In Joe's line of work, he knows how important it is for Mainers to have access to affordable healthcare. In that vein, here's a nonprofit every Portlander should know about: Greater Portland Health is a remarkable medical practice committed to offering everyone in our communities high-quality, affordable and respectful care. Established in 2009 as the Portland Community Health Center, this organization now serves close to 12,000 people from its eight offices in Portland and one in South Portland.

The folks at GPH provide a greater range of care than many practices, including primary medical, behavioral health and oral health. They also partner with the region’s finest specialists to care for your whole self, for your whole life.

GPH welcomes everyone, no matter what type of insurance you may have—private, Medicare, MaineCare, or none. For those without insurance, they offer a sliding-scale fee based on income.

Learn more about this important organization here. Joe offers his thanks for the great work that GPH does in the greater Portland community.

As another Veteran's day comes and goes, Joe is thankful for the sacrifices made by those who wear an American uniform and defend our country, and saddened by the challenges they often face when they come home. They deserve to be treated like the courageous heroes that they are. Thanks to everyone who has served and who plans on doing so in the future. Happy Veteran's Day.

                     Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

Some Mainers don't know that Joe was born right here in Portland-- at Mercy Hospital on State Street. Well, State Street's come a long way since 1946, and there's no better example of that than the 7th Annual State Street Holiday Stroll. On Tuesday, November 12th, Joe encourages you to join Mercy Hospital, State Street Church, the Maine Irish Heritage Center, the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, 75 State Street, 100 State Street, and other State Street neighbors for a day-long holiday fair featuring an abundance of crafts, food, books, toys and other unique holiday gifts. Do all of your holiday fairs shopping in one trip! All fair locations are within walking distance; other festivities include music, caroling, hot beverages, food and baked goods, raffles and more.

Joe is sure this will be a fun event for the whole family and urges you to learn more by going here.

Here's a tough message to decipher. Joe is spreading the word about Maine Inside Out, a Portland nonprofit founded in 2008 that holds theater programs at Maine’s juvenile correctional facility, Long Creek Youth Development Center. More than 250 incarcerated youth have volunteered to create and share powerful original theater inside LCYDC and in communities across the state. Since 2014, MIO facilitators and young people released from LCYDC have engaged in community organizing and theater workshops to improve outcomes for youth returning home after incarceration through meaningful community engagement, peer and adult support, participant-led advocacy, leadership development and practical skill-building.

Tonight at 6pm, MIO is hosting Exposed, an original performance by a Maine Inside Out members, film by Smooth Feather Productions and an interactive art installation by their guest, the nationally touring project Performing Statistics. The event will be held at USM's Hannaford Hall. Joe hopes it's a great success and offers his thanks to MIO for the inspiring work they do.

Learn more about Maine Inside Out here, and more about Exposed here.

One of Joe's many favorite things about being an American is the right to have your voice heard on Election Day. With so many people around the world living under oppression, Joe is incredibly grateful that we get to freely choose who leads our country. We have a lot to be grateful for here in the USA. Whether you're politically to the left, right, or in the middle, please be sure to go to your local polling place today and exercise one of your most important rights. Visit this website to find your polling place. Rock the vote, Portland.

                      Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

Each year on this blog Joe spreads the word about Winter Kids, an organization that helps children develop healthy lifelong habits through fun, outdoor winter activity. If you grew up in Maine like Joe did, you know the importance of outdoor play-- especially in the winter when we tend to spend most of our time indoors! On Saturday, January 18th, 2020, hundreds of Mainers will experience the thrill of sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating, and much more at Winter Kids' annual Welcome to Winter Festival. At Payson Park in Portland from 12:30pm - 2:30pm, kids and families will enjoy great sledding and snowshoeing, healthy snacks, raffle prizes, warm winter giveaways, a welcome from city officials, and more. Find out more about this wonderful organization here and more about the event here. Joe says have fun and stay warm!

                              Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

Once again Joe, ever the animal-lover, is promoting the Maine Animal Coalition's Vegetarian Food Festival, to be held this Sunday, November 3rd, at the Italian Heritage Center from 11am to 3pm. Since 1989, with the help of dedicated volunteers, the Maine Animal Coalition has worked to promote compassion towards all animals and to instill this compassion as a guiding principle in the State of Maine. Their Vegetarian Food Festival is a fun event featuring vegan food, live music, exhibitors, vendors, raffles, a documentary, and interesting speakers. Joe urges you to find out more about the Maine Animal Coalition at their website, and more about this weekend's event here.

                        Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.

In the Halloween spirit, Joe is once again spreading the word about the Equality Maine's Great Pumpkin Ball. EqualityMaine is a local organization that works to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Maine through political action, community organizing, education, and collaboration.

Taking place tonight, Saturday October 26th at 7pm, the Pumpkin Ball will be held at Portland's State Theatre. Hosted by Blake and Eva of Coast 93.1, the Ball will feature dancing all night with DJs, musical and dance performances, and a costume contest with over $1,000 in prizes.  Joe is sure the event will be great fun and offers his thanks to Equality Maine for the great work they do!

Learn more about Equality Maine here and more about the Ball here.

                   Photography by Corey Templeton. See more of Corey's photos here and here.