Created by the Maine State Legislature in 2022, The Dr. Charles A. Scontras Center for Labor and Community Education (the “Scontras Center”) provides lifelong, community based labor education, research and outreach.
The Scontras Center’s goal is to empower Maine’s working class through workshops, symposia, skills-based learning and opportunities for applied research. The Center works collaboratively with the university to integrate university curricula and faculty into the programs offered by the Center.
The Scontras Center provides training, education and resources to unions, community groups, and worker organizations. The Scontras Center differs from other university based labor centers in that we are not just a “Labor Education” center, but a “Labor and Community Education” Center. In addition to working with established labor organizations in Maine, we strive to develop deep partnerships with our surrounding communities and to serve as a bridge between the university and residents across Maine. We take a hands on, community outreach approach to create participatory, popular education classes that make complex subjects such as workers rights and labor history accessible to working class generational and New Mainers alike.
Carrying on the legacy of our namesake, who said “ we have an obligation to future generations to save and document this important history,” the Scontras Center works to help its students view all our subject in a historical and social context in order to examine how lessons from the past can help them create strategies to improve their lives today.
In addition to our core curriculum, the Scontras Center provides customized trainings for individual organizations. We will meet with you for an initial consultation to determine your needs and work with you to build a customized curriculum that meets your organization’s needs.
In addition to providing classes and workshops the Scontras Center hosts issue forums, guest speakers and arts events.