LEWISTON — A group from Green Dot LA met for breakfast at Simones’ Hot Dog Stand on Nov. 18. The group wore their Green Dot LA T-shirts to inspire curiosity about the Green Dot movement.

Members chatted with the owner, Jimmy Simones, who said he sees his restaurant as a “safe place” where people feel as if they are in his kitchen among friends. The group talked with staff about the need for and value of one-on-one positive interactions as way to build and maintain a welcoming community culture.

Green Dot Lewiston-Auburn is a group of local volunteers who are committed to making the Twin Cities community a better and safer place by teaching strategies for safe, effective responses to hurtful and hateful words and behaviors. Green Dot LA aims to reduce the occurrence and impact of harassment, assault, domestic and partner violence and other forms of personal power-based threats and violence.

Green Dot LA believes that by educating the community about the prevalence and impact of hate threats and behaviors, and by training community members in how to recognize and safely handle these hate threats and behaviors, residents can make Maine’s second largest urban area safer, more welcoming and increasingly tolerant for all peoples.

Green Dot LA members met for breakfast at Simones’ Hot Dog Stand recently, talking with owner Jimmy Simones and staff.