ervice Works provides positive community service opportunities to youth who need to make amends for non-violent offenses. Youth who engage in service make positive connections to their community and gain the confidence that comes from finding success in meaningful work. Through Service Works, individual community members and non-profit organizations receive a variety of services, making our community a better place to live, work, and grow.

Youth in the Service Works program has contributed 45,000 hours of service at over 1,700 sites during the past 8 years. This adds up to more than $700,000 worth of work! Their community service projects include:

• Paint Murals
• Remove Graffiti
• Distribute Flyers
• Move Furniture
• Deliver Food
• ...and much more!

f you have driven by 251 Danforth Street lately, you may have noticed that it is looking a little different. Bright colors of a city scene now canvas the May Street side of the building.

You may have noticed a colorful cityscape under the Deering Avenue bridge on I-295 as you drive through Portland.

These colorful murals were created by Portland West Service Works youth through a project called “Urban Murals - Positive Avenues for Public Artistic Expression.” Led by west end artist and Service Works Supervisor Dave Marshall, young people had an opportunity to interact positively with adults and connect with the community.

The project was funded in part by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.