I have to tell you, when I saw these two flyers, I had one of those moments where I just stopped and smiled because suddenly something I've been working toward for years was right there in front of me. These weren't projects Dorian and I were organizing. These were students taking what they've learned through The D-Max Effect, coming up with their own ideas, building partnerships, and creating something meaningful for their communities. And seeing their work come to life made me realize that this really is working!
Thanks to funding from Acadia Federal Credit Union and the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC), we've been able to take a vision and put it into action, giving students the opportunity to experience something I believe is incredibly important: discovering what they're capable of when someone believes in them enough to give them real responsibility.
And these two projects are such great examples of why this matters.
At Mid-Maine Technical Center, students had just received their new T-shirt press equipment, and while brainstorming how they might use it, the idea came up to put those machines to work for a good cause. That conversation turned into Toys 4 Tails, a campaign supporting the Humane Society Waterville Area with a goal of providing 1,000 toys for animals at the shelter.
But what makes me so excited isn't just the fundraiser, it's everything happening behind the scenes. These students had to think through pricing, design merchandise, create donation packages, figure out how to collect money, work with others to establish a donation link, and then find ways to get their community involved. They're learning entrepreneurship, marketing, communication, and problem-solving because they have a real project that matters to them.
And one of my favorite parts? They didn't use AI to create it! They worked through the process themselves, and there was genuine pride in knowing they had built something from scratch. I love technology, but there's something pretty incredible about watching kids figure things out, make decisions, and realize they can actually bring an idea to life.
Then there's the trivia night, which is a perfect example of how one simple connection can create an opportunity.
In my role at UpStart Maine, I organized BLITZ, an entrepreneurial conference where students from United Technologies Center attended. During the networking hour, a group of students approached me looking for ideas about where they could host a trivia night to raise money to purchase snacks for the Courageous Steps Project. As luck would have it, someone connected to Pat's Pizza was there, so I made an introduction.
That's it. One introduction at a networking event, and now these students are organizing trivia nights at Pat's Pizza in Holden to support another organization in their community.
I LOVE that!
Think about what they learned simply by showing up, asking a question, and making a connection. They didn't need someone to hand them every answer. They had an idea, took initiative, and found a way to move it forward.
For years, I've watched Dorian grow through these same experiences, learning to ask for help, build relationships, solve problems, and understand that his actions can make a difference. Those experiences inspired The D-Max Effect, but my hope was always that this could become something much bigger than our story.
A framework that other students, schools, and communities could take and make their own.
Now I'm watching that happen.
The students, ideas, and community needs change, but the same approach. Find a need, make a plan, build relationships, take action, and celebrate what you've accomplished.
What's so exciting is that the students aren't the only ones benefiting. Our communities are getting stronger too, with nonprofits receiving support, local businesses becoming partners, and young people discovering that they have something valuable to contribute.
So here's my ask. Please show up for these students. Support MMTC's Toys 4 Tails campaign at mmtctoys4tails.com, and join UTC's trivia nights at Pat's Pizza in Holden.
And to Acadia Federal Credit Union and the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center, thank you for believing in this vision and helping us create opportunities for students to put their ideas into action.
Because when we believe in young people as much as they're learning to believe in themselves, incredible things can happen.
This is The D-Max Effect in action. And imagine what happens when we keep repeating it.
