Maine’s First Lady, Karen Baldacci, devotes her time and energy to help enhance cultural and literacy activities across the state. Below is a listing of some of the organizations and initiatives that she leads or lends her expertise to. You can find out more about the work of Maine’s First Lady by visiting her website at http://www.maine.gov/firstlady/.
Arts
Mrs. Baldacci extends her dedication to Maine’s children and families via her work in the arts. She serves as Honorary Chair of the Maine Alliance for Arts in Education that encourages and strengthens educational excellence in visual art, music, theater, dance, and writing in all Maine schools and communities. She also leads the Maine Youth Excellence In Art project that celebrates the work of student artists from Maine schools by exhibiting student art in several venues in the state Capitol complex.
Furthermore, Mrs. Baldacci lends her presence and support to many additional cultural events across the state of Maine on a regular basis: hosting Maine’s Annual Poets’ Coffee at the Blaine House, speaking at the Maine Alliance for Arts Education Advocacy Day, and appearing as guest of honor at the Maine state finals of the Poetry Out Loud competition, a national initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts that exposes students across the nation to the richness of quality poetry.
Literacy
Mrs. Baldacci serves as the Honorary Chair of Maine Reads, a non-profit organization that promotes literacy through public policy, fundraises for literacy projects statewide, and provides the opportunity for people of all ages to access quality literacy programs. She also heads the Maine Reads Community Literacy Project, a state-wide, community-based project to strengthen families and communities through libraries and literacy projects. She also serves as Honorary Chair of Read with Me, a literacy program sponsored by the Verizon Foundation that seeks to improve literacy through community-based programs and online reading tools.
Mrs. Baldacci serves as a board member of raising readers, a program for all children in Maine, birth to age five, regardless of means that allows each child to receive a beautiful new book each time they go for a well child checkup with their doctor or healthcare provider.
For more information please contact the Director at the Maine Arts Commission. Donna McNeil, (207) 287-2726 - Donna.McNeil@maine.gov