Six Years Later: How the Aspirations Incubator Transformed Rural Maine Youth
In 2017, Dalton was a laid-back seventh grader from Bath, Maine, raised by a single mother, who felt uncertain about the future. Fast forward to today, Dalton is a confident rising sophomore at University of Maine, majoring in biomedical engineering. What inspired this transformation? The Aspirations Incubator, championed by the Rural Futures Fund.
Six years ago, the Rural Futures Fund launched an ambitious pilot initiative: the Aspirations Incubator. The pilot was designed to propel rural Maine youth towards college and fulfilling careers, with the intent of seeing if this model could work in rural communities. Now the 6-year pilot is over, and Dalton’s story is just one of many Aspirations Incubator successes that signify a resounding yes!
The Rural Futures Fund's initial $8 million investment in the Aspirations Incubator wasn't charity, it was a seed. And that seed has blossomed. Here's a small glimpse of what it produced:
Community Anchors: Participants report feeling nearly twice as connected to their communities compared to the state average for high school students in Maine. This sense of belonging throughout their middle and high school experience is the precursor that fuels their ambition for the future.
Focusing on the Positive Academic Impact: Participants are outperforming their peers in core academic subjects, demonstrating that ignited aspirations paired with academic success is a winning formula.
Chronic Absenteeism? Not Here: School attendance rates are higher among Aspirations Incubator participants when compared to their peers - a testament to the program's ability to keep them engaged and motivated.
College? You Bet! – Now with two Aspirations Incubator classes graduated from high school in 2023 and 2024, an incredible 83% of graduating seniors plan to attend 2- or 4-year college, and 74% from the 2023 class are already enrolled. This is well above the 2022 state average of 52% for college enrollment, and the enrollment rates for students from disadvantaged backgrounds are even lower than the state average.
Results like these are driven by the Aspirations Incubator igniting a spark in the hearts of its participants through the relationship they build with mentors and program staff. For example, imagine Larry, a retired engineer, forging a six-year bond with a student like Dalton. Larry becomes more than a mentor; he's a window to a world beyond the familiar horizon of Dalton's coastal town. He shares his experiences, sparks curiosity, and introduces possibilities that Dalton never knew existed outside of Bath, Maine. This unwavering support and guidance are the program's most potent weapon, a human spark that ignites a fire within the young participants’ hearts and minds.
This transformative power isn't a one-time occurrence. Across five pilot sites throughout the 6-year initiative, the Aspirations Incubator programs recruited, trained, and onboarded over 270 caring adults and peer mentors just like Larry. These community anchors weave a safety net of support, surrounding each student on their unique journey through adolescence. They celebrate triumphs, provide support during setbacks, and, most importantly, believe in the limitless potential of each participant. The Aspirations Incubator is more than a program; it's a testament to the transformative power of human connection. It is a community of people coming together to help dreams take flight, driven by the unwavering belief in a brighter future for these remarkable young Mainers.
The Aspirations Incubator pilot program has proven to be a game-changer for rural Maine youth, prompting the Rural Futures Fund to envision the creation of the Rural Youth Institute. This new organization aims to expand the Aspirations Incubator model into new communities. As a comprehensive resource, the Rural Youth Institute will support existing Aspirations Incubator sites, fund innovative research, deliver essential youth development training, and advocate for rural youth in Maine and beyond. The transformative power of the Aspirations Incubator is only beginning.
The call to action is clear: who will join us? This effort aims to create a future where every rural Maine student can thrive. Imagine an expanded Aspirations Incubator with a network of caring mentors offering long-term support and new experiences, helping young people dream big and unlock their full potential. This vision is within reach, and with the collaboration of passionate community members, foundations, school districts, youth organizations, and government entities, we can make a profound difference. Every rural Maine student deserves the resources and support to succeed and thrive on their path to adulthood.