Be the Adult You Needed.
We connect Midcoast Maine youth with caring mentors who provide encouragement, stability, and the support they need to build confidence and thrive.
Our Mission
Every kid deserves someone in their corner
We work with Brunswick and Freeport schools to reach kids before things get harder than they need to be.
Through honest conversation, consistent mentorship, and programs built around what actually helps, not what looks good on paper, we try to make one thing true for every kid we work with.
They're not doing this alone.
Who we are
Our story so far
Since 2008, Seeds of Independence has partnered with Brunswick and Freeport schools to make sure no kid feels like they're figuring it out alone. What started as a small mentoring effort has grown into a year-round presence — dozens of kids and families connected with mentors, every school year and every summer, one consistent relationship at a time.
2008
Founded
17+ years
Serving Midcoast Maine
Dozens
Of kids & families supported every year
Rooted in Every Season
Supporting young minds through the rhythm of the school year and the freedom of summer.
School Year Programs
Mentor check-ins & academic support
Dedicated spaces to recharge and focus
Skill-building after the bell rings
Summer Programs
Sun-soaked outdoor adventures
Creative projects
Lifelong connections & summer fun
Fewer Mentors. More Kids Who Need One.
Maine's childhood depression rate is nearly double the national average
Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) & CDC data, via John T. Gorman Foundation
Youth in mentoring relationships lasting a year or longer show significantly fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety than non-mentored peers
Source: Big Brothers Big Sisters national study, Prevention Science (Springer Nature)
Young adults who report growing up with a mentor — a number that's nearly halved since 2013
Source: MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership
"The question is not whether we can afford to invest in every child; it is whether we can afford not to."
— MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN, Founder, Children's Defense Fund
Listen Up
Listen to Seeds of Independence founder Willo Wright speak with the Ed Forum of Maine, discussing the current status of Maine’s educational system and how we can help support Maine kids.
Join the Movement
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donate
Your donation helps fund summer camps, one-on-one mentoring, and the everyday support that keeps a kid moving forward.
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volunteer
Become the adult a Midcoast Maine kid can count on — no experience required, just consistency.
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