Presente! is a powerful community survival organization, run by and for Maine’s Afro/Indigenous and Latinx community. They began as a grassroots emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and since then have grown to support thousands of community members through their Collective Farm on Land in Common’s land in Greene, their Despensa Solidaria, a solidarity food distribution program, their community health services, and their policy advocacy in the struggle for healthcare for all.
They’ve done all this without a secure space to house their work. They’ve battled predatory landlords, delivered food in parking lots, cobbled together multiple leases and donated spaces, and done everything in their power to meet the needs of their community. With a building of their own, they can put all of their money towards their community, providing a stable, long-term place for people to find welcome, belonging, and resources.
Land in Common is working with Presente! to buy a building in the greater Portland area, the permanent home for their community center. The community center will have gathering space for events and celebrations, office space for their community healthcare work, staff offices, green space and gardening space, big walk-in coolers, and dry storage for their food distro.
Presente! shares our vision of land decommodification. Presente! will own the building, and Land in Common will own the land, which will be permanently removed from the speculative real estate market to combat gentrification and create land security for future generations.
This project is Land in Common’s largest to date. We’re more than halfway to reaching our fundraising goal of $700,000, and with your support, the Community Center is within reach.
Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to our goal. This project is a critical moment for Land in Common and Presente! We’re combining our strength to create land justice in community with thousands of people in the heart of Maine’s largest city. We encourage you to share this project with your friends and donate if you are able!
We need infrastructure owned by the community for the community, to build our collective power and create our own safety and wellbeing. Solo el pueblo salva el pueblo! Only the people can save the people.
In solidarity,
Land in Common and Presente! Maine
