WELCOME HOME:NEW MAINERS' STORIES IN SONG

What does it mean to make a home somewhere new? At a time when questions of immigration, belonging, and what it means to feel at home have become especially urgent in Maine, Welcome Home: New Mainers’ Stories in Song creates a space to listen, connect, and celebrate the people who make up our communities. The evening brings together stories from members of Portland’s immigrant and refugee communities, transformed into original songs through Documentary Songwriters’ collaborative songwriting process. These songs hold stories of home, belonging, and change, all inviting us to consider what it means to build a community. Join us at Mayo Street Arts for an evening of live music, storytelling, and connection, celebrating the voices and experiences of New Mainers in our community. ____________________________________ Documentary Songwriters (DocSong) is a Portland, Maine–based nonprofit that brings people together through collaborative songwriting. DocSong’s Documentary Songwriting Method transforms personal stories into original songs through a process that begins with listening: a storyteller shares their experience, and a teaching artist works alongside them to shape that story into a poem, melody, and finished song. Since its founding, DocSong has collaborated with people and communities across Maine and beyond, creating songs that honor lived experience and build connection. Through workshops, performances, and community-based projects, DocSong creates opportunities for people to be heard, understood, and celebrated through music. Run Time: Approximately 90 minutes, including an intermission. STANDARD or PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN options are available online for this event. Per ticket service fee varies depending on ticket price. Friday, December 18, 2026 7PM $35 (including fees) PWYC Available: $0 Minimum Suggested Price - $22 (including fees) MSA is a welcoming community arts center in the heart of Portland’s Kennedy Park neighborhood: the most densely populated, ethnically and culturally diverse square mile in Maine. The building serves as a performance venue, gallery, and gathering space, with affordable studios and rehearsal space for artists. 10 Mayo St Portland ME, 04101