Local Spotlight: Leinani Farnsworth

Part of Heart of Biddeford’s mission is “powered by the strength of community involvement.” With this in mind, new assistant director Leinani Farnsworth is the perfect fit for the downtown organization. She knows a thing or two about community involvement and the importance of community connections.

When the position became available last year, Farnsworth became aware of the opening through a community leader who encouraged her to apply. When other community leaders also encouraged her, she decided to give it a shot.

“I honestly have my community to thank for finding this job and leading me to it,” said Farnsworth, who has been at the position for about four months.

Farnsworth lived in Portland after moving to Maine from Hawaii when she was 5-years-old. She got connected with Biddeford and York County when she started working for Youth Full Maine nearly 6 years ago and quickly acclimated to the area.

“It was so easy for me to feel like I had community here,” she said. “Biddeford is just so friendly. Everyone is so kind, and everyone looks out for each other. It’s contagious. I love it.”

In 2020, the pandemic forced Farnsworth to move out of the dorms at UMaine Presque Isle and back home with her parents. She started volunteering at Youth Full Maine, which led to a paid position, helping develop food pantries in schools across York County. Her position allowed the agency to assist more people, and she learned valuable real-life management and communication skills. She also learned education skills – teaching young people the value in helping others and that people should not feel ashamed if they need food.

She said the Biddeford School system was very supportive of Youth Full Maine, and wanted to make sure the organization succeeded. With students attending class at home remotely, the school department allowed Youth Full Maine to operate from space at the middle school. Later, the Biddeford School department secured Youth Full Maine a building on the grounds of the high school.

“I think that’s what really made me fall in love with York County, especially the Biddeford area - seeing how much the Biddeford school system acknowledged the help that we were trying to bring them, and the amount of work that we put into it. That was just incredible to see that the school system was dedicated to helping their community, helping their families, and helping their students,” she said.

After Youth Full Maine and just prior to accepting the job at Heart of Biddeford, Farnsworth worked at the Service Works program at LearningWorks, a program that pairs young people with community service projects as a way to make amends for offenses.

“Service works really helped me build a lot more community connections and helped widen my lens to what there is out there,” she said. “It really helped me build deep and meaningful connections in the Saco, Biddeford and Old Orchard Beach area.”

And speaking of connections, her connection to Service Works was helpful in her new position at Heart of Biddeford, as she utilized volunteers from the agency to help clean the former courthouse for the Merry Maker Fair at Merry and Bright Night.

“It just shows how connected the community is,” she said. “The non-profit network in Biddeford is so incredibly strong.”

As assistant director of Heart of Biddeford, Farnsworth said she does social media management, marketing, event planning, “and lots of little things in between.”

“I really just jumped in headfirst,” she said.

She said the Merry Maker Fair was the first event she organized almost completely herself and she received positive feedback both from vendors and attendees. She said she was happy to bring an affordable venue to more than 75 vendors, and she is looking forward to the upcoming WinterFest.

She said Heart of Biddeford Director Delilah Poupore has been a great mentor with a deep knowledge of Biddeford. Farnsworth said if she has a question Poupore can always give her an answer or share related personal experience.

“It’s convenient and inspiring to have another woman I can look up to that I also work for,” she said.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.