Portland Shows the Love

Council Proclamation Best Possible Parting Gift

I loved my time as executive director of Portland Downtown, but I was truly surprised to learn how much Portland loved me. As I was packing up to leave Maine to launch PowerWith Consulting in Florida, I was honored to be named in a proclamation “In Recognition of the Contribution by Casey Gilbert as Executive Director of Portland Downtown to the City of Portland.”

Being honored in this way capped five years of dynamic growth in the downtown district. I was proud of what we had accomplished, but I hadn’t realized the impact I’d had personally on the community. It was a truly humbling moment to see that I had made that big a difference. 

The proclamation recognizes Portland Downtown’s advocacy work with the city council, of which I’m very proud. We brought a diverse group of stakeholders together to improve the city’s code of ordinances, resulting in a better quality of life for residents. It’s so important for policy-makers to build relationships with organizations whom they trust and respect, and can use as a sounding board. Portland Downtown was that organization for the city council. They knew our advocacy work was well-researched, well-vetted, and had broad stakeholder support. It made their job easier.

Another collaboration that I’m particularly proud of is the Peer Outreach Worker Program, which connects people in need with resources and identifies gaps in service provision. The program is a great example of diverse stakeholders coming together to solve a problem in an innovative way, which is what I strive to do now for my clients. 

I have a talent for navigating difficult conversations and finding common ground, and helping people turn advocacy into action. My time in Portland provided me with many opportunities to hone these skills, while giving back to an outstanding city.