Partners for Peace honors community partners at annual meeting

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Partners for Peace, the domestic violence resource center serving Piscataquis and Penobscot counties, celebrated its community partners during the organization’s annual meeting at The Commons at Central Hall on March 21.

Honorees included Hope of the Future Award recipients Olivia Baldacci, Daniel Adam and John Keane; Michele Alexander Award recipient Dina Yacoubagha; Dove Award recipient Ed French; and Partners in Change Award recipient Mayo Regional Hospital.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Kirlin/The Thing of the Moment
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE — The Hope for the Future Award was among the honors bestowed during the Partners for Peace annual meeting March 21 at The Commons at Central Hall. From left are Casey Faulkingham, community response team leader, Partners for Peace; recipient Olivia Baldacci; Adriana Gleason, prevention and awareness educator; recipients Daniel Adam and John Keane; and Angie Alfonso, prevention educator.

The Hope for the Future Award is presented to a young person(s) or individual/group working with youth that has gone above and beyond in working toward a future without violence or abuse.

The Michele Alexander Award namesake volunteered for Spruce Run for many years. She did so with a generous, grounded compassion for those who have been affected by abuse, and with a sense of joy, creativity and humor that made all the hard organizational work feel like a party. This award is given each year in her memory, in honor of a volunteer who shares her commitment to the organization and the people we serve.

The Dove Award is presented to an individual whose personal values reflect those of Partners for Peace. This individual is someone who goes above and beyond the duties of your average community partner and lives and breathes our mission.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Kirlin/The Thing of the Moment
DOVE AWARD FOR MAYO REGIONAL HOSPITAL — Dr. David McDermott accepts the Dove Award from Partners for Peace on behalf of Mayo Regional hospital in recognition of the hospital values reflecting those of Partners for Peace. Looking on is Partners for Peace Rural Outreach Advocate Cindy Freeman-Cyr, left, and Outreach Team Leader Catherine Reed.

For the Partners in Change Award every person’s safety exists in the cultural context that we all create every day in our personal, professional and civic lives with our words, actions and choices regarding what we tolerate, what we challenge and to whom we reach out. Each year our organization honors a community partner whose actions reflect these ideals.