Sewall Welcomes New Community Partners into Staff Team

The Sewall Foundation has been on an ongoing journey of aligning our values with everything we do internally and externally. As part of this journey, we embraced trust-based philanthropy, focusing on respectful and equitable relationships, shifting power to center communities, and providing support beyond the grant check, among other shifts. We know that people are the most important resource we can invest in, and as such, we have invested in growing our staff.

We are thrilled to be bringing on two talented individuals to fill two new positions at Sewall: Animal Welfare and Legacy Community Partner and Wabanaki Communities and Tribal Governments Community Partner. While Sewall has long been working in these areas, this is the first time that full-time staff will be leading each. This will allow us to deepen relationships, strengthen cross-program collaboration, and explore new ways to be good partners.

Joining Sewall as our first Wabanaki Communities and Tribal Governments Community Partner is Sonya LaCoute-Dana. Joining Sewall as our first Animal Welfare and Legacy Community Partner is Amie Hutchison.

Sonya is a citizen of the Passamaquoddy Tribe-Sipayik and has spent her career working in Tribal communities, building programs and services to improve the quality of life for Indigenous people. Her experience has primarily been in social service programming and grants and contracts management, and she also loves teaching, having been Adjunct Faculty at the University of Maine School of Social Work for many years.  Sonya graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and completed graduate degrees in Child and Family Services and Social Work from the University of Maine at Orono. She is currently completing a graduate degree in Indian Law. Sonya enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, running, and reading.

Amie brings to the foundation a strong background in nonprofit leadership, with 20+ years in the sector, including serving as the Executive Director of Trekkers and P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center, and as Shelter Manager at the Humane Society of Knox County. Amie believes strongly in the power of community and collaboration. She is a founding board member of Maine GearShare and a past President of Rockland Rotary. Originally from Maine she attended the University of Maine and Hunter College. She is an avid learner, always looking for opportunities to continue her education. Amie lives in Cushing with her husband and dogs, and enjoys reading, cooking (and eating), and traveling.

Please join us in welcoming Sonya and Amie into the Sewall community. Both Amie and Sonya will be starting May 1st.