Meet the Board of directors
Our board is comprised of many different local stakeholders who bring a great variety of experiences and skills to this project. Our board includes downtown tenants, housing managers, students, community organizers, immigrants, long-time residents, legal experts, former diplomats, tenants rights advocates, planning consultants, and city leaders. Download our by-laws to learn about our governance structure.
Michael Herrmann (President, Secretary)
Michael is a father of two cool teenagers. He enjoys singing, swimming, martial arts, disco music, wrestling with numerous kids at once, and learning as much about edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms as he can. His main forms of employment are usually the minimum wage kind like farming and child care. He is currently working at the Lewiston YWCA teaching swimming lessons and teaching exercise classes and lifeguarding. He is also an unlicensed - but excellent - massage therapist and sometimes he even gets paid a lot of money for it. He also likes being part of the Raise-Op. Great folks one and all.
Michael is a father of two cool teenagers. He enjoys singing, swimming, martial arts, disco music, wrestling with numerous kids at once, and learning as much about edible and medicinal plants and mushrooms as he can. His main forms of employment are usually the minimum wage kind like farming and child care. He is currently working at the Lewiston YWCA teaching swimming lessons and teaching exercise classes and lifeguarding. He is also an unlicensed - but excellent - massage therapist and sometimes he even gets paid a lot of money for it. He also likes being part of the Raise-Op. Great folks one and all.
Ifraax Saciid-Ciise (Treasurer)
Ifraax is a resident from downtown Lewiston and organizes Somali mothers to improve the community. She organized a community conversation in response to the August shooting in Lewiston in 2023. Ifraax is the director of Ifka Community Services, a local non-profit, and provides interpretation services for local businesses and organizations. She has also served on the Lewiston Finance Committee and has connections with many businesses on Lisbon Street.
Ifraax is a resident from downtown Lewiston and organizes Somali mothers to improve the community. She organized a community conversation in response to the August shooting in Lewiston in 2023. Ifraax is the director of Ifka Community Services, a local non-profit, and provides interpretation services for local businesses and organizations. She has also served on the Lewiston Finance Committee and has connections with many businesses on Lisbon Street.
Brendan Akers
Brendan has a BA degree in Social Science from California State University, which they earned while raising two children. Then, halfway to their lifelong goal of PhD/ psychology, they took a break from college for a midlife child, and then returned to Maine, their birthplace, in 2003. Their first friend in Maine asked them to sew clothes in an African store off and on, and they also sew for other businesses, including native American regalia for powwows. At Powwows in New England, Brendan has been sometimes controversial by carrying a flag as a veteran. In the Army , decades ago, Brendan worked in a mental health clinic doing interviews, counseling, and was trained for drug/ alcohol therapy group co-facilitation. Brendan has learned that their ancestry includes Salem witches and the Natives who met the Mayflower. Currently, Brendan is co-chair of Maine People's Alliance Board, and a gardener with Lots to Gardens.
Brendan has a BA degree in Social Science from California State University, which they earned while raising two children. Then, halfway to their lifelong goal of PhD/ psychology, they took a break from college for a midlife child, and then returned to Maine, their birthplace, in 2003. Their first friend in Maine asked them to sew clothes in an African store off and on, and they also sew for other businesses, including native American regalia for powwows. At Powwows in New England, Brendan has been sometimes controversial by carrying a flag as a veteran. In the Army , decades ago, Brendan worked in a mental health clinic doing interviews, counseling, and was trained for drug/ alcohol therapy group co-facilitation. Brendan has learned that their ancestry includes Salem witches and the Natives who met the Mayflower. Currently, Brendan is co-chair of Maine People's Alliance Board, and a gardener with Lots to Gardens.
Zak Ayer
Zak has been active in getting to know his neighbors and advocates for them with when issues arise that need to be addressed. He works in tech support, managing servers and interacting with clients around the world and from many different cultures. He also has professional experience in commercial and residential construction. In his spare time, Zak builds and repairs PCs and loves learning new things.
Zak has been active in getting to know his neighbors and advocates for them with when issues arise that need to be addressed. He works in tech support, managing servers and interacting with clients around the world and from many different cultures. He also has professional experience in commercial and residential construction. In his spare time, Zak builds and repairs PCs and loves learning new things.
Siiri Cressey
Siiri is a life-long Mainer and the great-grandchild of immigrants. She has lived at Raise-Op for almost eight years. Siiri is very community-oriented, which is one of the reasons she most loves being a Raise-Op member. She volunteers with several local organizations including Lots to Gardens and Maine People’s Alliance, and is a regular attendee and shopper at the Lewiston Farmers Market. Siiri is also a devoted cat parent to three furry felines.
Siiri is a life-long Mainer and the great-grandchild of immigrants. She has lived at Raise-Op for almost eight years. Siiri is very community-oriented, which is one of the reasons she most loves being a Raise-Op member. She volunteers with several local organizations including Lots to Gardens and Maine People’s Alliance, and is a regular attendee and shopper at the Lewiston Farmers Market. Siiri is also a devoted cat parent to three furry felines.
Nimo Mohamed
Nimo is the mother of one daughter, who loves to be outside the house. She enjoys playing in the backyard, at the playground, and loves meeting new people in the neighborhood. Nimo currently works in health care. She is always learning new lessons and teaching herself new skills. She also likes being part of the Raise-Op.