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History

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Our History

NVME was founded in 1978 as the Displaced Homemakers program through state legislation introduced by Representatives Merle Nelson and Barbara Trafton.

The organization originally served mid-life and older homemakers needing to re-enter the paid workforce after widowhood, divorce, or the disability of their spouse. The focus was on career and educational planning and transferring homemaking and community volunteer skills to the workplace.

In 1985 the organization launched entrepreneurship training and in 1994, NVME changed its name to Women, Work, and Community to reflect an expanded and more positive focus for services.

The first trades conferences for girls and the first financial education classes were developed in the early 2000s.

In 2015, we became New Ventures Maine.  With a mission to help Maine people succeed in the changing economy and achieve economic security for themselves and their families, we continue to offer free classes and coaching in three program areas: building careers, starting businesses, and managing money. Our scope of services focuses on meeting the needs of diverse populations, including people who are incarcerated, survivors of domestic violence, people with disabilities, New Mainers, Maine Native Americans, and college students of all ages.

View an NVME history timeline in PDF or see below for highlights of our 45 years…and counting!

NVME HISTORY TIMELINE

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Our Roots: 1975

Displaced Homemakers Movement launched by Tish Sommers and Laurie Shields with the motto, ”Don’t Agonize, Organize”; first state legislation passed in California.
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Our Roots: 1977

Homemakers, introduced by Freshmen Representatives Merle Nelson and Barbara Trafton, passed in the 108th Maine Legislature with a $15,000 appropriation.
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1985

New Ventures Entrepreneurship training launched to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the skills and connections to start successful small businesses.
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1985

Five-year VISTA Volunteer Rural Community Resource Project initiated to increase DHP’s statewide presence in rural communities across the state.
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1989

Expanded women’s advocacy and leadership roles at the state, regional, and national level, advocating for a fair share of the economic pie and expanded program funding.
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1993

Celebrated 15th Anniversary
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1994

Name change to Maine Centers for Women, Work, and Community to reflect an expanded and more positive focus for services.
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1996

Expanded collaborative workforce and business pathways out of poverty towards economic security for individuals receiving public benefits.
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1998

Celebrated 20th Anniversary
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2000

Financing Your Future (My Money Works) financial education class developed and first FDA account holder purchases her home using her matched savings provided through Maine Family Development Account program to help low-income families build assets.
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2002

Helping women and girls explore careers in trade and technical fields through first Totally Trades! Conference for middle and high school girls and guides for job seekers and employers.
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2002

Maine Women’s Economic Security Project created a statewide blueprint for inter-related policies needed for women to achieve economy security.
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2003

25th Anniversary Celebration and first Merle Nelson Women Making a Difference Award presented to Merle Nelson
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2009

Expanded access and digital literacy through distance learning with workforce and business classes offered online and in blended format.
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2010

Ambassador program expanded statewide to build community leadership skills of program graduates.
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2012

Established the NVME Rainy Day Savings Account program in Lewiston with inaugural funding from the Francis Hollis Brain Foundation.
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2015

Established a new organization identity, New Ventures Maine, to reflect expanded target populations and scope of services.
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2016

Expanded role with CA$H Maine/VITA to provide free tax assistance and asset building resources to tax filers.
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2017

Leadership role with MaineSpark Adult Promise with focus on supporting student success and increasing college degrees and workforce credentials for a diverse Maine workforce.
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2018

Financial education, coaching, and matched savings are adapted to meet the needs of diverse populations—people who are incarcerated, survivors of domestic violence, people with disabilities, New Mainers, Maine Native Americans, and college students of all ages.
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2019

New Ventures Maine celebrates 40th anniversary with event and publishing 40 success stories from particpants.
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2020

Maine Development Foundation and Leadership Maine recognized Gilda Nardone for Extraordinary Commitment to Maine with the 2020 Kenneth M. Curtis Leadership Award.
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2020

Expanded CA$H Maine services to include free, trustworthy, virtual tax preparation services. Partnered with GetYourRefund to provide online services and developed a scan-and-go option so IRS tax law-certified volunteers could prepare taxes off site.
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2020

Transitioned classes, workshops, and advising to interactive online format for statewide accessibility. Adapted training to address changing workforce, business, and financial realities. Also adapted Totally Trades! sessions for girls in grades 8-12 to be offered online statewide.
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2021

Addressing disproportionate challenges, created pandemic-responsive programming designed to meet the needs of women.
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2021

Gilda Nardone announced her retirement after 43 years as executive director and NVME welcomed Western Region Manager, Janet Smith, as executive director following an extensive search.
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2023

Re-branded Totally Trades! with name change to Trades for ME; updated logo and launched tradesforme.org website.
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2024

Added a new free service, Student Loan Repayment Counseling, to complement financial education offerings. Service is made possible in part by a grant from the John T. Gorman Foundation.