OUT MAINE BOARD

Melissa Bellew

Melissa Bellew

Co-Chair (she/her/hers)

Advocacy is Melissa’s passion. As a retired public defender, organizer, nonprofit professional, and faith leader, Melissa is the current Vice President of Operations at the Capital District YMCA in Albany, New York. A past resident of Maine, Melissa’s career has been steeped in providing a voice to those who often cannot speak or argue for themselves. Melissa has been in the YMCA movement for the past eleven years, where she serves on the Y’s national LGBTQ+ Resource Network. Melissa resides with her wife, Lori, in New York.

Emily Cantillo

Emily Cantillo

Co-Chair (she/her/hers)

Emily is a Compliance Manager at First National Bank in Damariscotta. She lives in Maine with her husband and children. She is a parent of a transgender elementary school child.

John D. Adams

John D. Adams

Secretary (he/him/his)

John is an active member of the Lincoln County Midcoast Unitarian Fellowship and professional voice coach and singer. He has served on the Boards of Oratorio Chorale, Hartwood Regional Theater Company and the Midcoast UU Fellowship. John lives in the Maine with his partner of 24 years.

Jess Anderson

Jess Anderson

Treasurer (she/her/hers)

Jess brings with her a passion for teaching and learning and decades of experience working with youth. She lives in Maine with her husband and son.

Amy Paine

Amy Paine

Development Chair (she/her/hers)

Amy Paine is the Development Chair and brings extensive nonprofit fundraising experience to the OUT Maine board. Amy enjoys working directly as a volunteer with the youth at OUT Maine, helping to chaperone youth overnights and assisting with transportation to events. You can find Amy heading up the table for OUT Maine at the annual summer Bangor Pride Festival. She holds an MPPM from the Muskie School of Public Service, with a focus on indigenous rights. She has strong connections in Waldo county, and has extensive experience working with at-risk youth. She lives in Maine with her dog London.

Maulian Dana

Maulian Dana

Board Member (she/her/hers)

Maulian is a Penobscot Nation Tribal Citizen and currently serves as their Tribal Ambassador. She represents the tribe in local, state, and federal governments and helps manage government relations and diplomacy for the tribe. Maulian is a graduate of the University of Maine Orono with a BA in Political Science and has a twenty-year career in activism around the harm of racist stereotyping and Indian sports mascots. She feels strongly about taking a stand for marginalized groups and has worked hard to advocate for LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit Maine citizens through her platform as Ambassador. Maulian lives at the Penobscot Nation with her two daughters, Carmella and Layla; her partner Lloyd; and her dog Olive.

Ralph Moore

Ralph Moore

Board Member (he/him/his)

Ralph is an educator and one of the founding members of the Watershed School in Camden. He has served on the boards of the Camden Conference and the Coastal AIDS Network. He is the retired rector of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Rockland. He lives in Maine with his wife.

Vanessa Shields-Haas

Vanessa Shields-Haas

Board Member (she/her/hers)

Vanessa is a Family Nurse Practitioner providing gender affirming, and LGBTQ+-friendly, reproductive healthcare in mid-coast Maine. She is also a certified Forensic Nurse Examiner working with survivors of sexual assualt, domestic violence and child abuse in Waldo, Knox, and Lincoln counties. Vanessa lives in Maine with her wife, daughter, and animal friends.
Lily Solochek

Lily Solochek

Board Member (they/them/theirs)

Rabbi Lily Solochek has been Jewish educator for more than a decade with a focus on integrating social justice into communities of faith. Lily is the Director of Programs & Education for
Nazun, helping end hunger on college campuses. They are passionate about LGBTQ+ inclusion, workers’ rights, food justice, and environmentalism. Lily lives in Maine with their wife Lanni, they are an avid gardener, hiker, and baker. 
Cynthia Turcotte

Cynthia Turcotte

Board Member (she/her/hers)

Cynthia Turcotte is a former high school teacher for over 20 years and GSA adviser for ten. She has worked with and supported LGBTQ+ youth throughout her teaching career. She loved volunteering at the Rainbow Ball for many years. Since leaving teaching, she has been working with her husband, Tom Fair, at the business they run called Applewald Farm. Applewald Farm is a produce farm/apple orchard/cider mill/bakery/gift shop, which keeps them busy. They are helped at the farm by their two grown sons, one of whom is part of the LGBTQ+ family.

OUT MAINE STAFF

Susan Campbell

Susan Campbell

Executive Director (she/her/hers)

sue@outmaine.org
Sue’s demonstrated leadership and commitment to the rights of LGBTQ+ youth in Maine are unparalleled. Sue has used her educational background in business administration, finance, and public policy to support nonprofits for over 25 years. She also has over 15 years of leadership experience with school superintendents, administrators, and other school staff through her work on local and state school boards. As the parent of a trans son, her first-hand experience in supporting the transition process and working with family issues around transitioning give her expertise in supporting youth and families. Sue lives in Maine with her partner.

Rachel Albury

Rachel Albury

Development and Communications Coordinator (she/her/hers)

rachel@outmaine.org

Rachel is a 2005 graduate of the University of Maine in Orono with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Art History. Rachel brings her experience in website development, marketing and event planning to the team. She has volunteered for many local non-profits, including WRFR-LP, Rock Coast Rollers, Penobscot School, Youthlinks, and Aldermere Farm and had been waiting for the right opportunity to join the non-profit world full-time.

Tara Barker

Tara Barker

Program Operations Coordinator (she/her/hers)

tara@outmaine.org

Tara graduated from Bowdoin College in 2000 with an Environmental Studies and Sociology degree. She has spent her adult career exploring diverse interests, moving from public health policy research into the pastry arts and hospitality entrepreneurship to, most recently, the legal field. In every venture, she has found ways to use her position to advocate for underserved populations, create more welcoming and inclusive environments, and use personal connections and outreach to build community. She is thrilled to now bring those passions to OUT Maine. Tara is an avid birder, has a long list of loves including hiking, skiing, camping, travel, writing, yoga, attending musical theater, reading, and cooking, and does everything in her power to stay close to the ocean. She lives in Midcoast Maine with her two teenage sons and two rescue dogs.

Aiden Campbell

Aiden Campbell

Mental Health Consultant (he/him/his)

aiden@outmaine.org

Aiden grew up in Maine; transitioned from female to male in high school; and graduated with a Masters of Social Work in 2019 from the University of Southern Maine. Aiden has over seven years of diverse experience working with both at-risk youth and families. Aiden brings his experience as a clinician, along with his personal transitioning  journey, to help OUT educate, support and uplift LGBTQ+ youth across Maine. 

Katie Lutts

Katie Lutts

Program Director (she/her/hers)

katie@outmaine.org

Katie is a 2007 graduate of the University of Maine with a degree in Kinesiology and Physical Education and has been teaching health and physical education in Maine for the past 14 years. Katie has experience working with the teacher’s union, administration, and school board on creating and implementing policy. She brings enthusiasm, energy, and years of experience working with students and adults to encourage and support change. Katie lives in Maine with her wife, 3 dogs: Tilley, Fivel, Charlie, and 2 cats: Jetta and Fiyero.

Maggie Hirshland

Maggie Hirshland

Youth Engagement Coordinator (she/they)

maggie@outmaine.org

Maggie graduated from the University of Virginia in 2020 where she double majored in Youth & Social Innovation and Public Policy. Since moving to Rockland, Maggie has worked within a variety of community spaces as well as directly with youth, including previously serving as the Community Engagement Americorps Fellow at Rockland Main St., the After School Coordinator at South School Elementary, and the Hub Manager at the Camden International Film Festival. Throughout her time in Rockland, Maggie has focused on building community and creating connections among different institutions and individuals, and is looking forward to continuing to do so with youth at OUT Maine. She also recently completed a boat building apprenticeship at the Apprenticeshop, played in the local co-ed softball league (which won the championship this year! Go Redwings!), and likes to drink too much coffee at local coffee shops or rollerblade around town. 

Jamie Knowles

Jamie Knowles

Finance Coordinator (he/him)

jamie@outmaine.org

Jamie has spent most of his life in the Midcoast Maine region, and after several moves and trips around North America, came back to roost and serve his community. He comes to OUT Maine bringing his experience with technology, communications, and grant-funded program management. Before settling in Rockland, Jamie served as the program manager for Waldo CAP’s Transportation Support Program where he provided services to adults with
disabilities, the elderly, and low-income families. Jamie is a lifelong learner, advocate for the arts, and community activist. Outside of work he can typically be found playing video games or reading comic books with his cats, Nugget and Bubba.

Maura Oakes

Maura Oakes

Mental Health Coordinator / LCPC (she/her/hers)

maura@outmaine.org

Maura graduated with a Master of Science in Counseling and Psychological Services in 2019 from Salem State University in Massachusetts. Maura has recently worked as a mental health counselor with at-risk children, adolescents, and adults in Southern Maine. She enjoys working with children and adolescents and brings experience working with families to foster healthy and positive relationships. Maura uses her mental health expertise to support and help LGBTQ+ youth and parents learn to thrive. Outside of work, you can find Maura working on a craft project, exploring Maine, or spending time with her husband & their pets.

August Sender

August Sender

Training Coordinator (they/them)

august@outmaine.org

August has a background in rural healthcare and health education and was most recently the Education Co-Coordinator of the Sexual Assault Support Services of Midcoast Maine, where they designed and implemented sexual violence prevention education. They are passionate about rural LGBTQ+ youth safety and inclusion and thrive when they are providing engaging, culture-changing educational opportunities. August lives in rural Midcoast, Maine, with their partner, dogs, and chaotic gardens.