About YPLAA

The Young Professionals of the Lewiston Auburn Area (YPLAA) works to strengthen a vibrant young professional community by promoting career, social, and community development.
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YP of the Month

Learn about a Young Professional here in the community you live, work and/or play in.
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March 28th through April 11th is the two week WORK Phase of the Y-Not Program- Teams will work to complete Challenges and submit their entries to our Y-Not? digital platform for community members to read and follow.
Visit the Y-Not? Program Site

Get Involved!

As our two cities continue to forge ahead with the development and refinement of municipal collaborations within our local governments, it is imperative that our elected officials; local citizens; leaders within our business community; and the future leadership of this community work together. This Lewiston-Auburn community must know that YPLAA believes that our twin cities hold the potential for growth and progressive revitalization and that YPLAA intends to advocate for and work to continue the advancement of this momentum.
Learn More about YPLAA Membership
Learn More About YPLAA Committees

YP of the Month
  • Learn about a Young Professional here in the community you live, work and/or play in.

    Name/Occupation/Residency Melissa Simones/ Employee at family restaurant, Simones’ Hot Dog Stand What would you like other young professionals in LA to know about your profession? I moved back to the L/A area after six years in Washington, DC.  I came back to Maine in order to be closer to my family and become involved in my community.  I have been working at the family diner while looking at job opportunities in the area. [...]
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Latest Project

  • What is Y Not?
    Y-Not is a civic engagement and grass roots economic development program designed to educate, motivate, and recruit the next generation of community leaders.

    Working in teams over a two week period, participants will increase their knowledge of local government, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. They will become more critical readers of newspapers, more informed contributors to public policy debates, and positive community ambassadors. They will expand their personal and professional networks and help bridge the gap between established community leaders and the next generation.

    Y-Not participants will generate a positive image of Lewiston/Auburn, Maine, demonstrating to the community and to outsiders that this is a unique and opportune place to live, work, and play.

    Our goals are simple, but ambitious. More young people need to take pride in their community. More young people need to volunteer to serve on civic boards and run for public office. They need to understand and care about the daily challenges of our democracy. They must understand that when they say “there’s nothing to do here,” that they have the power and the responsibility to change that misperception.  But it is not just about convincing young folks to do more.  More established members of the community need to see that there is a passionate and dedicated group of young people from every walk of life who care about the future of this community and who are already working hard, sometimes quietly and often in their own way, to build a stronger community.

    At the conclusion of this program, we issue a personal challenge to every participant and community partner to make a commitment to do something for their community this year that will advance the vision that participant has for the future of Lewiston/Auburn. Every participant must answer for him or herself – why not act? Why not run for city council or school board? Why not start that business you dream about? Why not compete in a 5k? Why not volunteer with a nonprofit? Why not raise your family here? Why not come home?  Why not?

    Registration is now closed, however make sure you join us for the kick off and finale to show your support!

    March 28th: KICK-OFF Celebration at Good Shepherd Food Bank

    March 28th-April 11th: 2-week WORK Phase - Teams will work to complete Y-Not Challenges and submit them to their team mentor.

    May 18th: Y-Not Finale Celebration! Prizes, food, entertainment!

    This program is funded by a generous grant from the Thayer Corporation, as well as a project grant from the Maine Development Foundation.


    Visit the Y-Not? Program Site


    Registration is now closed, however make sure you join us for the kick off and finale to show your support!