Housing asylum seekers
Helping immigrants succeed
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.
Program Director
As Hope Acts' Program Manager, Alice Kabore 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 is originally from the Republic of Congo. He volunteered at Hope House in 2018 and joined Hope House in March 2021. He speaks English, French and Lingala. Rod has a Diploma in International trade and transport, and experience in the logistics and relocation industry. He also gained experience working for International Institutions back in South Africa and the Republic of Congo. He enjoys learning about social entrepreneurship and new technologies.
Case Worker
Megan Jones joined the Hope Acts team as a case worker in the fall of 2022. She works closely with asylum seekers as they adjust to life in Maine. She is passionate about empowering clients and advocating on their behalf. Megan worked for 20 years as a fine art and commercial photographer before pursuing a career in social work. In her spare time, Megan is often outside playing, no matter the weather.
Program Manager
Originally from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Serge speaks Lingala, French, Swahili and English. Forced to flee DRC in 2016, he used his life savings to seek asylum in the United States. Serge moved to Portland where he volunteered while learning English and waiting to receive work authorization. In 2017 he relocated to California, where he worked for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) as a Work Readiness and Financial Literacy Coordinator, and also enjoyed working as an actor. Now back in Maine, Serge focuses on helping immigrants with their asylum paperwork and processes. He wants to work hard to contribute to the economy, serve the community and "pay forward" the kind of support that America has provided him. Serge hopes someday to return to the DRC and open a soup kitchen for disadvantaged children and families.
Program Assistant
Mariam arrived in Portland with her four children in 2014, after traveling from her native Djibouti. With language skills in French, English and Somali, she joined Hope Acts for what was then a short-term interpreting assignment in mid 2022. In her permanent position as a Program Assistant she greets the many clients in our office, determines what type of help they need, and handles client scheduling. Mariam says she likes working at Hope Acts because "I know what it is like to be an immigrant, to be new here, and to feel overwhelmed. I want to help people. I understand where they are coming from."
Program Assistant
Mathurin Ngly supported human rights in government in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo as an attorney/advocate/advisor before coming to the US in 2019. In southern Maine he served as a translator for a range of community organizations before joining the staff at Hope Acts in 2023, as Program Assistant for the Asylum Application Resource Center (AARC) and Project Home. He says, "I like working at Hope Acts because I am a humanitarian. I enjoy helping people. I always want to smile and give hope to the person I am working with because my family has been through a similar situation."