On October 10, 2025, MyT convened more than 100 youth-serving leaders to create a space filled with new discoveries, deepened connections, and big ideas for the future of youth thriving in Maine. Our annual Summit, designed around the theme “Revive”, was held at Wolfe’s Neck Center in Freeport, Maine.
This year’s Summit marked the beginning of the Maine Mattering Movement: a statewide effort to ensure every young person feels seen, heard, and valued.
Jennifer Wallace set the tone with an incredible keynote, teaching us the blueprint for mattering and inspiring all of us to lead with empathy, connection, and care in every space we touch.
Throughout the day, we found opportunities to pause, reflect, and revive, from wagon rides through Wolfe’s Neck’s beautiful scenery and sunshine, to rejuvenating yoga and movement sessions, to the creative flow where everyone tapped into their innate creativity and imagination.
We ended the day on a true high with keynote speaker Rick Weissbourd, whose vibrant discussion on youth moral development, alongside the Making Caring Common Project, invited us to reimagine what it means to nurture empathy, self-awareness, and a commitment to fairness in the next generation.
And of course, the joyful celebration of our Power of the Positive (POP) Awards—bubbles and all—reminded us how much good is already happening across Maine, thanks to people like you. We were proud to celebrate youth-serving organizations and leaders nominated by their peers: The Center for Grieving Children, WinterKids, Hearty Roots, My Place Teen Center, The Landing Place, OUT Maine, Tree Street Youth, Somerset Public Health, Lisa Ravar from Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and Andre Hicks from Rhyme & Reason and YPC Justice Network.
REVIVE was more than a summit, it was a movement of hearts and minds. Thank you for showing up, leaning in, and helping to build a stronger, more connected, and more hopeful Maine for our young people.
With deep gratitude and excitement for what’s ahead,
The Maine Youth Thriving Team
REVIVE would not have been possible without our incredible sponsors. Heartfelt thanks to our friends at: Unum, Maine Community Bank, Mascoma Bank, MeHAF, Saco & Biddeford Savings, Androscoggin Bank, Bangor Savings Bank, Kennebec Savings Bank, Norway Savings Bank, Partners Bank, and Shutterbugs 4 Charity.
All photos credited to Benn Marine Photography.