spotlight: maine seeds alumni
Seeds of Peace's core value is to empower new generations of leaders...and participating as a Seed in 2004 changed my life. Today, I am in Peace Corps in Swaziland and I am trying to empower new generations of young African leaders. Overall, I feel as though Seeds of Peace not only changed my life, but helped me realize what I really wanted to do. Really, all of my success in life was made possible by one person, who I met at Seeds. Tim Wilson . He was an ally, but also a friend and has been there for me for every important milestone in my life. Without him, and Seeds, I wouldn't be the woman I am today..." -Emelda Ogweta, Maine Seed '02
Emelda Ogweta
Maine Seed '02
Emelda first learned about Seeds of Peace when she was at King middle school in the seventh grade. Since then, Seeds of Peace has been a constant in her life. She explains, "Seeds not only connected me to my culture, teaching me important life lessons, but it led her to the decision of joining Peace Corps."
Her first session at Seeds of Peace Co-existence camp was in 2002. That session turned out to be such an amazing experience, that she returned to camp as a P.S in 2003 and 2004.
While attending Kents Hill for high school from 2004 to 2007, Emelda always made it a priority to stay involved with Seeds. She attended Manhanntaville College and majored in International Studies and minored in Psychology and African studies. While in college, she interned at March of Dimes and realized that she wanted to do hands on work. After graduating college in 2011, she worked with autistic children for two years before applying to Peace Corps. Currently, Emelda is in Swaziland.
Maine Seed '02
Emelda first learned about Seeds of Peace when she was at King middle school in the seventh grade. Since then, Seeds of Peace has been a constant in her life. She explains, "Seeds not only connected me to my culture, teaching me important life lessons, but it led her to the decision of joining Peace Corps."
Her first session at Seeds of Peace Co-existence camp was in 2002. That session turned out to be such an amazing experience, that she returned to camp as a P.S in 2003 and 2004.
While attending Kents Hill for high school from 2004 to 2007, Emelda always made it a priority to stay involved with Seeds. She attended Manhanntaville College and majored in International Studies and minored in Psychology and African studies. While in college, she interned at March of Dimes and realized that she wanted to do hands on work. After graduating college in 2011, she worked with autistic children for two years before applying to Peace Corps. Currently, Emelda is in Swaziland.
Anthony Macleod
Maine Seed '00
Anthony Macleod first attended Seeds of Peace in 2000 as a member of the inaugural class of Maine Seeds. He subsequently attended camp in 2001 and 2003 as a participant in drafting the Maine Youth Charter, which was presented to Governor John Baldacci. Anthony studied finance at the University of New Hampshire and remained active in Seeds of Peace, attending the 2008 Graduate Association conference in Rabat, Mexico.
Since graduating, Anthony has held roles in investment banking, and is currently part of a team managing the secure shredding business unit of Iron Mountain, a global information management company headquartered in Boston.
Maine Seed '00
Anthony Macleod first attended Seeds of Peace in 2000 as a member of the inaugural class of Maine Seeds. He subsequently attended camp in 2001 and 2003 as a participant in drafting the Maine Youth Charter, which was presented to Governor John Baldacci. Anthony studied finance at the University of New Hampshire and remained active in Seeds of Peace, attending the 2008 Graduate Association conference in Rabat, Mexico.
Since graduating, Anthony has held roles in investment banking, and is currently part of a team managing the secure shredding business unit of Iron Mountain, a global information management company headquartered in Boston.
I owe so much of what I've done to Seeds of Peace and especially Tim Wilson. Seeds was an eye opening experience for when I first attended at age 14. It really changed the course of my life!" -Tom MacMillan, '01
Thomas MacMillan
Maine Seed '01
Tom was born and raised in Portland, Maine and first became involved with Seeds of Peace in 2001 as a camper. After a year of after camp activities, he returned as a peer support (PS) in 2002, where he met seeds from the Balkans and Cyprus, as well as fellow Maine Seeds. He was motivated to travel because of Seeds of Peace and got a part-time job after camp ended in order to save money. The following summer, at the age of 16, he traveled alone to Macedonia and Kosovo and stayed with Seeds in that conflict region. He returned to camp in 2003 to work on a Youth Charter for Maine and also spent part of 2004 at Seeds of Peace as a volunteer. After graduating from high school in 2005, he again traveled to a Seeds of Peace region, this time to Egypt, where he stayed with a Seed friend and volunteered at a school for Sudanese refugees.
Since graduating from Clark University with a degree in International Development and Social Change in 2009, he has moved back to Portland and has been active in local politics and social justice issues. He ran for State Representative in 2012 and is running again in November 2014. He is also Chair of the Portland Green Independent Committee.
Maine Seed '01
Tom was born and raised in Portland, Maine and first became involved with Seeds of Peace in 2001 as a camper. After a year of after camp activities, he returned as a peer support (PS) in 2002, where he met seeds from the Balkans and Cyprus, as well as fellow Maine Seeds. He was motivated to travel because of Seeds of Peace and got a part-time job after camp ended in order to save money. The following summer, at the age of 16, he traveled alone to Macedonia and Kosovo and stayed with Seeds in that conflict region. He returned to camp in 2003 to work on a Youth Charter for Maine and also spent part of 2004 at Seeds of Peace as a volunteer. After graduating from high school in 2005, he again traveled to a Seeds of Peace region, this time to Egypt, where he stayed with a Seed friend and volunteered at a school for Sudanese refugees.
Since graduating from Clark University with a degree in International Development and Social Change in 2009, he has moved back to Portland and has been active in local politics and social justice issues. He ran for State Representative in 2012 and is running again in November 2014. He is also Chair of the Portland Green Independent Committee.
Brett Garrish
Maine Seed '00
Brett Garrish first attended Seeds of Peace in 2000 as a camper. Today, he works as a licensed professional forester for Prentiss & Carlisle Forest Resource Management in Bangor, ME. He remains active with Seeds and frequently participates in Seeds events, such as Camp Clean Up day. Brett loves the Maine outdoors and is an avid hunter and fisherman. He is currently living in Milo, Maine with his wife Aliza and stepson Julian. They are expecting a child in August.
Maine Seed '00
Brett Garrish first attended Seeds of Peace in 2000 as a camper. Today, he works as a licensed professional forester for Prentiss & Carlisle Forest Resource Management in Bangor, ME. He remains active with Seeds and frequently participates in Seeds events, such as Camp Clean Up day. Brett loves the Maine outdoors and is an avid hunter and fisherman. He is currently living in Milo, Maine with his wife Aliza and stepson Julian. They are expecting a child in August.
When I returned to Seeds of Peace as a Counselor, I was able to witness the journey of self-discovery for other young Seeds from around the world..." -Jackie Curtis Sawyer, '99
Jackie Curtis Sawyer
Maine Seed '99
Jackie was a Seed in 1999 and was sent as a Maine Seed to the Middle East in 2000. After experiencing a taste of the world beyond the state of Maine, she went on to study International Development at American University in Washington D.C. In the summers of 2002 and 2003, she returned to Seeds of Peace as a Counselor, which she describes as "an opportunity to witness the journey of self-discovery for other young Seeds from around the world".
After she graduated college, she moved to the South for a couple of years before returning to Maine to work for CIEE, a non-profit student exchange organization located in Portland. As part of CIEE, Jackie works in CIEE's High School Programs department and helps to bring students from around the world to the U.S. to live with host families and attend school for a year. Working to provide this educational and cultural experience for teens from around the world has been extremely fulfilling for Jackie. She explains, "It reinforces my deep belief that cultural awareness and understanding leads to peaceful relations." Jackie lives in Auburn and is married with one daughter and twins on the way (due to arrive Fall of 2014).
Maine Seed '99
Jackie was a Seed in 1999 and was sent as a Maine Seed to the Middle East in 2000. After experiencing a taste of the world beyond the state of Maine, she went on to study International Development at American University in Washington D.C. In the summers of 2002 and 2003, she returned to Seeds of Peace as a Counselor, which she describes as "an opportunity to witness the journey of self-discovery for other young Seeds from around the world".
After she graduated college, she moved to the South for a couple of years before returning to Maine to work for CIEE, a non-profit student exchange organization located in Portland. As part of CIEE, Jackie works in CIEE's High School Programs department and helps to bring students from around the world to the U.S. to live with host families and attend school for a year. Working to provide this educational and cultural experience for teens from around the world has been extremely fulfilling for Jackie. She explains, "It reinforces my deep belief that cultural awareness and understanding leads to peaceful relations." Jackie lives in Auburn and is married with one daughter and twins on the way (due to arrive Fall of 2014).
Sheena Portas
Maine Seed '99
Sheena Portas attended Seeds of Peace in 1999 as an American delegate and returned the summer of 2000 to work for the camp. She also traveled to the Middle East in 2000 to visit the brand new Center for Co-Existence in Jerusalem. Regarding her trip, Sheena writes, "While the Center is no longer there, the memories from that trip will always be with me."
Sheena was born and raised in Portland, Maine. She graduated from Manhattanville College with a double major in History and Political Science with a Legal Studies concentration. She is returning to school this fall to pursue her Masters in Business Administration. She is currently a Field Resource Analyst for Unum Group and has been with the company for 5 years. She loves to travel and has been to over 15 different countries.
Maine Seed '99
Sheena Portas attended Seeds of Peace in 1999 as an American delegate and returned the summer of 2000 to work for the camp. She also traveled to the Middle East in 2000 to visit the brand new Center for Co-Existence in Jerusalem. Regarding her trip, Sheena writes, "While the Center is no longer there, the memories from that trip will always be with me."
Sheena was born and raised in Portland, Maine. She graduated from Manhattanville College with a double major in History and Political Science with a Legal Studies concentration. She is returning to school this fall to pursue her Masters in Business Administration. She is currently a Field Resource Analyst for Unum Group and has been with the company for 5 years. She loves to travel and has been to over 15 different countries.