The Franco Center will show the film “Building Hope,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 11. Admission is free. The evening will feature a panel of several professionals who will discuss homelessness, including: 

Kevin Boilard, Kaydenz Kitchen
Jamie Caouette, The Store Next Door
Lisa Escobar, Lewiston High School SUD Clinician/Prevention Coordinator
Sasha Anastasoff, Auburn’s McKinney-Vento and Foster Care Liaison
Amran Osman, Executive Director of Generational Noor
Greg Whitney, President of the Drop-in Center, Auburn 

The film “Building Hope,” brought to the Center by Kane Lewis Productions, shares that there is hope to end the suffering of homelessness. The film explores the stories of people who have been caught in the daily crisis of homelessness. With the help of leading state advocates, many have risen above their circumstances to find housing and jobs and are becoming productive members of society. Others, due to chance, mental illness and substance use disorder, have yet to succeed.  

The film explores the whys and hows by which our society can heal the suffering. In the film, Maine’s Speaker of the House Rachel Talbot Ross talks about her own vulnerabilities growing up and investments in affordable housing. Maine’s Independent U.S. Senator Angus King discusses bills he has co-sponsored, and Developers Collaborative’s Kevin Bunker, the force behind building Portland’s new Homeless Services Center and Asylum Seekers Center, shares his perspectives. 

A “voice from poverty,” Dr. Donna Beegle closes the film with the plea: “There’s nothing that matches making a difference for your fellow human beings. … Let me use what’s in my hands … to see if I can’t leave you in a better place.”  

The Franco Center is handicap accessible through its elevator entrance on the Lincoln St. Alley side of the building. Parking is in the mill lot on Oxford Street. The venue is at 46 Cedar Street in Lewiston.