132nd Legislative Session: Preparing Your Organization

Rep. Melanie Sachs is serving her second term in the Maine House of Representatives, where she chairs the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee and serves on the Maine Climate Council's Building, Infrastructure, and Housing Working Group. A native of New Sharon and graduate of Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, she earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Bates College and her master’s in science and social administration from Case Western Reserve University. She is currently pursuing an MBA in business data analytics at the University of New Hampshire.

A licensed clinical social worker for over 25 years, Rep. Sachs has focused on health and mental health care, leading organizations such as Freeport Community Services and Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine. Locally, she served six years on the Freeport Town Council, including terms as chair and vice-chair, and chaired the Freeport Working Group to Welcome New Mainers. Active in her community, she has volunteered extensively in schools and with organizations like the Freeport Rotary and the Arts and Cultural Alliance of Freeport. Rep. Sachs lives in Freeport with her husband, Andrew, and their two children.

Phoenix McLaughlin is the Director of Strategy Implementation at the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. In this role, he oversees the Maine Economic Development Strategy and manages numerous Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan initiatives. Previously, Phoenix led the Department’s business incentives programs, including the development of the Dirigo Business Incentives program, and worked on legislative affairs. Additionally, he managed special projects for the Commissioner and the Office of Business Development, including the creation of the Maine Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub. McLaughlin received a B.A. in International Political Economy from Colorado College and a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. He resides in Lewiston.

Rae Sage is the Policy Coordinator for the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous, and Tribal Populations. She came to this position after many experiences that highlighted the intersections between food access, conservation, land access, racial justice, and care work. In 2020, she was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force after 6 years of service. Since then, she has spent her time as a farm worker, licensed massage therapist, community organizer for MOFGA’s BIPOC Affinity Space, and board member for Maine Audubon. These positions enrich her understanding of the compounding nature of racial disparities while illuminating the importance of trauma informed solutions. Rae enjoys laughing, napping, writing, dancing, and spending as much time with the water as possible including ocean cold dips, sauna, and beach sunrises in the winter!