The Maine Education Association (MEA) is committed to ensuring that professional educators' voices, values, and priorities are heard and respected. It aims to guarantee every Maine student access to an outstanding education by advocating for better pay, benefits, and working conditions for its members, standing up for, supporting, and empowering educators in and outside the classroom, ensuring equity, preventing discrimination and prejudice, and advancing great public schools for all educators and students across the state.
The Human, Civil Rights and Social Justice Grant offered by the MEA awards up to $1,000 to local associations to promote leadership in human, civil rights, and social justice within schools and communities. The funding supports expenses like speakers, materials, space rental, or equipment, but cannot be used to compensate association members directly or for routine business. Eligible activities must align with MEA policies and focus on enhancing the quality of education, equalizing educational opportunities, supporting the development of social justice awareness among members/students, encouraging participation in local association activities, or addressing human, civil rights, and social justice issues in public schools.