UPDATE: The nonprofit organization Finding Our Voices is on a vital mission to combat domestic abuse through its impactful tour across 16 middle and high schools in six Maine counties now through April. This urgent initiative aims to educate teens on healthy relationships and identify normalized behaviors that can lead to abuse.
As students engage with the program, they are learning critical lessons about love and respect. “It touched on everything including abuse to males,” expressed one student, emphasizing the program’s inclusivity. The winter/spring leg of the 2026 Love/not Love tour is currently making stops from Sanford to Baileyville, with plans to resume visits in the fall.
Mary Kamradt, director of operations for Finding Our Voices, received enthusiastic feedback from a middle school principal in Somerset County, who stated, “I want you to stay here for two weeks!” This underscores the urgent need for the program’s relatable messages about unhealthy dating behaviors.
The program’s cornerstone is an interactive project where students analyze pop culture couples displaying unhealthy relationships, documenting abusive behaviors using an adaptation of the Power and Control Wheel. This hands-on approach is designed to resonate with young teens and is part of a comprehensive three-class period curriculum aligned with Maine educational standards.
Another significant aspect of the tour involves volunteers aged 15 to 21, who share their experiences with dating abuse both in person and through Zoom sessions. One student remarked, “It was good hearing from someone closer to our age that we can relate to more,” highlighting the importance of peer connection in this critical dialogue.
Finding Our Voices typically operates within health classes, but its presentations have also reached entire schools, as seen on March 9 at Deer Isle-Stonington High School. The nonprofit also undertook a two-day residency at Morse High School in Bath and Dexter Regional High School, where students reported transformative learning experiences. “This was an amazing learning experience,” said one participant, with others noting, “abuse can be more than hitting” and “it can happen to anyone.”
Patrisha McLean, founder and CEO, shared her gratitude for the positive feedback, stating, “It was good hearing from the principal of the last school we visited that our program is very powerful, and even better to be told, ‘We look forward to inviting you back in the fall.’”
Finding Our Voices is supported by First National Bank and is dedicated to breaking the silence surrounding domestic abuse in Maine. The organization provides essential resources for women survivors and their children, including funding for escape plans, free dental care, and online support groups.
For more information about the Love/not Love school program, visit Finding Our Voices. To learn more about their mission and resources available, check out Finding Our Voices.
This urgent tour not only addresses immediate educational needs but also highlights the ongoing fight against domestic abuse, making it a crucial initiative for communities across Maine.
