Maine Public News Connect Episode 72

Welcome to Maine Public News Connect.

Episode 72 is out today in Spanish, Somali, Portuguese, and French, with Newsletters in Arabic and Khmer. 

Starting this week, in connection with Maine Public’s YourVote initiative and political reporting, we’re answering audience questions about participating in the upcoming midterm elections. 

English Transcript from Episode 72

Somali Political Candidate

Mana Abdi is now running unopposed for a seat in the Maine Legislature after her opponent unexpectedly withdrew from the race.

Abdi, a Democrat, was going to face Republican Fred Sanborn-Silvers in the November election for District 95, which is based in Lewiston.

But Sanborn-Silvers withdrew from the race in August, too late for the Republican Party to find a replacement for him.

Abdi is one of two Somali-American state legislative candidates this year, alongside South Portland mayor Deqa Dhalac.

Green Card Rule Change

The federal government will no longer penalize Green Card applicants for relying on public assistance programs to access housing, healthcare, and food.

The new rule ends a Trump Administration policy that expanded the list of criteria that immigration officers could consider when reviewing a Green Card application.

The Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition called the change “a major win for immigrant families.”

The new rule will go into effect on December 23rd.

Registering Immigrant Voters

The Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center is launching a campaign to register voters and provide information about the 2022 elections.

Staff from the Immigrant Welcome Center spoke with residents in Portland’s Kennedy Park neighborhood last week.

They also plan to visit Westbrook and other neighborhoods in Portland before the election, which is on November 8th.

Molly Herman, who works at the Center, said registering 50 new voters would be considered a success.

Children’s Book Festival

Many immigrant children don’t have access to children’s books that reflect their experiences, but one book festival in Maine is trying to change that.

The Beautiful Black Bird Children’s book festival honors the legacy of author Ashley Bryan, who wrote children’s books featuring Black characters.

This year, event organizers plan to give away more than 4,000 books to kids across the state.

The festival will take place in Portland on Saturday, September 17th at the Children’s Museum, and in Lewiston on Sunday in Kennedy Park.

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