May 2026
Date:
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Dear Neighbors,
We're sending this newsletter on a weekend that feels more like March than the end of May. However you're spending it, we hope you're warm and dry.
This month's newsletter includes a look back at the 2026 legislative session, resources to mark Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and Juneteenth events happening across Maine throughout June.
In Solidarity,
The Permanent Commission
Legislative Session Review
Every legislative session, the rules that shape life in Maine are up for debate. This year, the Permanent Commission testified on 29 bills across issues that matter deeply to the communities we serve, including Wabanaki sovereignty, criminal legal system reform, food access, federal immigration enforcement, child care, and housing.
Read our full 2026 Legislative Session Review to see where we stood, what passed, and what work remains.
Recognizing Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The Smithsonian Institute has gathered resources that center community knowledge and leadership. These are some of the resources to explore:
- Filipino American Stories Revealed The overlooked history of a trailblazing Filipino community in California from the 1910s to the 1970s is told through twenty-six steamer trunks found in 2005.
- Japanese American Incarceration Era Collection In this period racial prejudice and fear upset the delicate balance between citizen rights and the power of the state.
- Nail Salons and Vietnamese Refugees Read about the history of nail salons and how refugees found sanctuary in an unexpected place.
- Women to Know this Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month The museum shares stories and objects of notable Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women.
We also want to share Stop AAPI Hate and NORC at the University of Chicago’s third annual State of Anti-AA/PI Hate report. This national survey’s findings include that hate against AA/PI communities has persisted at alarming levels for three consecutive years. The report is a reminder that this month's recognition carries real weight.
Upcoming Events
Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas finally received word of their freedom, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a day of joy, remembrance, and reflection on what liberation means today and for our future.
Community organizations are hosting events throughout the month of June. We are proud to have partnered to sponsor some of these celebrations, and grateful to every organization bringing people together in community. Find an event near you.
