April 2025 newsletter
THE YELLOW DOOR.
In the heart of downtown Augusta, the yellow door of the Access Center stands as more than just an entryway—it’s an invitation. Painted in a bright, welcoming hue, the door reflects everything the Center stands for: light, hope, and possibility. Across history and cultures, yellow has symbolized warmth, energy, and new beginnings—exactly the feelings we hope each person carries with them as they walk through our threshold.
The Access Center is being built to be a place where people are seen, heard, and supported—where connection replaces isolation, and judgment gives way to acceptance. No matter where someone is in their journey, the yellow door is a reminder that they are welcome here. Inside, they’ll find community, compassion, and space to grow at their own pace. Because behind the yellow door, healing doesn’t have a script—it has support.
We are so grateful for the number of volunteers who have already given their time and talents to help us in the process of renovating the space for the Access Center, a day-time drop-in center. Special thanks go out to the Holistic Treatment Center, Enzo House, Housing FGC, Kennebec House and the Co-occuring Disorders Court (CODC), and Capitol Builders for your participation.
We are looking forward to seeing more of your members as we continue to finish the renovation. We are pushing to to finish quickly to we can begin to serve our community, as you know the need is great. Ways to help build the Access Center: raking the garden, painting, minor carpentry, moving boxes, driving other volunteers.
We also greatly appreciate the donations and the gifts in kind that we have received from individuals. Special shout outs to the Augusta Teen Center for your contributions of shelving, paper towel dispensers, paint, a fan, file cabinet and numerous other items. Thank you Lisa's Legit Burritos for the donation of a desk and your support of our work through the years. Thank you for the individuals who have donated furniture, clothing, games, puzzles and shampoo. You are all appreciated.
🌸 Water Street Spring Clean-Up! 🌸
We're not even open yet and we're already hitting the ground running!
Join ME-RAP & Augusta Downtown Alliance for a community clean-up day along historic Water Street in Augusta as we shake off the winter dust and welcome spring with some fresh energy and clean streets!
We’ll provide everything you need — trash bags, gloves, bottled water, and Cushnoc is donating pizza to celebrate your hard work and a job well done! This is a great opportunity to connect with neighbors, give back to the community, and enjoy the sunshine.
🚪 Project Doorstep:
Almost time to hit the streets!
🚪
IIt's almost time to hit the streets again!
Project Doorstep will be canvassing throughout Lewiston/Auburn and rural Kennebec County this summer!
During our first two summers, Project Doorstep knocked on 10,000 doors, distributed 5,489 boxes of Naloxone, and trained 3,692 people on Naloxone administration and the Good Samaritan Law!
Youth Leading the Way: ME-RAP Youth Caucus Launches Peer-to-Peer Naloxone Training
The ME-RAP Youth Caucus has officially completed their youth-led Naloxone training curriculum—an inspiring project born from the bold vision of young people in Maine to train their peers in overdose response! This effort grew directly out of Recovery in Maine: Youth Voices and the powerful youth advocacy that led to the passage of LD 1315, which requires Naloxone education in all Maine high schools.
Since the bill's passage, youth from across the state have been hard at work developing a training workshop by youth, for youth. And now, it’s happening: the first workshops have launched, with youth in Bangor leading a training at the Bangor Region YMCA!
Additionally, at Governor Janet Mills Opioid Summit Webinar this month, Kennebec County Youth Caucus member Kayleigh Ricker shared why this work matters so deeply:
“Some of the people closest to me have been saved by Naloxone, and without people around them knowing how to use it, they wouldn't be here today to help shape me into the person I am. I wouldn't be here speaking about how Naloxone not only saves lives but changes them.”
Kayleigh also issued a call to action:
“As Naloxone training rolls out in Maine high schools, I’m asking that each of you commit to engaging with young people to co-train with you. Young people are the best messengers to other young people.”
This isn’t just a curriculum—it’s a movement. And thanks to young people, a new generation of youth across Maine will be trained, empowered, and ready to act.
If you or your organization is interested in hosting a youth led Naloxone training,
please reach out to us at info@me-rap.org!
Our Team is Growing!
Please join us in welcoming Kelly Cookson to the ME-RAP team as our new Harm Reduction Programs Director!
Kelly is a powerhouse advocate with deep experience in harm reduction, public health outreach, and compassionate care. She brings years of frontline experience supporting people impacted by substance use—and she leads with both professional expertise and lived empathy.
From her street outreach work with the Connecticut Harm Reduction Alliance to her leadership at Save a Life Recovery Resource Center, Kelly has proven time and again her commitment to building low-barrier, person-centered programs that truly meet people where they are.
She is also a certified Recovery Coach and has a background in healthcare, which informs her trauma-informed, holistic approach to harm reduction. Additionally, Kelly has been serving as a volunteer organizer on the ME-RAP Statewide Organizing Team since 2022, where she has helped to lead our efforts to expand the Good Samaritan Law, secure cannabis tax revenue for recovery centers, and more.
As part of ME-RAP's staff team, Kelly will lead our Syringe Service Program, overdose prevention work, and harm reduction outreach and community clean ups at the MERAP Access Center in Augusta. She will also play a key role in supporting grassroots organizing and ensuring that people most impacted by substance use are at the center of everything we do.
We are thrilled to have her heart, her vision, and her fierce advocacy joining our team!
