Elevating Voices spotlights and celebrates all types of diversity in business across Maine, and their importance to Maine’s current and future economic and cultural vitality. Business owners are featured in inspiring stories that shine a light on the value of diversity and its positive impact and contributions to the fabric of our Northern New England communities.
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Adele Ngoy

Adele Masengo Designs | Antoine’s Tailor Shop and Formal Wear | Portland, ME

Adele attended fashion school and worked as a professor in the Democratic Republic of Congo prior to coming to Maine as a refugee and single mother. She re-established herself as a designer, founding Adele Masengo Designs and purchasing Antoine’s Tailor Shop and Formal Wear. Ngoy founded Women United Around the World in 2011, which promotes the leadership development of female immigrants.

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Ebenezer Akakpo

Akakpo Design Group | Westbrook, ME

Ebenezer Akakpo’s jewelry is inspired after native symbols in Ghana of abundance, affluence, bravery, endurance, friendship, hope, loyalty, strength, supremacy of God, and unity. Prior to moving to Maine, he trained as a fine jeweler in Ghana and Italy.

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Katherine Slevin

Love Cookie Project | Portland, ME

Inspired by her passion for the immigrant and refugee community, and her love for pastry, culture, travel, and hearing peoples’ stories, Katherine Slevin founded C. Love Cookie Project, a business that employs immigrants and donates a portion of sales to support the immigrant community of Portland.

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Abeir Ibrahim, Regina Phillips, Deqa Dhalac

Cross Cultural Community Services | Portland, ME

Cross Cultural Consulting Group, run by Abeir Ibrahim, Regina Phillips, Deqa Dhalac, provides cross cultural, multicultural training and coaching to organizations that want to become more knowledgeable about Maine’s growing refugee and immigrant community and people of color.

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SEASON 2 SCHEDULE

Broadcast Thursdays at 8:30pm to one of the following Maine Public Television stations: WCBB 10 Augusta, WMEB-TV 12 Orono, WMED-TV 10 Calais, WMEM-TV 10 Presque Isle and WMEA-TV 45 Biddeford. Rebroadcast on Fridays at 3:30pm and Sundays at 5:30pm.

dSeason 2 | Episode 1
Elevating Voices
Premiered July 7, 2022
MicMac Farm & Design Lab/Jacque Newell Taylor

Season 2 | Episode 2
Elevating Voices
Premiered July 14, 2022 
Father and John/Alper Yakici with Kifah Abdulla

Season 2 | Episode 3
Elevating Voices
Premiered July 21, 2022
Orson Horchler & Fireball Bookbindery/Evelyn Wong

Season 2 | Episode 4
Elevating Voices
Premiered July 28, 2022
Vasquez Mexican Takeout & Dennis Ross/WJZP

Season 2 | Episode 5
Elevating Voices
Premiered August 4, 2022
Mariama’s Beauty Supply & Mandy Levine

SEASON 1 SCHEDULE

Broadcast at 8:00pm on Thursdays to one of the following Maine Public Television stations: WCBB 10 Augusta, WMEB-TV 12 Orono, WMED-TV 10 Calais, WMEM-TV 10 Presque Isle and WMEA-TV 45 Biddeford. Rebroadcasted on Sundays at 5:30pm.

Season 1 | Episode 1

Premiered Thurs. 4/29/21 at 8pm
Episode 1 of Elevating Voices, a new documentary series presented by Greenlight Maine, introduces co-host Alyne Cistone and features Thomas Douglas, Attorney, and Ebenezer Akakpo of Akakpo & Co. Cistone, an attorney and nonprofit consultant originally from Kenya, cohosts the series with host Julene Gervais. Douglas is an experienced litigator who has successfully argued cases in state and federal courts throughout Maine. Akakpo designs and produces jewelry and products that incorporate symbols from his native Ghana.

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Season 1 | Episode 2

Premiered Thurs. 5/6/21 at 8pm
Episode 2 of Elevating Voices, a new documentary series presented by Greenlight Maine, features Adele Masengo Ngoy of Antoine’s Tailor Shop and Formal Wear and Donna Decontie and Jason Brown of Decontie & Brown. Ngoy trained in the Democratic Republic of Congo before establishing her design and alteration business in Maine. Decontie and Brown incorporate their Wabanki heritage in their fashion, jewelry, and musical works.

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Season 1 | Episode 3

Premiered Thurs. 5/13/21 at 8pm
Episode 3 of Elevating Voices, a new documentary series presented by Greenlight Maine, features Katherine Slevin of C. Love Cookie Project and Adrian Espinoza of Empanada. Slevin employs immigrants and gives back proceeds from her pastry business to immigrant communities in Maine. Espinoza taught himself how to make the empanadas he missed from his native Bolivia has grown his business through farmers markets, natural food stores, and co-ops.

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Season 1 | Episode 4

Premiered Thurs. 5/20/21 at 8pm
Episode 4 of Elevating Voices, a new documentary series presented by Greenlight Maine, features Daniel and Marcia Minter of Indigo Arts Alliance and Muhidin Libah of Little Jubba. The Minters have created a space for citizenship, community-building, and creativity in Portland. Somali farmers, led by Libah, have created a transformative model for community-centered land tenure in Wales, Maine.

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Season 1 | Episode 5

Premiered Thurs. 5/27/21 at 8pm
Episode 5 of Elevating Voices, a new documentary series presented by Greenlight Maine, features Deko Stewart of Deko Kutz and Cherie Scott of Mumbai to Maine. A former millworker, Deko creates unique cuts for patrons at his barber shop in Bucksport. Originally from Mumbai, Scott shares her love for India through her food and culture.

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Season 1 | Episode 6

Premiered Thurs. 6/3/21 at 8pm
Episode 6 of Elevating Voices, a new documentary series presented by Greenlight Maine, features Abeir Ibrabim, Deqa Dhalac, and Regina Phillips of Cross Cultural Community Services and Amber Boutiette and Patrick Breeding Marin Skincare. The Cross Cultural team works and partners with public and private sectors to educate people about the growing diversity in Maine. Boutiette and Breeding have built a brand of skincare products using marine glycoproteins for people with sensitive skin.

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