Our Mission
Equipping Maine learners with the confidence and skills to realize their full potential
Our Vision
In the coming years, we will strengthen our organizational foundation to ensure sustainability, expand our financial and human resources, restore community bonds that loosened during the pandemic, and enhance our signature programs to meet the needs of vulnerable learners. As we strive to extend hope and opportunity, we will measure our impact in lives and communities changed for the better.
Our Programs
Our History
More than five decades ago, a coalition of concerned neighbors in Portland’s West End came together to advocate for change for families who were struggling to maintain affordable housing. Officially known as Portland West in 1967, the group initially focused on housing rights. As their work continued, the organization began to realize the significance of education as a pathway out of poverty. In 1999, Portland West’s mission was reoriented to the development and expansion of our education, work-readiness, and behavioral health programs, and ten years later, the organization was officially renamed LearningWorks. In late 2016, our staff and board updated our organizational mission statement with renewed focus on helping Mainers of all ages realize their potential and build thriving communities.
Though we have evolved from a grassroots neighborhood advocacy group to an innovative education nonprofit, we continue to earnestly offer transformational education opportunities that ensure the success of diverse learners across southern Maine.
