As part of Momentum: A Maine Racial & Social Equity Series, the Chamber, GPCOG, United Way of Greater Portland, the Portland Public Library, and the Maine Historical Society are bringing you a panel discussion about Black History in Maine. Black Mainers will share their family's history and experience in Maine dating back to the 18th century.
Panelists:
Moderator: Krystal Williams, Founder, Providentia Group; Co-Curator Begin Again exhibition*
*This Spring, Maine Historical Society will launch Begin Again: Reckoning with Intolerance in Maine, an exhibition, digital resource, and Zoom program series, that will explore how Maine fits into the national dialog on race and equity.
Scroll down for panelist bios.
*While we are providing these virtual events FREE of charge, we are asking attendees to consider making voluntary contributions to help cover the costs associated with this program, including paying the presenters for their time and expertise on racial equity.
Brief Q&A will follow the discussion. This webinar will be recorded and a replay made available.
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PANELISTS:
Bob Greene - Historian and retired journalist
A native of Portland, Bob Greene is a retired Associated Press journalist and a Maine historian. He has done extensive research into his own genealogy and discovered that he is at least the 8th generation of his family to be born in Cumberland County. Bob has taught “Black History of Maine” at OLLI and served on the Board of Trustees of the Maine Historical Society.
Garrett Stewart - Shipfitter, Bath Iron Works; Member, Permanent Commission for the status on Racial, Indigenous and Tribal Populations
Garrett is a 3rd generation Mainer. His grandparents came to Maine during World War ll when his grandfather took a job at the South Portland Shipyard. Carrying on the family tradition, Garret was also a ship–fitter at Bath Iron Works. He retired in 2020 due to a work-related injury. He is a member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local S6 and is leading the creation of an A. Philip Randolph chapter in the Maine AFL-CIO. Garrett serves on the Permanent Commission for the status on Racial, Indigenous and Tribal Populations.
Pam Cummings - President, Board of Directors, Abyssinian Meeting House
Pam Cummings was born and raised in Portland. Her parents are Mary Jane and Leonard W. Cummings Sr. She is a proud 5th generation Mainer and the proud mother to two adult children, Lindsey and Doug. Pam currently serves as the President of The Board of Directors and Director of Educational Programs at The Abyssinian Meeting House. She has over 20 years of experience in community engagement, identifying and cultivating business relationships, fundraising, and event planning.
Krystal Williams - Founder, Providentia Group; Co-Curator Begin Again exhibition
Krystal Williams is founder of Providentia Group, a business and advisory firm in the Portland area that works with businesses to create paths to economic belonging for historically disenfranchised individuals. Williams most recently practiced transactional and regulatory law at Bernstein Shur, and Pierce Atwood before that. Before receiving her law degree from the University of Maine School of Law, she held senior management roles at John Deere. She holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth and dual BAs in Mathematics and Psychology from Williams College.
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