Community Action in Aroostook, Washington and Hancock Counties (CAAWHC) has reached a defining milestone in the development of a unified, regional Community Action Agency serving northern and Downeast Maine, with the formal election of a new 30-member, three-county Board of Directors on May 28, 2026. This achievement marks a major step forward in the organization’s deliberate transition to a fully integrated governance and service delivery model spanning Aroostook, Washington, and Hancock counties—an expansive region representing approximately 35 percent of Maine’s landmass.
The newly constituted Board reflects the federally required tripartite structure of Community Action Agencies, ensuring balanced representation from the Consumer, Public, and Private sectors. Board members were nominated through an inclusive and highly collaborative process involving a six-member, three-county Nominating Committee and seven recognized regional nominating entities, including the Head Start Parent Policy Council, Aroostook Community Collaborative, Community Caring Collaborative, Healthy Acadia, and the County Commissioners from each of the three counties.
“The process we have engaged in over the past several months has been very inclusive and intentional,” said Jason Parent, CEO of CAAWHC. “From the Governance Work Session we held in November that brought together more than 70 community leaders, partners, and service recipients, to the thoughtful nomination and election of this Board, we have taken great strides to ensure that the voices of the communities we serve are meaningfully represented as we carry this new agency forward.”
Board Chair Gary Sanfacon underscored the significance of the election as the culmination of that process and the foundation for what comes next. “This is a historic step in strengthening Community Action across northern and Downeast Maine,” Sanfacon said. “The Board we have elected reflects the diversity, expertise, and commitment needed to guide this organization as it continues to evolve.”
The newly elected Board of Directors includes representatives across all three sectors and counties, with members and affiliations as follows:
Consumer Sector: Bobbie Chasse (Aroostook Policy Advisory Council/AMHC), Bruce Thibeault (Head Start Parent Policy Council), January Pederson (Head Start Parent Policy Council), Meghan Miller (Head Start Parent Policy Council), Trudy Gorneault (Head Start/Early Childhood Education expert), Robin Levesque (Aroostook Community Collaborative/Maine Parent Federation), Lauren Sachs (Community Caring Collaborative – Washington County), Nicole Brandt (Community Caring Collaborative – Washington County), Leslie Goode (Healthy Acadia – Hancock County), Lynette Johnson (Healthy Acadia – Hancock County).
Public Sector: Ammie London (Region Two School of Applied Technology Director), Gary Sanfacon (State of Maine Juvenile Corrections Officer), Jenney Dionne (Madawaska Select Board), Nancy Troeger (Van Buren Town Librarian), Sheriff Peter Johnson (Aroostook County Sheriff), Dan MacDonald (RSU 39 Adult Education Director), Courtney Hammond (Washington County Commissioner), Marcia Rogers (Mayor of Calais), Jo Cooper (Lamoine Select Board Chair), Nicole Beers (RSU 25 Bucksport Elementary School Principal).
Private Sector: Billi Griffeth (Financial Services), Catherine Kent (Attorney), David Alward (Finance and Accounting), Jennifer Buckingham (Economic Development), John Zavodny (Housing), Nikki Chan (Education and Training), Patti Haslam (Transportation), Paula Sperry (Energy and Utilities), Theresa Brown (Health and Wellness), with one vacancy remaining in the Natural Resources sector to be filled in the coming months.
Reflecting on the work of assembling this slate of leaders from across the region, Board Vice Chair and Nominating Committee Chair Paula Sperry emphasized the careful thought behind the design of the governance model. “We were deeply intentional in assembling a Board that not only meets federal requirements, but truly represents the strengths, needs, and perspectives of all three counties,” Sperry said. “The individuals who have agreed to serve bring a remarkable breadth of experience and a shared commitment to advancing opportunity and support for the people and communities we serve.”
The formation of this Board follows formal amendments to the agency’s bylaws approved earlier this year, which expanded the organization’s service area and governance framework to reflect a three-county Community Action Agency, while maintaining the integrity of tripartite governance and local representation. This governance milestone builds upon significant progress made over the past year to stabilize and expand services following the transition of programs formerly operated by Downeast Community Partners (DCP). Effective October 15, 2025, the agency successfully assumed nearly all continuing program contracts, maintaining critical services across the region. Most recently, the organization secured the long-term sustainability of the Friendship Cottage adult day program in Blue Hill through the purchase of its facility, supported by an extraordinary grassroots fundraising effort.
As the organization continues to evolve operationally across all three counties, Parent emphasized that equity and presence across the region remain central to the agency’s approach. “We do not see ourselves as an organization headquartered in one county extending outward,” Parent said. “We are building a truly regional Community Action Agency—one that is present in and responsive to communities across Aroostook, Washington, and Hancock Counties.”
He continued by highlighting the intentional shift in service delivery. “From expanding partnerships with local schools and municipalities to deploying mobile outreach in rural areas, we are working to ensure that access, opportunity, and support are available throughout our entire region—not just in centralized locations.”
In parallel with governance and operational progress, the organization is also advancing a comprehensive naming and branding initiative to reflect its expanded mission and regional identity. Following a competitive Request for Proposals process that drew interest from firms across Maine and beyond, Lewiston-based Warp + Weft was selected to guide the effort. Over the past several months, the firm has worked closely with agency leadership, staff, Board members, and community stakeholders through surveys, virtual roundtables, and in-depth interviews to develop a name and brand that authentically represents the organization’s impact and aspirations.
That process has now culminated in the Board’s formal approval of a new agency name, following multiple rounds of review and a thorough legal clearance process. “This has been a thoughtful and inclusive effort to ensure that our new identity reflects who we are today and where we are headed as a three-county organization,” Parent said. “While we are not yet ready to publicly share the name, we are excited about what it represents and look forward to unveiling it to the communities we serve.”
The organization will now enter the next phase of brand development, including logo design and visual identity work, with a full public launch anticipated in early fall. Leaders note that the rollout will be accompanied by a broader communications effort to introduce the new brand and reinforce the agency’s role as a unified, regional Community Action organization.
Looking ahead, the newly seated Board will convene its first full-day, in-person work session on June 25 in Sherman, Maine, where members will begin developing a new mission, vision, and five-year strategic plan. These efforts will guide the next phase of growth as the agency continues advancing a unified structure and strengthening services across northern and Downeast Maine.
Framing the broader significance of the work underway, Parent added, “At any given time of year, our region is the first in the nation to see the sunrise. In a time when many communities are facing significant challenges, we are committed to being a source of light, stability, and opportunity across northern and Downeast Maine.”
