Hanging out at My Friend’s House
Breaking Trail
By Dianna Leighton
It’s no secret that February is known as “the month of love,” but why let romantic love get all of the attention? At My Friend’s House in Fort Fairfield, it’s all about unconditional acceptance for all members of the community through a variety of programs designed to empower and inspire.
If love is often a journey, then the journey to My Friend’s House starts with director Angela Williams and a personal past marked with abuse, neglect, loss, and hopelessness. Through a transformative faith, treatment, and self-determination, Williams found the strength within that would allow her to not only emerge from her own pain, but also find a sense of purpose toward helping others rise above their suffering. After over a decade of building successful intergenerational mentoring and youth work-training programs in Albany, New York, she relocated to Fort Fairfield in 2008 to be closer to her daughter.
Here, Williams observed that there was a critical need to provide a safe and welcoming place for the area’s young adults and women. This led to the development of the All About Me Girls After-School Program in 2009, a program offered at local schools which emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy self-esteem through positive supports. In 2012, Williams moved into a building of her own at My Friend’s House, a comfortable community space at 265 Main Street in Fort Fairfield and creative nerve center for all programming.
Visitors will find that the space itself at My Friend’s House can elevate one’s spirit. The center is vibrant with artwork displayed on every wall, several cozy seating areas, and nooks to enjoy music, games, or … whatever! Each weekday from 3:30-5:30 p.m., girls and boys from grades 6-10 make use of all of these areas as part of the current All About Me after-school program, which provides homework help, a healthy snack, and free time with friends.
My Friend’s House also offers D.A.S.H. (Daily Affirming and Self-Help) programs for women ages 17 and up, a weekly Young at Heart socialization program for ages 50 and up, peer mentoring, family game nights, and arts events such as an upcoming Night of Music and Poetry on March 30, and Silent Art Auction on April 27.
Currently, My Friend’s House operates from a combination of Williams’ role as a programming powerhouse, individual donations, and volunteer hours. Williams has an infectious spirit and sincere interest in connecting with those in the community, as evident in all of her varied work and the continued support of donors who share her interest in helping those most in-need grow and thrive. For more information on My Friend’s House, current programs, and volunteer programs, visit www.allaboutmeprograms.com or contact Angela Williams at (207) 227-6777.
Dianna Leighton is youth librarian at the Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library in Presque Isle. Her professional and personal interests include community building, digital media and content creation, and promoting transliteracy skills. In her spare time, she enjoys testing her cooking skills, reading anything she can get her hands on, and sharing stories and experiences with those in her community. Dianna can be reached at (207) 764-2571 or via e-mail at diannaleighton@presqueislelibrary.org.
