Voice #8

Sunday, November 6, 2011

What happens when we lose our voice? When we no longer feel able to share our opinions and be heard? Learn how a diverse group of Mainers are helping individuals find their voices, from soldiers returning from overseas combat, to women and girls who may be at risk for abuse and exploitation. Discover how you can find your own voice and help others do the same.

Guests this week include: Major General John W. Libby and Chaplain Andy Gibson of the Maine National Guard, local musician and event promoter Spencer Albee, Delia Gorham from the Maine League of Young Voters and Carlin Whitehouse from Family Crisis Services.

Guests

Major General Bill Libby

Major General Bill Libby discusses the importance of supporting our soldiers and their families–especially those returning home from military conflicts overseas. His organization, the Maine Military & Community Network, is a community effort to understand, prevent, and help deal with the lingering aftereffects of war on service members, their families, and their communities.

Major General Bill Libby assumed his duties as the Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard on January 15, 2004 and during his tenure, the Maine National Guard has been continually involved in operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and more recently Libya. While responsible for mobilizing, deploying and returning units from war, MG Libby’s emphasis has been on the reintegration of Maine National Guard members back into their civilian lives and families. MG Libby is a veteran of the Vietnam War.

Chaplain Andy Gibson

Chaplain Andy Gibson is the Director of Deployment Cycle Support and the Maine Military and Community Services. He has been in the military for twenty-four years, and has experienced deployments in both Bosnia and Afghanistan. Chaplain Gibson received his Master of Divinity from the Bangor Theological Seminary, and was ordained by the National Association of Congregational and Christian Churches.

Spencer Albee

Spencer Albee is a musician, producer, and front man of the Maine-based rock band Spencer and the School Spirit Mafia. Previously, Albee fronted As Fast As and was the keyboardist and backup singer for the band Rustic Overtones.Albee was raised in the town of York, ME where he was influenced at an early age by his grandfather, a banjo player and music enthusiast. Early groups that influenced Albee included The Who, Pink Floyd, and The Beatles. In particular, Beatles bass player Paul McCartney left an indelible mark on Albee’s musical development.

Albee was first introduced to the piano by his parents, and without much formal training picked up the instrument mostly by ear. From there he dabbled in guitar (playing right-handed despite being a natural lefty), bass, tuba, recorder, harmonica, and accordion. Spencer was featured in a recent issue of Maine Magazine.

More from the Show

Our “Give Back” segment featured two guests this week: Delia Gorham of the Maine League of Young Voters and Carlin Whitehouse of Family Crisis Services.

Delia Gorham is the Program Director of the Maine League of Young Voters. Delia was born & raised in the smallest town in Maine (Randolph-by area!) Delia has been fighting the good fight since she started marching on picket lines during the ’87 strike in Jay. Growing up in the labor movement and seeing the struggle first hand it was no surprise Delia opted to attend college in the liberal enclave of Northampton, MA where she double majored in Government & American Studies at Smith College. Degree in hand, Delia turned right around and headed home to Maine where she started organizing on various campaigns and causes. From the 2008 & 2010 electoral cycles to pushing for comprehensive clean energy reform on the federal level to fighting for worker’s rights in the Maine State House, Delia has been mobilizing communities across the state to actively participate in the democratic process.

Carlin Whitehouse is a youth educator from the Young Adult Abuse Prevention Program of the local Family Crisis Services. Carlin Whitehouse was raised on plenty of dirt and fresh air deep in the blueberry plains of York County. Academia proved to be an awkward fit throughout adolescence, so he took his education into his own hands with some formative post-secondary travels through the US and Europe. Arriving to Portland in 2001, Carlin’s been delighted to have the daily opportunity to learn and grow in our seaside community. He makes his living helping to foster feminism and intersectional justice in the hearts and minds of young men and women alike. Talents and/or hobbies include bowling, singing, playing Ultimate and rabble rousing. Carlin discussed an upcoming screening of the film “Miss Representation,” hosted by the Family Crisis Services, on November 9th.

Our financial wellness tip of the week is brought to you by Tom Shepard of Shepard Financial. While Dr. Lisa Radio Hour business advisor, Marci Booth of BOOTH Maine, offers better business tips, Ted Carter of Ted Carter Inspired Landscapes shares important talking points, and Black Bear Medical covers health and fitness updates.