Our mission

At Common Threads of Maine, our mission is to promote fulfilling careers in the Maine textile industry by teaching people to become skilled stitchers, advocating for fair treatment in the workplace, and assisting business development.

You can support our mission by donating today.

Common Threads invites anyone looking to change their life to apply to our program. Nearly all participants have been refugees, asylum seekers, or new citizens of the United States.

Since the organization’s beginning in 2015, over 180 students have learned to become skilled industrial stitchers. We have helped connect over 85 percent to good paying jobs at the workplaces of local employers. Participants have earned new confidence, workplace skills and improved English and math skills.

Our Story

It all started when…

Our nonprofit school was founded in 2015 by Dory Waxman, owner of Old Port Wool and Textile Company in Portland, Maine.

As a textile entrepreneur, Dory Waxman spotted a rare opportunity: Maine textile manufacturers needed skilled industrial stitchers, and immigrants in Maine needed stable, well paying jobs. She believed she could teach immigrants to become the expert stitchers that Maine’s textile makers needed.

In 2019, Common Threads of Maine was granted 501c3 status. In early 2021, Dory handed the reins of the organization to Apphia Kamanda and Jo Bell, who stepped up from their roles as sewing instructors to become Co-Executive Directors. Dory is now Chair of the Board of Directors for Common Threads.

Who We Are

Apphia Kamanda Mpay - Co-Executive Director and Lead Sewing Instructor

I’m from the Republic Democratic of Congo. I moved to the U.S.A in 2011, trying to find a safe place for my family and myself. I’m a fashion designer and from a family of artists. I love training others, teaching them hand skills with kindness and patience. As an immigrant, I know the struggle of starting a new life in another country. Common Threads is just what I need to help my community by sharing my knowledge with them and making their dream come true. I’m happy every day after class, realizing that I gave something that students needed to build their future.

Jo Bell - Co-Executive Director

I started sewing from a young age and I worked as a stitcher for many years in Washington, my home state. After I moved to Maine in 2015, I started working in nonprofit operations and development. I trained as an accountant and worked as the business manager of another nonprofit, and learned grant writing and development skills through volunteering, before I became a sewing instructor for Common Threads. Now I manage things behind the scenes: bookkeeping, grant writing, program development, and many other things. Our students bring big hopes and dreams to the classroom, and I love giving them the tools they need to succeed as they take on the challenge of becoming professional stitchers. I am especially excited to nourish the creativity and innovation of program participants and our community with our Textile Makerspace and Thrift & Gift Retail Store.

Mary-Ann Kurdyla - Contextualized Math & English

After 27 years of working with children, I thought my teaching days were done. I didn't expect to be lured back when I started tutoring adults -just for fun- at Portland Adult Education. Within a year I was back at the white board, teaching basic language & math skills to adults from all over the world. In the summer of 2015, I heard about this new pilot program for stitchers & joined forces with Dory. I've been teaching stitchers the language of "Sewing" and basic measurement skills ever since and I enjoy every minute. Knowing that our students are learning skills that give them more options in the workplace gives me a great deal of satisfaction. I love our students, I love my job!

Fatoumata Sylla - Classroom Assistant

My background is in finance and accounting. I became interested in sewing when I was little but I did not get the chance to go to a sewing school in Mali. When I came to Maine in 2019 I went to Portland Adult Education to learn English. In 2022 I was looking for a job and my teacher told me there was a sewing company looking for people. When I contacted them they asked me if I never sewed before and I said no. They said if I am Interested in sewing there is a program named Common Threads that helps people to learn how to sew, so I contacted them. In March 2022 I started classes and it was amazing. The teachers are very professional and like what they do. It was a very good experience there. I like to help others, like Common Threads helped me.

Board of Directors

Dory Waxman

Photo by Tom McPherson

Dory-Anna Richards Waxman - Board Chair

Dory has worked in the textile industry in Maine for over 30 years. A self taught seamstress, she started Casco Bay Wool Works (1992) and Old Port Wool and Textile companies (2013). Through those companies she trained and employed new Americans to work in growing her businesses. She is a founder of American Roots Wear and has spent the past 6 years building Common Threads of Maine. She and her husband Daniel raised their family in Portland Maine where Dory has been active as a community organizer, Portland School Committee and City Council member as well as the co-author of the 10 Year Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in Portland. Her family, community, and Common Threads of Maine are very dear to her heart.

Jill Duson - Treasurer, Director

Jill Duson - Treasurer, Director

Sen. Duson is the first black woman to serve in the Maine Senate. As a Maine State Senator, she represents District 27 which includes part of Portland and Westbrook.

A steadfast leader in the City of Portland, Sen. Duson served as a member and Chair of the School Committee prior to serving over 19 years as an At-Large City Councilor, including two terms as appointed Mayor. As an elected municipal official, Sen. Duson fought for resources to support schools, while at the same time holding school leaders accountable for creating a quality system where all students can learn and thrive. Sen. Duson focused on ensuring safe, affordable, and accessible housing options in Portland that match the diverse needs of those who live and work in the city.

The Senator is a retired attorney and a Maine State Retiree. Her most recent state service included Director of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and Director of Compliance for the Maine Human Rights Commission.

Kevin Beal - Secretary, Director

An attorney by trade, Kevin is an Assistant Attorney General for Maine and has over 30 years’ experience representing Maine and Maine businesses and municipalities. Kevin was a member of the Institute of Civic Leadership’s Iolta Class, and has served the community as a volunteer in a variety of civic organizations. Past leadership includes service as Chair of the Portland, Maine Planning Board, and Co-President of Outright Portland. Kevin lives in Portland and is the proud father of a young doctor at the Maine Medical Center.

Pious Ali - Director

Pious serves as a Director on the Organization’s Board of Directors. Pious works as a Policy analyst with the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School of Public Service's Youth and Community Engagement project. An immigrant from Ghana, Pious is an At-Large city councilor in Portland, Maine where he lives with his two children.

Katie Brown - Director

Katie is the executive director of Youth Full Maine, a food security nonprofit in York County. Katie lives in Portland, Maine and has been a community advocate her whole life. She has a wealth of experience in the building of nonprofits and has been an advocate for those living in challenging times today.

Rosemarie De Angelis - Director

Rosemarie was a speech and language pathologist in K-12 education for over 40 years. She taught English to non-native English speakers at Smcc for 17 years And served as a guardian ad litem in the courts for 15 years

Rosemarie served on the city council in South Portland for six years and served as mayor in 2011. She presently serves on the Southport School Board, serves as chair of the bicycle pedestrian committee, and serves on the board of directors for the community Garden Collective.

Rosemarie has been a liberal activist all her life, a strong supporter of unions, a lover of Storytelling, and a friend to anyone who will have her. She loves meeting new people from around the globe and treasures the privileges she’s had in life.

Theresa Kelly - Director

Theresa and her husband live on 37 acres in Pownal, where they grow vegetables, fruits and flowers, primarily for their own consumption, while providing friends, neighbors and local food pantries with some of the bounty. Theresa currently serves on the boards for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension in both Cumberland and Oxford counties. Theresa is a retired “Road warrior” Delivery Executive for large scale systems integration projects in the Insurance and Banking sectors for IBM, and she worked for UNUM in IT development and project management.

Carly Andrascik - Director

Carly is a leadership development and learning design consultant at L.L.Bean in Maine. Prior, she worked as a management consultant at Accenture. Carly has volunteered with the Portland Mentoring Alliance and currently mentors young women from the immigrant community in Portland. A love for sewing and creativity led her to volunteer extensively with Common Threads of Maine.

Jaye Gorham - Director

Presently, Jaye assists real estate clients in Greater Portland while actively contributing to her community. She proudly serves as the President of Friends of Fort Sumner Park and holds the role of Vice President on the Advisory Board of Directors for the International Association of Marine Port Executives. Moreover, she played a pivotal role as a founding committee member of the Hidden Garden Tour of Munjoy Hill. In the past, she dedicated her time to serving on the board for Paysa Soccer, Riverton Community School PTO and the Skate Park subcommittee for Portland Parks. Beyond community involvement, she finds joy in gardening and pursuing outdoor adventures like skiing, hiking, paddle boarding, and exploring Portland Trails.

Nan Cumming - Director

Nan Cumming has recently retired from a 35-year career managing nonprofits and cultural organizations in Maine. Most recently, she was the founding executive director of the Portland Parks Conservancy, a nonprofit supporting the public parks of Portland. Nan has previously served as the Executive Director of Portland Trails, Curator and Assistant Director of the Maine Historical Society, and campaign director for the Maine Island Trail Association. She holds a BA in Art History and an MA in American and New England Studies. A resident of Richmond, Nan spends her free time swimming, hiking, and dabbling with multiple craft projects.