KENNEBUNK

Agency helps New School by providing coordinator

The National Able Network Inc., a nonprofit organization that exists to provide workforce development for individuals, families and communities, has recently placed Nancy O’Connell at the New School to serve as the school’s community coordinator.

O’Connell is a participant in the Senior Community Service Employment Program.

In her new role at the school, she will be responsible for recruiting community teachers and seeking out apprenticeship opportunities in the community with companies and/or organizations that wish to nurture a student through apprenticeship.

FALMOUTH

REAL School students to do work on Mackworth

The REAL School’s students, staff and community partners will participate in an Island Day of Service event from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Mackworth Island.

The group will spend the day working on a variety of sustainability projects at Mackworth facilities, including a mandala peace circle garden, planting crops for the school lunch program, repairing the hoop house, building new ropes-course elements and removing invasive species.

The REAL School serves at-risk youth in grades 7-12 in southern Maine through service-learning and adventure-based experiences.

The school is also home to 15 AmeriCorps volunteers who work full or part time throughout the year to engage students in service learning.

This approach combines core academic curricula with tangible service to the community.

PORTLAND

AARP seeks nominees for community service award

AARP Maine is seeking nominations for its 2014 AARP Andrus Award for Community Service to honor individuals who are sharing their experience, talent and skills to enrich the lives of their community members.

The annual award is named after AARP’s founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, who founded AARP in 1958 at the age of 73.

The screening of nominees will be performed by a panel of AARP staff and volunteers and includes the review of a range of criteria including each nominee’s positive impact on the lives of individuals age 50 and over, their improvement of the community in or for which the work was performed, and the ways in which their volunteerism inspires others.

Nominees must be Mainers who are age 50 or older and have provided their achievements, accomplishments or services in a manner that reflects the AARP’s vision and mission, and on a volunteer basis only. No posthumous nominations please. The application deadline is June 1.

For nomination forms and further information, go to http://bit.ly/YtuvRl.

SOUTH PORTLAND

United Way grant benefits ‘A Place for Girls’ program

Girl Scouts of Maine has been awarded a grant from United Way of Androscoggin County totaling $8,000 to fund the Scouts “A Place for Girls” program in three locations in Androscoggin County.

“A Place for Girls” is designed to help at-risk girls grow strong and self-assured by offering a safe place for them to learn, play and socialize – all critical for ensuring that girls develop healthy habits and form good relationships.

Girls in the program gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their potential, and develop the confidence to become leaders on their own.