Portland, Maine 04101 United States
2:30 PM
Join The Maine Outdoor Film Festival for an indoor screening of the COMMUNITY CURRENTS: EXPLORING ADAPTIVE ATHLETICS FOR ALL at SPACE Gallery in downtown Portland. Where: SPACE Gallery, 534-538 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101 (Google Maps Link) Parking: Street Parking When: Thursday July 23, 2026. Doors at 2:15PM, films begin at 2:30PM, panel begins at 3:30PM, session ends at 4:30PM Tickets: $17
Panel Info:
Betsy Cook, Moderator
As Trust for Public Land’s State Director for Maine, Betsy Cook is committed to ensuring all Mainers have equitable access to the outdoors. Betsy joined TPL in 2017 and during her time has worked with communities across the state to create new public lands, trails, parks, and community forests. Previously, Betsy worked with the New England Forestry Foundation, and Triangle Land Conservancy and Duke Forest, both in Durham, North Carolina. Betsy discovered the power of public lands during her summers working in the Appalachian Mountain Club’s backcountry hut system. Betsy holds a BA from Cornell University and Master of Environmental Management and Master of Forestry from Duke University, where she completed her thesis on community forests. Betsy lives on Peaks Island and enjoys exploring all corners of Maine by cross-country skiing, hiking, and paddling with her spouse, Jesse, their two kids, Nora and Malcolm, and their energetic dog, Banjo.
Rachael Pierce – Subject, TOGETHER AGAIN
Rachael developed a deep love for the outdoors wandering the Pennsylvania woods and the rocky Maine coast. After her infant daughter, Alex, suffered a severe injury, Rachael was determined to help her defy expectations. She discovered Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation (formerly Maine Handicapped Skiing), where she learned to ski and found a lifelong calling as a volunteer helping others embrace outdoor adventure. Inspired by Alex’s achievements through Maine Adaptive and her other three children, Rachael earned her degree from Maine Law. After practicing in the disability and financial sectors, she now specializes in administering special needs trusts at Washington Trust, helping clients with disabilities explore and build supports so that they can enjoy the activities they find meaningful. You can find her skiing, hiking, biking, or dancing (sometimes even in public) with family and friends.
Laura Will – Subject, DRAGON MOM
Laura holds a Master’s degree in Nursing from Columbia University, and has clinical experience in adult and geriatric palliative care. Her professional path evolved following her the birth of her now six-year-old son, Alden, who lives with severe disability and relies on a comprehensive network of medical professionals and specialized equipment to support his wellbeing. She now works for Courageous Parents Network (CPN), a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and empowering families and clinicians caring for children with serious medical conditions. In addition to her work with CPN, Laura serves on her town’s commission on disability. She has recently become Executive Producer of the film Dragon Mom, which explores themes of motherhood, ableism and belonging.
Berne Broudy – Director, BEST DAY EVER
Berne Broudy is a journalist, filmmaker, and trail volunteer whose work breaks boundaries—physical, cultural, and societal. A lifelong adventurer and storyteller, she brings a deep connection to the outdoors and a fierce commitment to social justice. Vermont-based Broudy is the co-founder and president of Richmond Mountain Trails, the grassroots organization behind the world’s first fully adaptive mountain bike trail network. As a visionary and coordinator for the Driving Range trail system, she helped raise over $400,000 and mobilize more than 200 volunteers. She also moved rocks, flagged trails, and grilled more than 2,000 hot dogs for volunteers.
Kate Ver Sluis – Maine Adaptive student
This Event is Included in: All-Screening Pass Friends of MOFF Pass More info: Outside water is allowed. email moff@maineoutdoorfilmfestival.com with questions!
This COMMUNITY CURRENTS: EXPLORING ADAPTIVE ATHLETICS FOR ALL event is sponsored by Trust for Public Land. REPRESENT: BREAKING BARRIERS, BUILDING BELONGING | 16.75 minutes | by Jerry Monkman | from: Maine/New Hampshire | Short synopsis: An organization in Maine works with adaptive athletes to bring sports and nature to a community craving adventure. DRAGON MOM | 25.75 minutes | by Harrison Buck | from: New Hampshire | New England PremiereShort synopsis: Dragon Mom is a short documentary that follows Laura, a mother learning to navigate the emotional, physical, and societal complexities of raising a child with that lives with severe disability. Her amazing five-year-old son, Alden, was born with polymicrogyria, rendering him nonverbal and paraplegic. As he begins to explore new possibilities, like learning to use a sit ski, Laura’s journey unfolds in parallel. Alongside her family, Laura must confront the realities of ableism, advocate for accessibility, and redefine what strength and connection look like. Through intimate moments of both struggle and joy, Dragon Mom captures the healing power of nature in building resilience, hope, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be truly inclusive.