Maine Equal Justice is a source of policy knowledge and resources for all Mainers, so that everyone who needs help can get it and so we can all improve the safety net and ensure there are enough opportunities to get ahead.
Policy details matter. Facts matter. Information is power. Data and research inform the policy changes we advance and support. We know the law and can identify ways to improve it. We work with impacted communities, government agencies, policymakers, experts, academics, and state and national partners to gather the best information and to learn from the experience and perspective of others.
We have a proven track record of bringing people together to get things done. Together we pursue changes that make a real difference for low-income Mainers, their families, and their communities.
Samantha Watson of Parsonsfield wanted to go to college to pursue a nursing degree. As a single mom receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) she saw education as a pathway out of poverty that offered her family hope for a brighter future.
Samantha learned about the Parents as Scholars program in 2016—a program that was developed by Maine Equal Justice in 1997. Parents as Scholars makes higher education and training possible for low-income parents, helping with necessary supports likes childcare and transportation so parents can succeed.
Samantha knew that Parents as Scholars was right for her and, working with Maine Equal Justice’s paralegal, she qualified and enrolled in the program. Samantha wanted to make the system work better for every Maine family. She joined the Maine Equal Justice Partners Circle, MEJ’s leadership development program, to continue to learn how to advocate for herself and others. She spent time in Augusta at the state house, meeting with legislative leaders and testifying before legislative committees in support of reforms to help families access education and training opportunities. After hearing from Samantha and others like her, the Legislature passed multiple reform measures crafted by Maine Equal Justice and the Equal Justice Partners Circle.
“Getting my nursing degree through Parents as Scholars means the world—independence, financial security, the ability to provide for my daughter. When I first went to DHHS, it felt like nobody really understood Parents as Scholars. I did a lot of research on my own, and I called Maine Equal Justice to get more information. Someone else telling me that my research was accurate made me more confident, and I could go back to the caseworker at DHHS and continue to ask questions about the program until I received answers.”
-Samantha Watson, nurse, mother, and Equal Justice Partners Circle advocate
Maine Equal Justice focuses its work on many of the issues that affect people’s daily lives – access to adequate health care, housing, transportation and childcare; food and income security; and higher education and training. Maine Equal Justice is a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization. Our EIN is 04-3346273.
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126 Sewall Street, Augusta ME 04330 (Map) • Toll-free: 1-866-626-7059 • FAX: 207-621-8148
