Executive Director
Martha served on the Board of Hope Acts for 18 months prior to taking over leadership of the organization in January 2018. Previously, she served as Director of Communications for Maine Equal Justice Partners, Development Director for Tedford Housing, and Development Director for the Maine Council of Churches. Prior to working for non-profits, Martha held various management positions at AT&T and Prudential. She received her Bachelors Degree from the University of Connecticut and MBA from the University of Chicago. Martha is a Master Gardener and a cellist in the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra. She lives in Brunswick with her husband Mitchell.
Deputy Director
Madeleine joined Hope Acts in June 2024 as the first Deputy Director. In this role, Madeleine supports the organization’s administrative efforts at a time when workload and responsibilities Hope Acts oversees are rapidly growing. Previously, she was the Programs & Community Engagement Manager for the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition (MIRC). Prior to that, Madeleine served as a Legal Analyst at the Portland immigration law firm FordMurray and a Reporting Officer with the Beirut-based refugee relief organization Basmeh & Zeytooneh. Madeleine holds a MSc in Migration, Mobility and Development from SOAS, University of London and a BA in Asian and Middle Eastern Cultures from Barnard College of Columbia University. She speaks French fluently and has studied Spanish and Arabic for many years. Raised in France and Belgium, Madeleine has strong family ties to Maine. She lives in Portland with her partner and her two rescue dogs.
Program Director
As Hope Acts' Program Manager, Alice oversees Hope Acts’ Asylum Seeker Assistance Program, including Project HOME, the Asylum Application Resource Center, the Work Permit Program, and direct service for clients at Hope House. Before joining Hope Acts, she was the Multicultural and Multilingual Coordinator for the South Portland School Department, where she collaborated with staff, families, and community to build stronger connections and achieve equitable educational access for families whose primary language is other than English. Alice serves on the Avesta Housing Board and, since 2019, has been the African Gala Chair for the Sacred Heart/Saint Dominic Church. She holds a B.A. in Finance from ESCO-IGES University in Burkina Faso, and she is a Certified Nursing Assistant and Personal Support Specialist. Alice loves catering and singing, and is a part of the Sacred Heart/Saint Dominic church choir.
Program and Housing Assistant
Francois was a volunteer interpreter at Hope House in the Asylum Seekers Assistance Program before joining our staff in June of 2022. He is a Pastor by profession, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a Master’s degree in theology from the Catholic University of Congo. He is employed at Maine Medical Center as a per diem chaplain, in addition to his position at Hope Acts. Francois speaks French, English, Lingala, and Kikongo, and understands Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. He loves travelling and is known around the Hope House office for making staff, clients, and volunteers feel comfortable.
English Language Program and Communications Manager
Originally from Downeast Maine, Sarah moved to Portland after receiving her TESOL Certification from the University of Maine. She is a co-founding member of Hope House English Language Program (HHELP), and continues to teach English as a volunteer. Previously, she worked for an international non-profit in communications, administration, and project management roles where she was able to visit programs in both El Salvador and Nicaragua after adopting a passion for cross-cultural exchange during her undergrad semester abroad in Uganda. She holds a BFA in Creative Writing, and is inspired by humanity, words, and art.
Housing Manager
Rod began his journey with Hope House as a volunteer in 2018 before officially joining the organization in March 2021. He holds a Diploma in International Trade and Transport and has extensive experience in the logistics and relocation industry. Additionally, he has worked with international institutions, gaining valuable expertise in global operations. Passionate about innovation, Rod enjoys exploring social entrepreneurship and emerging technologies.
Case Manager
In his role as Project Home Case Manager, Samuel works with our partners at the Quality Housing Coalition to find housing and provide support to newly housed individuals and families. Samuel first connected with Hope Acts in 2017 as a student in the Hope House English Language Program. Previously he worked for an organization supporting people with developmental disabilities. Samuel holds a Management Degree from the Kigali Independent University (ULK) in Rwanda. He says: “I really enjoy helping people. I support people through education about tenancy, getting them furniture through partnerships with donors, and in general, setting them up for success.”
Program Assistant
Originally from Burkina Faso, Bernard began volunteering with Hope Acts in September of 2022 before joining our staff in 2023. He assists in supporting asylum seekers with applications, making appointments, troubleshooting to make sure forms get filed correctly, advocating for clients, and helping with necessary administrative duties. Before coming to the United States, Bernard was a Project Manager and Regional Coordinator in charge of sustainable sanitation in West Africa for the Intergovernmental Agency of Water and Sanitation for Africa. He and his family received support from Hope Acts, and he was inspired to help others.
Program Assistant
Josue joined Hope Acts in August 2024 as a Program Assistant, playing a key role in language interpretation and supporting various programs. Josue volunteered at Portland Adult Education, helping students enhance their English skills using computers.They are fluent in multiple languages. Josue enjoys playing the piano, guitar, and flute. They have a deep interest in philosophy and find great fulfillment in reading and meditating on the Bible, which fuels their personal growth and wisdom.
Program Assistant
Lisa joined Hope Acts in June 2023 and works part time in the ASAP program, helping clients with a variety of issues, such as support with DHHS applications, change of address forms, or resolving problems with government and immigration agencies. Of her work she says: "The most gratifying part of the job is the relief and satisfaction we feel when a thorny problem is solved, or a medical bill is cancelled, or learning the job applications we helped with resulted in employment." In the past, Lisa worked for many years in poverty law services and in programs with an immigrant focus. She enjoys hiking with friends, traveling, reading, gardening, beekeeping, and is a novice bird watcher.
Senior Systems and Administration Manager
Dawna grew up in rural Maine, immersed in the rich history and community of resilient working-class Mainers. As a young adult, she studied Classics and Archaeology, travelling abroad and working across the US before returning to her Maine roots. Over the past 15 years, Dawna's skills led her to roles in administration, accounting, and data analytics. Her aptitude for systems and data organization is an invaluable skill in maintaining records of our exponential growth at Hope Acts. Dawna continues doing archaeology with Cape Porpoise Archaeological Alliance on the islands of Kennebunkport, ME when she's not working at Hope Acts.
