LEWISTON, Maine — In the 365 days since the mass shootings in Lewiston, one team's mission has been to help as many people as possible process their trauma and emotions.
The Maine Resiliency Center was established in the wake of the mass casualty event in Lewiston on Oct. 25, 2023. It provides free community connection, support, and resources to those who are impacted by the tragedy. It is located on Main Street in Lewiston in the former Peck's Department Store. It offers walk-in hours, as well as appointments.
The center's director, Danielle Parent, said the resources there are for anyone who feels affected by the shooting.
"That puts an ownership on a person to determine whether they feel impacted or affected. The challenge of that is that folks may think that they're not as impacted as somebody else and they don't want to take a resource away," Parent said. "'Am I impacted enough?' The answer is yes. Always. And there's a lot of power in serving others that can come through just showing up."
The people who staff the MRC work for Community Concepts, Inc.
The center opened just three weeks after the shootings. The city of Lewiston and Maine Attorney General's Office are footing the bill until federal grants reimburse them. The only other Resiliency Center to open faster after a mass shooting was in Orlando, Florida, the site of the Pulse Nightclub shooting, which had the financial backing of Disney.
"This community really rallied to be able to stand the center up pretty much overnight. And I was very surprised. I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know if we'd have anybody show up," Parent said.
On the first day, eight people came.
"That was immensely powerful. Even the first conversation we had opening these doors was folks really processing and reliving that event, and seeking support and just normalizing their experience and knowing that they weren't alone," Parent said.
Three days later, 60 people showed up: word was spreading.
"I was surprised how vulnerable and how honest and authentic and genuine people would be early on," Parent said. "We're kind of a pull-your-bootstraps-up community. We're not a really like touchy-feely community. So I think it's helpful that we don't lead with—this isn't the healing center. It's not the touchy-feely butterfly place. So I think it makes it a little more accessible because people are coming here for a community and not coming here to talk about their feelings, even though that's what will happen. But it makes it more approachable."
When a community experiences a mass violence event, a team of individuals through the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and the National Mass Violence Center (NMVC) often respond to provide support and technical assistance to communities. The TTAC (training and technical assistance center) team comprised of people from both of these groups will stay on and provide ongoing advisement to communities and Resiliency Centers in particular. They are actually the entity that assists in drafting the application for the federal grant funding.
The federal grant that will fund the resiliency center is the OVC FY24 Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program for Crime Victim Compensation and/or Assistance, AEAP for short.
This grant that would fund the MRC is still in the process of being submitted for approval.
"We don’t expect to receive funding until 2025. The funding from the grant is typically for 27 months (I believe from the time we opened the doors), but may be eligible for extensions," Parent said in an email.
In the past 365 days, the center has served hundreds of people. Parent said their work happens not only in the building but out in the community through events they put on or attend. Their services are free for the people who use them.
"There's a lack of this type of service in our community," Parent said. "Where there are a lot of services, there is that kind of barrier of having to have an assessment and having to qualify to need support. It's a really interesting space to be in proactive services because we can support somebody who is struggling with this trauma, who might not reach a PTSD diagnosis, and there isn't a real space for that."
The MRC fills a gap, with the intent of strengthening the communities filled with people left with holes in their hearts: people like Cassandra Violette.
"I had to go through some stuff and I don't know what I would have done if Joanna wasn't there with me. Like, I don't think I would have made it through honestly," Violette said.
Violette's friend, Amy Bushway, is the secretary of the youth bowling league that was practicing on Oct. 25. She and her son, Owen, missed practice that night. It ultimately saved their lives, while they lost friends.
"There were a lot of kids who were here that night. But there were a lot of kids who weren't here that night who were impacted. A lot," Bushway said. "For me and my family, that's been invaluable. So valuable to have him be with other kids who understand how he's feeling and making connections and talking about it. Because I think that's really hard."
The MRC is located at 184 Main St. in Lewiston. The best way to access the Maine Resiliency Center is via the catwalk on the third floor of the parking garage at 26 Chapel St., directly behind the building. Parking is free.
Walk-in hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3-6 p.m.
Appointments are available outside of walk-in days and hours.
Phone: 207-515-3930
Event calendar: https://www.maineresiliencycenter.org/events