Presented by Elizabeth Neptune of Neptune Advantage
The Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township has been selected as one of 37 recipients of Promise Neighborhood federal funding aimed at transforming communities through educational and support services. The Passamaquoddy Promise Neighborhood (PPN) represents a significant investment in the well-being of Passamaquoddy families in Washington County and a model for comprehensive, culturally grounded community development that supports children, families, and future generations.
What is a Promise Neighborhood?
Promise Neighborhood is a program of the U.S. Department of Education that aims to transform neighborhoods with high concentrations of poverty into vibrant communities of opportunity. Since 2010, 37 Promise Neighborhood grants have been awarded to organizations in 18 states, including Maine’s Passamaquoddy Promise Neighborhood, which received funding for a two-year period from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026. While most grants support full implementation projects that strengthen or develop cradle-to-career services over a five-year period, the Passamaquoddy Promise Neighborhood operates as an Early Implementation grant. This designation reflects its focused scope and strong emphasis on strategic planning to lay the groundwork for a future full implementation grant application.
The program aims to transform communities by providing wraparound services that support children and families from birth through college and career, addressing the interconnected challenges that families face and strengthening the systems designed to serve them.
A Strong Partnership Foundation
The Passamaquoddy Promise Neighborhood is built on collaboration among extensive community partners. Initial partners include the Indian Township Tribal Government, Indian Township School, Indian Township Day Care, Calais School Department, Passamaquoddy Health Center, Passamaquoddy Wellness Court, Community Caring Collaborative, Sunrise County Economic Council, Passamaquoddy Future Tribal Youth, Wabanaki Aspirations, and Washington County Consortium.
This broad partnership approach reflects the understanding that transforming communities requires coordination across multiple sectors, from education and healthcare to tribal governance, youth development, and social services. The proposed structure includes a PPN Implementation Team, PPN Advisory Group, Passamaquoddy Futures youth group, and a PPN Data Advisory Group to ensure comprehensive planning, community-informed decision-making, and oversight.
Vision and Mission
The PPN envisions a future where all children and families are healthy, thriving, and prosperous, empowered by a robust support system that nurtures their well-being, fosters opportunities for growth, and cultivates lasting connections within the community and across Washington County.
The mission focuses on providing educational opportunities for children, families, and the Indian Township community through shared accountability and integrated services. PPN is dedicated to implementing effective solutions and fostering collaboration among schools and partners to ensure sustainable success for all.
Central to this work is the integration of Passamaquoddy traditions and values into all pipeline services. The guiding principle, or “mold,” envisions that “all Passamaquoddy children and families throughout Washington County are deeply rooted in their culture and community, living in health, prosperity, and economic security.”
Theory of Change
PPN’s theory of change recognizes that improved outcomes for children, families, and communities require a dual approach combining whole family and whole systems strategies. This integrated model addresses the interconnected needs of families while transforming the broader systems that influence their well-being.
By ensuring families have access to exceptional educational opportunities, healthcare, strong economic supports, and robust social networks, PPN will enhance children’s well-being, resilience, and development, enabling them to thrive while fostering healthier families and communities.
The whole family approach utilizes a two-generation model, integrating services for both children and parents across critical educational and developmental stages. These include high-quality early childhood education and support, quality educational experiences during school years, strengthened postsecondary pathways and support, lifelong learning and adaptability, and access to comprehensive social, health, and mental health services.
Pipeline of Services
PPN will develop a comprehensive pipeline of services spanning four major categories: early childhood, K-12, college and career, and family and community supports. Specific pipeline services include:
- Cultural and Community Assets: Integration of Passamaquoddy traditions, culture, and values throughout all programming.
- Early Learning: High-quality early childhood education that prepares children for school success while honoring Passamaquoddy language and culture.
- School Support: High-quality in-school and out-of-school programs and strategies that help students succeed academically and socially.
- Transitions Support: Dedicated assistance for children’s transitions to next educational institutions, ensuring continuity of support.
- Family Engagement: Family and community engagement programs that strengthen connections and provide support for parents and caregivers.
- Career Readiness: Activities that support postsecondary and workforce readiness, including summer youth programs and recovery workforce initiatives.
- Community Services: Community-based supports for students, including maternal and child health services.
- Health and Wellness: Social, health, nutrition, and mental health services and supports, including family support specialists.
- Safety Programs: Juvenile crime prevention and rehabilitation programs that keep young people safe and connected to positive pathways.
Weaving It Together
The Passamaquoddy Promise Neighborhood program is guided by the wisdom and traditions of the Passamaquoddy people. Using the metaphor of brown ash basket making, the initiative blends cultural knowledge with cradle-to-career support in an effort to uplift families across Washington County through connection, care, and collective responsibility. Each strand strengthens the whole.
PPN has identified key “weavers” that connect all pipeline solutions: Passamaquoddy traditions, culture and values; community engagement; family support specialists; transitions coordinators; parent and youth advisory groups; maternal and child health services; juvenile crime prevention; workforce readiness; summer youth programs; and recovery workforces. These elements work together to create an integrated system of support.
Building Capacity in Year One
The first year focused on essential groundwork across four areas: organizational capacity, partnership development, community engagement, and data use.
Organizational capacity work includes hiring staff and leadership development to build the team needed for implementation. Partnership development involves establishing the Implementation Team and engaging partners, parents, youth, and data advisors in meaningful collaboration.
Community engagement efforts focus on family engagement and transitions support, ensuring families are actively involved in shaping the initiative. Data use in the first phase includes developing a comprehensive data plan and outlining the IRB approval process for responsible data collection and sharing.
This foundation is critical for preparing for a comprehensive five-year grant that would potentially encompass all schools and services that serve Passamaquoddy families throughout Washington County, creating an integrated system of support that meets families where they are and grows with their needs.
A Promise for Washington County
The Passamaquoddy Promise Neighborhood represents more than a federal grant—it’s a steadfast commitment to enhancing the well-being of Passamaquoddy families and communities through comprehensive, culturally grounded support and educational opportunities. By addressing the interconnected needs of families, strengthening community systems, and centering Passamaquoddy traditions and values in all services, PPN is working to create a community where all children have the chance to succeed and every family receives the support needed to thrive.
Looking to the future, our vision is to expand the Promise Neighborhood model across Washington County, building on the successes and lessons learned in Passamaquoddy communities. By extending this initiative, we aim to foster an environment where all families in Washington County benefit from a holistic, culturally responsive approach to community development—one that unites diverse communities through shared values, respect for local traditions, and a commitment to equity and opportunity for every child.
As this initiative unfolds over the coming years, it will serve as a model for how communities can leverage federal resources while maintaining cultural integrity and local leadership. The Promise Neighborhood will demonstrate that effective community development honors both the aspirations and the traditions of the people it serves, inspiring broader adoption and collaboration throughout Washington County and beyond.
This article is based on a breakout session from the SCEC Economic Summit, which took place on November 14, 2025 at Cobscook Institute. This session was led by Elizabeth Neptune, of Neptune Advantage. Tora Johson, Co-Director of the Sustainable Prosperity Initiative at SCEC served as the session liaison, and Peter Piconi, Director of Business Advising and MaineStreet Business Building, provided notes from the session.