Testimonials
Read testimonials from participants who have advanced their knowledge, built new skills, and achieved their professional goals through our programs.
Great workshop, great presenter, good content. This was the first PD workshop I have done with UMaine, and it didn’t feel like pressure or an obligation; it felt informative and engaging–there was an ease about this learning.
2024 ParticipantI really enjoyed this class, and appreciated learning the different strategies. I’ll definitely use this in my work. In fact, I’ve already begun using several strategies, and have found them super helpful and effective. I’ve recommended the class to others in my workplace.
2024 ParticipantIt was very helpful breaking into discussion/practice groups to try using techniques Peggy was teaching us. It left me feeling confident about how to use in my practice with patients.
2024 Participant
This was a very good introduction to the course materials and subject matter, very thoughtfully laid out in clear order, and interactive enough to encourage participation. I enjoyed using the tools for surveys and info gathering.
2024 ParticipantThis program really increased my knowledge of the capabilities available in virtual meetings. The tools I learned will be most helpful in the future!
2024 Participant
I have found it far easier to avoid jumping into an emotionally driven response and instead be able to respond from a more empathetic, better-clarified place. I have also become quite clear within myself that peace, civility, etc. are where my heart lies.
Past Participant
Our instructor was extremely organized and explained grant writing as a step-by-step process. Her ability to break down the process into easily digestible bite-sized pieces gave me the confidence to tackle applying for grants that I may not have ever tried.
2025 ParticipantElizabeth Haffey presented an incredible model for grant writing that teaches the process for developing a logical grant strategy from internally auditing your organization through researching grants and finally writing and submitting a grant. Grant ethics and understanding your role as a grant writer are not ignored as you begin to understand the world of grant writing with a whole new perspective.
2024 ParticipantBeing in a group with everyone that has completely different backgrounds, and making sure that everyone is on the same level with understanding, was great. I never felt left behind or that I was underwater.
2025 ParticipantI highly recommend this course. Elizabeth is a wonderful presenter who offers a step-by-step grant writing guide. She welcomes and encourages class participation and offers opportunities to look at grant writing from different perspectives and challenges. I am actually looking forward to submitting a grant utilizing my newly found skills and useful tool bag of information.
2024 ParticipantThis course was extremely useful to me as executive director of a small nonprofit. It helped me to prioritize my grant writing work and also my organizations development calendar in a realistic way. It gave me confidence to expand our grant writing program with knowledge of what is possible (and what is not).
2024 Participant
I got some great advice and suggestions around how to react to difficult things and how to take a pause. I also like the simplicity of going with a question to start a difficult conversation.
Angela A.The handouts and discussions with examples were extremely helpful. I appreciated this professional development because the discussions were rich and the presenter gave real-life situations for us to work through with helpful discussions along the way.
2025 ParticipantI felt validated as a social worker who has worked with many kinds of groups for 45 years. Thank you for an engaging, interesting, personal small Zoom.
Judy C.
This was a great Public Speaking course. The facilitator kept everyone engaged. It was fun, informative, and challenging.
2024 ParticipantI appreciate Tom’s skill, knowledge, and passion pertaining to his subject matter.
2024 Participant
Kristen creates a welcoming environment to develop facilitation skills whether you have been guiding groups for years or you are just getting started. The training is filled with facilitation opportunities and facilitation modeling to help you learn from the instructor, your peers, and your own experiences trying out new skills. I walk away feeling confident that I will support better group processes that allow people to productively collaborate, plan, and make decisions.
2024 ParticipantThis was a really helpful course that will allow me to be a better, unbiased party that can help parties work together to equitably progress towards their goals.
2024 Participant
This training was great for teachers and/or social workers and gave very valuable resources to implement problem-solving skills in the classroom with a focus on empathy.
2024 Participant
This class provided the clarity I needed to make the most of my retirement years.
2024 ParticipantPat was patient and accepting of where we were on any given evening. This is a difficult subject; Pat created a thoughtful and welcoming space to explore it.
2024 Participant
