nonprofit social service organizations as well as adjunct faculty positions teaching courses at both the graduate and undergraduate level.

Janet is a certified coach at the Professional level (PCC) from the International Coaching Federation. She will support while nudging new leaders as they learn to maximize their individual strengths. 

Janet holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Bates College in Lewiston and a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Southern Maine. She holds the Gestalt Coaching Certification from the Gestalt International Study Center in Wellfleet, Massachusetts. 

ARAM GUPTILL

Aram Guptill is a 12th-generation Mainer who focuses on multilingual education through a realm of community leadership, peace education, and self-expression. He holds a Masters of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.

Both in and outside of the classroom, Aram is committed to fostering understanding and positive change across linguistic and cultural landscapes.

Aside from his work in the education sphere, Aram serves as the co-executive director of Hackmatack Farm and Playhouse, a professional performance theater and regenerative small-scale farm in Berwick, Maine.

How do you connect the dots?

There are countless resources available to Portlanders, and this session seeks to educate you on knowing what these specific resources are, where to find them, and how to access them so you can guide your fellow community members in doing the same. Community organizations and services will be presenting on what they have to offer and how to access their essential services. Some topics include accessing legal services, the Metro, recreation, enrolling in school and healthcare, and more. During these sessions, Natural Helpers will also have the chance to apply what they have learned by analyzing several case studies and making appropriate references to services that could help in each unique scenario.

How can you problem solve through leadership skills?

You will likely encounter (and probably already have encountered) a diverse set of situations and problems varying in scope. This session will focus on how to develop leadership skills to provide Natural Helpers with the means and knowledge to assess and deal with the situation at hand in the most professional, effective, and sensitive way.