Mission & Vision
The New Mainers Resource Center (NMRC) is a Portland Adult Education program serving immigrants, refugees, and employers in the Greater Portland area.
Our mission is to support Maine’s economic development by facilitating the professional integration of immigrants and refugees, and by meeting employers’ demands for a skilled and culturally diverse workforce.
Our vision is to grow Maine’s economy by fully utilizing the skills of foreign trained professionals; to help employers hire and retain qualified workers for a skilled and diverse workforce; and to help Maine’s immigrants and refugees overcome barriers and re-enter their professions.
We provide skilled professionals programs, employment and case management, intensive classes focused on job readiness skills, workforce training, networking opportunities, workshops and other services designed to help New Mainers, of all professions, overcome barriers to enter the US workforce. NMRC participants can also take advantage of other classes and programs offered at Portland Adult Education and by community partners.
Click here for information on the programs at Portland Adult Education.
Have a question or want to learn more? Get in touch!
Maine’s Welcome Back Center
Welcome Back Initiative
Since 2015, the New Mainers Resource Center has been part of the Welcome Back Initiative. This national network is made up of 10 centers in 9 states. Its mission is to build a bridge between internationally trained health workers living in the United States and the need for linguistically and culturally competent health services in underserved communities. Several programs, like Maine’s, do not limit their services to just health professionals. Since its inception in 2001, the Welcome Back Initiative has served close to 15,000 participants from 167 countries.
See what people are saying about NMRC.
I am very happy and thankful for what I learned from the Job Class. I'd like to share my story with you regarding what I learned from Job class. I am a very happy guy today. I am Warehouse Associate 1 and Forklift Operator. I use all the professional skills that I learned, I can manage my pay, understand my Pay Stubs and more. Portland Adult Education is a place where I found every help regarding job search, connecting me with Allagash Brewing Company and the interview was successful because of what the teacher taught me during my interview. I would like to say Job class is the manpower booster for all those who take it seriously.
Antonio Langaba
PAE Student
Intern at Allagash Brewing Company
We are very excited to share with you that Langaba has accepted a full-time, year-round position as a Warehouse Operations Associate! Langaba has done an excellent job learning the core functions of the role and has met the goal that his supervisor set for him at the beginning of the internship (to be able to ship a tractor trailer truck). Langaba's first day working his new schedule will begin tomorrow. In addition, he has earned a merit increase and now has access to all the benefits that Allagash offers….Thank you so much for your support through this process. This feels like a big win!
Meg Sweet
HR Coordinator
PAE/NMRC has been a good referral source for SMI , and we have worked cooperatively to support students with scholarships for many years. What SMI values in NMRC’s work: NMRC facilitates whatever service the individual needs. They can be an advocate with a school or an employer or can strategize with the individual on how to overcome whatever the barriers might be. Each person who comes to them is provided with a pathway that will address their barriers. For all of these reasons, since 2019, SMI has been proud to have a more formal funding partnership with NMRC.
Scholarships for Maine Immigrants
2021 Fall/Winter Newsletter
Job Class had numerous students who were busy with other responsibilities including families, work, appointments and more but they showed a commitment and pushed till the end. Leticia is an excellent example. She became a citizen and 2 weeks later voted in the 2020 election. She has had experience working as a hotel housekeeper but after completing Job Class A and despite her limited education in her home country of Mexico she is currently employed at Abbott assembling kits. She happily reports that because of this new job, it is no longer imperative for her to work a second job to support her family.
Job Class A Report
Student Success Story