Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108Are you looking to grow your small business? Let the SBA experts at Northeast Bank help get you started. As an SBA Preferred Lender, we’ll provide you with: • A Team of highly experienced SBA specialists • A fast, efficient application process • Access to the credit you need to build a successful business We understand small business. To learn more, contact me today: Jonathan W. Smith Director of SBA Lending p: 800.284.5989 x3267 c: 603.812.8278 jsmith@northeastbank.com 40 p o r t l a n d monthly magazine Origins courtesy thompsons point 2 ebrates creative expression, individualism, and originality with its edgy urban pulse, natural beauty, and historic architectural significance.” Offering BFAs and MFAs in 11 major artistic pursuits from ceramics to digital media, MECA boasted in 2012 that 64 percent of its graduates were working as professional artists, while 24 percent were employed as graphic designers, illustrators, and art directors. The creative shift in the city was also bol- stered in 1983 by the expansion of the Port- land Museum of Art in 1983, which saw Henry Nichols Cobb of I.M. Pei & Partners’ distinctive red brick, half moon design be- come a distinct feature of downtown. In 2000 the inaugural First Friday Art Walks, launched by local gallery owners, estab- lished itself as a regular fixture in the cul- tural calendar and launched the local arts scene into the mainstream. Create a soft landing for diverse cultures from across the globe. If you’re looking for a crystallizing moment that assured the growing demographic di- 3 movingly about their presence in Maine on the steps of City Hall. Portland May- or Ethan Strimling spoke for many when he said, “You are welcome here. You are cherished here, but more than you are wel- come, we need you here, so thank you for being here.” Think outside the box with outdoor concerts. Portland has been steadily amping up its music scene to entice bigger audienc- es and bigger names. The Maine State Pier launched its summer concert series in 2014 on Portland Pier. This year, 30 artists–up from four in 2015–including Third Eye versity of Portland of today and beyond, look to the Somali people who have enriched our city and state. Since 2001, with the escalat- ed Somalian civil war, almost 12,000 people have relocated to our communities, bringing new life experiences and culture. “I’ve been living in Portland since 2003,” says Somalian resident Phaisa Ali. “My mother wanted to find somewhere safe to raise her family and Portland has a welcoming community with good people.” She also sees the increasing diversity as a positive change for Portland. “The immigrant population are opening new businesses, which is great for our city.” Responding to slurs made by Donald Trump, Portland’s Somali residents spoke