Congratulating Barbara Crider on Her Retirement

Floor Speech

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Ms. PINGREE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to extend my congratulations to a tireless advocate in my state who is retiring after over four decades of working to improve the lives of her fellow Mainers.

Barbara Crider first came to Maine in 1981 with a career in public service in mind. She spent ten years working for local Community Action Agencies in Bangor and Sanford as an Intake Specialist and Director of Community Services before pursuing a law degree at American University.

In 1994, Barbara returned to Maine permanently to found the Penquis Law Project. Barbara focused her practice on public interest family law, primarily providing invaluable representation to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

After founding a second law practice in Bangor, Barbara returned to the York County Community Action Corporation, serving first as its Deputy Director and later as its Executive Director, helping the organization to grow and diversify its program offerings. Most recently under her leadership, thousands of Mainers were able to get the assistance they needed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Maine, we pride ourselves on having a `can do' attitude and encouraging others to do the same. Perhaps that's why the term dirigo or `I lead' was selected for our State seal in 1820. Barbara has spent her life embodying the dirigo spirit and I am proud to extend my sincere congratulations to her as she begins her next chapter.

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