Student Centered
Results Driven

JMG partners with public education and private businesses to offer results-driven solutions to ensure all Maine students graduate, attain postsecondary credentials, and pursue meaningful careers. Serving more than 13,000 students each year, JMG offers on-ramps from 6th grade through age 24 through nearly 150 programs embedded in public schools, career and technical education centers, and on every campus in the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System.

“JMG helped me find myself, helped me engage more with my peers, to communicate, to listen, to be someone I didn’t think I could be.”

Playbook Initiative Inspires Maine Students to Lead with Courage and Connection

Led by the Maine Celtics, with support from Unum and in collaboration with JMG, the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation Playbook Initiative engaged middle school students in Portland and South Portland through peer-led learning and meaningful dialogue. JMG high school students served as peer Trainers, helping middle schoolers navigate real-life social scenarios, build confidence, and strengthen their school communities.

JMG 8th Grade Adventure Showcases Student Growth and Career Readiness

JMG’s 8th Grade Adventure gives middle school students the tools they need to succeed. From mock interviews to team challenges, students explore their strengths and build skills they’ll carry into high school and beyond. We are thankful for Unum for their continued support and to Thomas College for hosting this unforgettable experience.

JMG Specialists Honored as Unum Starting 9 at Portland Sea Dogs

Nine JMG Specialists were celebrated at a Portland Sea Dogs game as part of the Unum Starting 9, honoring their incredible work supporting Maine students. These educators go above and beyond in the classroom every day—and this celebration at Hadlock Field was a chance to shine a spotlight on their impact.

JMG Snapshot: Programs, Partnerships & Support

  • Maine Resource Hub

    The Maine Resource Hub was created to ensure Mainers have the resources needed to be successful in school and beyond. From career and academic resources to financial assistance and more.

    Resources

  • Create an Impact

    Your support helps JMG build the relationships that give students the confidence, skills, and guidance they need to succeed. Every gift ensures Maine students have the support they need as they navigate school, plan for careers, and build their future.

    Donate
  • Woman in front of classroom of students

    Our Programs

    With nearly 150 programs embedded in schools across Maine, JMG serves 13,000+ students a year through a relationship-based model that integrates skill development, career exploration, and credentialed learning. Students develop the skills and confidence to graduate from high school, earn micro-credentials and credentials, continue their education, and pursue meaningful careers.

    Programs

  • HOPE & PaS

    The HOPE & PaS programs offered by Maine DHHS help parents and specified relatives pursue training and education beyond high school to achieve their career plans with support from JMG Pathway Navigators.

    HOPE & PaS

  • Get Involved

    You can support the success of Maine students and help our students thrive. JMG’s success is dependent on the involvement of our community stakeholders.

    Support JMG

  • Pre-Apprenticeship: MaineHealth Clinical Healthcare

    MaineHealth’s Clinical Healthcare Career Awareness Pre-Apprenticeship is designed for anyone who wishes to further explore clinical healthcare careers and seeks a guided pathway to potential employment with MaineHealth.

    Pre-Apprenticeship

  • Maine Career Exploration Badge

    JMG has a unique opportunity to support eligible Maine students as they participate in 40 hours of meaningful work experiences to earn the Maine Career Exploration Badge. Students earn an academic award of $500 upon completion.

    MCEB

  • Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs)

    ELOs are hands-on, credit-bearing courses outside of the traditional classroom with an emphasis on community-based career exploration.

    ELOs

Employer Partner Program

JMG’s Employer Partner Program gives companies a meaningful way to invest in Maine students and help them explore future career possibilities. Through curated engagement opportunities designed and facilitated by JMG, Employer Partners connect with students, share industry insights, and contribute to building the confidence and skills young people need for success. At the same time, partners strengthen their visibility as employers committed to supporting Maine’s next generation.

JMG Scrub Club Inspires Futures in Healthcare

JMG Scrub Club provided students with hands-on experience and real-world insight into the healthcare industry. Through this incredible program, students gained valuable skills, interacted with healthcare professionals, and explored various career paths in the medical field. A huge thank you to MaineHealth, LifeFlight of Maine, and MaineHealth Careers for inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals

JMG 8th Grade Adventure

JMG 8th graders from across the state came together for our 8th Grade Adventure, showcasing their leadership, social skills, problem-solving, professionalism, interviewing skills, networking skills, and much more. We are thankful to Unum for making this event possible and to Thomas College for welcoming our students to their campus.

JMG Students Discover
Careers at Unum

Unum hosted an exceptional day of career exploration for our students, where they gained valuable career insights, engaged in hands-on learning, and experienced Unum's caring spirit firsthand. This remarkable day allowed them to explore diverse career paths, leaving a lasting impression. We are deeply grateful to Unum for investing in our students' future.

Exploring Futures at CMCC

JMG high school students had an incredible experience at Central Maine Community College, diving into career paths like criminal justice, phlebotomy, and more. Students engaged with employees at MaineHealth and Dead River Company, as well as CMCC faculty, to learn about their career fields of interest. We are immensely grateful to our partners for their support in making this career exploration event a success.

At the core of JMG is our Specialists and their relationship-based approach to serve as educators, mentors, and advisors to our students. Our Specialists believe in our students and have an unwavering commitment to their success both inside and outside of the classroom. Hear how JMG is making a lasting impact on Maine students.

“JMG is my family forever.”

Arsene Badose’s story is a testament to the transformative power of JMG’s continuum of support. Arsene faced the myriad of challenges that come with the collegiate experience. However, with bridging from his JMG High School Specialist, Michelle Bourne, and then with the guidance and support of his JMG College Success Specialists, Randy Inosencio and Carlo Bufano, Arsene navigated his way to success.

“I’m actually going to college. I was accepted.”

Victoria Boone was the first person in her family to ever step foot on a college campus as a student. Victoria said, “JMG has changed and shaped my life in ways I can’t even explain. They believed in me when it felt like no one else did.” Victoria was able to use JMG Emergency Funds when she needed them and had the support of her JMG Specialist, Tara Gray, every step of the way.

  • “I wish I had JMG when I was in high school in Farmington. Back then when it came to life skills, communications, finances, and team building, we were pretty much on our own. I wish I had this great group of kids to hang out with, to build things, to do budgets, to practice public speaking, to build trust, confidence, and leadership. JMG teaches Maine students the skills, the will and ability to determine both their future and ours.”

    The Honorable Gov. Janet Mills

  • “Maine has 177,000 kids in our schools. And every single one of those children deserves the opportunity JMG can give.”

    The Honorable Gov. Paul LePage

  • “When you can take one life, and you can make it such a positive bright light, it offers a lantern to help show others. I think JMG is a program to be modeled and expanded throughout the state.”

    The Honorable Gov. John Baldacci

  • “The real thing that JMG imparts is confidence. The knowledge that you too, can achieve, grab opportunities and excel. This is one of the most important programs with which I have ever been associated with, and I want to thank JMG for helping students fulfill their dreams in the state of Maine… JMG is more important now, than at any time in Maine’s history.”

    The Honorable Gov. Angus King

  • “In 1993, when JMG was created, there were 859 students in 18 programs. Since then, governors of Maine have all maximized JMG to reach its peak performance so that now it’s making a difference for more than [12,000] students a year.”

    The Honorable Gov. John McKernan, Jr.

  • “We consider JMG to be one of Maine’s anchor organizations making important contributions to the state and the economy.”

    Gregory W. Powell

    Chief Executive Officer and President of the Harold Alfond Foundation

  • “It is nice being honored for what we are doing to help JMG, but it is really us, the partners, who should be honoring JMG for the work they are doing.”

    Tony Cipollone

    President & CEO, John T Gorman Foundation

  • "JMG is helping young people fulfill their promise because they're opening doors, they're opening their minds, they're supporting them, they're leading."

    Cary Olson Cartwright

    JMG Board Member | Assistant Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, Unum

  • "JMG taught me what the real world was going to be like. The reason I'm where I am today is because my JMG specialist taught all of us if you want to do something, go for it and give it all you've got. If you don’t try, you'll never know what you're made of. This is how I live my life every day.”

    Shawn Roderick

    JMG Alumnus | Senior Legislative Aide, Maine Senate

  • “While an individual program works with 35-40 students, the very presence of JMG has a contagious effect on the entire faculty to adopt a ‘can-do’ spirit for all kids… We see a greater extracurricular involvement once kids get into JMG, and a huge reduction in behavioral issues and absentee rates.”

    Chris Howell

    JMG Board Member | RSU 14 Superintendent

  • "The fact that you can have a program with that many caring people that can tailor the needs of that individual student and have that much impact, but the breadth of it at the same time, is really incredible."

    Danielle Ahern

    JMG Board Chair | SVP, Director of Treasury & Payment Services Bangor Savings Bank

  • "JMG is education, but it's done a different way. It's out of the box. The difference with JMG is that they just seem to always find a way to get something done that's going to help the kids."

    Bob Moody

    JMG Board Member | VAS and AMR Manager, Everett J. Prescott Inc.