Who Am I?

My name is Matthew Bourassa

I am a recent graduate of the University of Southern Maine in the Geography and Anthropology program, and one of USM's Shaw Fellows. The Shaw Innovation Fellowship is awarded to students working on human impact issues who are passionate about their projects, and awards a project budget to help assist in research and design. More information about it can be found here: The Shaw Fellowship

When I was in high school, I experienced identity based discrimination in school, both from school staff and from peers, that made my access to education and compeltion of my degree very diffucult. Though my family and I urged the school to take action, they refused, and we were forced to enter litigation. It was a long, difficult process, and we ultimately did not get what we were hoping to out of it. At the time, I vowed to do anything I could to make it easier for others, using what I know to smooth the process and make sure information is easily accessible and readily available. You can learn more about how this came to be over at Project Background!

In my free time, I enjoy hiking, writing, and listening to podcasts. I'm very interested in community planning and engagement, especially with marginalized populations, and I'm always happy to talk if you have any questions about this resource or anything related! I created So You Need to Sue Your School? with the intent of serving Maine communities, and I love doing this work. Please don't hesitate to send me an email if you're thinking about doing so!

This project could not have been completed without the resources of the Shaw family, the assistance of Dr. Jamie Picardy and my mentor Dr. Idella Glenn, and the time and consideration the professionals I interviewed were kind enough to give me. I cannot thank them enough, and I am eternally grateful for all of their help!