Cross Cultural Community Services
Privacy Policy

Cross Cultural Community Services (CCCS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving diverse communities across Maine. We value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Data Privacy Policy explains what data we collect through our website, how we use it, and how we protect it. In summary, we do not retain, store, sell, or share your personal information unless you have explicitly provided it and opted into a program or service. We aim to be transparent and respectful with any data you choose to share, and we use it only for the purposes described below.

When you interact with our website, we may collect two types of information:

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• Personal Information You Provide: If you fill out a form on our site – for example, a contact form, consultation request, or program sign-up – we collect the personal details you choose to give us, such as your name, email address, phone number, and any message or information you submit. This information is collected so we can respond to your inquiries, register you for programs, or provide the services or updates you requested. We do not collect any sensitive personal data, and we will not collect personal information from you unless you provide it voluntarily.

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• Website Usage Data (Analytics): We use Google Analytics and Wix’s built-in tracking tools to gather general information about how visitors use our website. This usage data is aggregated and anonymized, meaning it does not personally identify you. It may include metrics such as which pages are visited, how long users stay on a page, the type of browser or device used, and other similar statistics. These analytics data help us understand overall visitor engagement and improve our website’s content and user experience. We do not collect any personally identifiable information (like your name or email) via analytics tools – only generic site traffic information.

We only use your personal information for the purposes for which it was collected. Specifically, any information you provide or that we collect is used to:

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• Respond to Your Requests: If you contact us or request a service (such as a free consultation or

information about a program), we will use your contact information and message to respond to you and fulfill your request. For example, we may use your phone number or email to contact you with the information you requested.

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• Provide and Manage Services or Programs: When you sign up for a program, training, or event through our website, we use the personal details you provided to register you, communicate with you about the program, and deliver the services. We use this information solely for the operation of the program you joined and for no other purpose.

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• Email Updates (Opt-In Only): If you explicitly subscribe to our email newsletter or opt into receiving updates, we will use your email address to send you our newsletter, announcements, or relevant Information about upcoming events and opportunities. We will only send you these

communications if you have affirmatively opted in (e.g., by submitting your email to subscribe or checking a signup box) – we do not automatically add you to any mailing list without your

consent.

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• Website Improvement and Analytics: We use aggregated website traffic data (from Google

Analytics and Wix) to understand how visitors use our site and to improve its design, content, and functionality. For instance, knowing which pages are most popular or how users navigate the site helps us make the website more user-friendly. This analysis is done on non-personal,

aggregate data and does not identify any individual user. It is purely to enhance our web presence and better serve our community. Importantly, we do not use your personal information for any purposes other than the above. We do not engage in any form of personal data profiling, targeted advertising, or unsolicited marketing without your explicit permission.

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies as part of our analytics and site functionality. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help the site function properly and enable us to understand how people use the site. Here’s how we use them:

• Google Analytics: We utilize Google Analytics to collect information about website traffic and visitor interactions in an anonymous form. Google Analytics sets cookies (_ga and others) in your browser to generate statistical information. This tells us things like how many people visit different pages, how long they stay, what site they came from, and what kind of devices are being used. No personally identifiable information is collected through these cookies – Google Analytics provides us only with aggregated data. For example, we might learn that a certain number of users visited the "Trainings" page this week, but we do not know who those individuals are. This information helps us improve website content and user experience. (If you wish, you can opt out of Google Analytics by using a browser plugin or by disabling cookies in your browser settings; however, note that doing so may affect some site features.)

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• Wix Analytics (Built-in Tracking): Our site is hosted on the Wix platform, which has built-in analytics and tracking tools. We use Wix’s built-in tracking to get basic metrics on site performance (such as visitor counts and page load times), and we have not added any additional tracking beyond what Wix provides. Wix may place its cookies or use similar technologies to support site functionality and analytics. These are standard cookies that help run the website. Again, this data is generally statistical and does not personally identify you.

CCCS treats your personal information as confidential. We do not sell, rent, trade, or share your personal information with any third-party organizations for their own marketing or any other purposes . Your information stays within our organization, used only by authorized staff or volunteers who need it to perform their duties (for example, responding to you or administering a program you signed up for). In other words, we will never disclose your personal details to outside parties without your consent, except in a few rare circumstances outlined below.

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The limited situations in which we might share some data are as follows:

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• Service Providers: We utilize a few trusted third-party services to assist us in operating our website and communications. For example, Wix provides our website hosting and infrastructure, and we might use an email service platform to send our newsletters. In such cases, those providers may process certain data (e.g. your email address for sending a newsletter) on our behalf. We ensure that any service providers we use are reputable and are contractually obligated to maintain the security and confidentiality of your information. They cannot use your information for any purpose other than delivering the services we’ve requested (for instance, Wix hosting our site or an email service sending out newsletters).

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• Analytics Services: As noted, we share non-personal usage data with Google Analytics (and through Wix’s analytics) to understand our web traffic. This means that Google may process some basic information about your site visit (such as your IP address or device information), although it is usually done in an anonymized form. However, this information does not include your name, contact info, or any identifying details. Google Analytics data is subject to Google’s privacy policies; however, it is aggregated data about our website usage, not direct personal information. Aside from these analytics insights, we do not provide any personal data to Google or Wix that would identify you.

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• Legal Requirements: In the unlikely event that we are required by law, regulation, or court order to disclose certain information, we may be compelled to comply (for example, by responding to a subpoena or lawful request from authorities). In such cases, we would only share the data necessary to meet our legal obligations. If the law does not compel it, we will not release your information.

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Other than the situations above, no one outside of Cross Cultural Community Services will have access to your personal information 8. We do not share your information with partner organizations, sponsors, or any other third parties without your explicit consent. And to reiterate, we never sell your personal data to anyone.

CCCS offers email communications such as newsletters, updates on events and trainings, and automated emails related to specific programs or services. We take a strict opt-in approach to these communications to respect your privacy:

• Opt-In Required: You will only receive email communications (e.g., our newsletter or announcement emails) if you have affirmatively signed up for them. This may be achieved by entering your email address into a subscription form, checking a box to receive updates, or explicitly requesting to join our mailing list. If you have not signed up, we will not send you promotional emails.

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• No Unwanted Emails: We do not use email addresses submitted for one purpose to send newsletters or solicitations automatically. For example, if you contact us with a question or to request a consultation, we will use your email only to reply to that inquiry or service – we will not add you to our general mailing list unless you specifically ask to join. Similarly, if you sign up for one program, we won’t automatically subscribe you to unrelated newsletters without your consent.

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• Unsubscribe Anytime: Every email newsletter or update we send will include an “Unsubscribe” link or instructions on how to opt out. You can unsubscribe at any time, and we will stop sending you that type of communication. Alternatively, you can contact us directly to request removal from our email list. We respect all unsubscribe and opt-out requests and process them promptly – once you opt out, you will no longer receive those emails from us.

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• Automated Emails: In some cases, if you enroll in a program or event through our site, you might receive automated emails relevant to that program (for example, a confirmation message or reminders for an event). These are transactional emails sent only for the specific program you’re involved in. They will cease once the program concludes or if you opt out. They are not marketing emails.

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Rest assured, we will never send you communications you didn’t sign up for, and you can change your mind about hearing from us at any time. Our goal is to keep you informed and engaged only if you want to be.

We want you to have full control over your personal information. You have the right to opt out of our communications and to request the deletion of your data at any time. To make this process easier, we provide a dedicated “Opt Out” section on our website where you can express your preferences or request data removal.

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Here are your choices and rights regarding your data:

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• Withdraw Consent / Unsubscribe: If you previously subscribed to our newsletter or any updates, you can opt out at any point. Use the unsubscribe link in our emails or visit the Opt Out page on our website to notify us that you no longer wish to receive communications. Once you opt out, we will cease all such communications to you.

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• Request Deletion of Personal Data: You can request that we delete any personal information we have collected from you. For example, if you signed up for updates and later decide you want all your information removed from our records, you can submit a request for deletion. We provide the Opt Out (Data Removal) form on our site for this purpose, or you can contact us directly to request deletion. Upon receiving a verified request, we will erase your data from our files within a reasonable timeframe, completely removing your information from our systems (unless we are required to keep specific data for legal compliance reasons). Deletion means we will no longer have your contact details on file.

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• Access and Update Your Information: If you would like to know what information we have about you or need to update it (for example, if you change your email address), you can contact us to request this. We will be happy to provide a copy of the data we have and update it as needed. We aim to ensure your personal information is accurate and up-to-date.

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• Opt Out of Analytics Tracking: Although the data collected by our analytics is anonymous and cannot be used to identify you, we understand that you may still prefer not to be included. You have the option to disable cookies in your browser or use Google’s opt-out tools to prevent Google Analytics from tracking your visits. Refer to the Cookies section above for more information on controlling cookies. (Note: Since our analytics data is non-identifiable and aggregate, opting out of analytics will not remove any “personal” data, but it can stop new analytics cookies from being set on your browser.)

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To exercise any of these rights, you can use the Opt Out page on our website or contact us using the information in the “Contact Us” section of this policy. We will not discriminate against you for exercising any privacy choices. Our goal is to honor your requests and ensure you feel confident in how your data is handled.

We understand that the security of your personal information is important. CCCS takes appropriate measures to safeguard any data you entrust to us. We use secure technologies and organizational practices to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. This includes storing any personal data on secure systems with restricted access, using encryption and firewall protections where applicable, and training our staff on data privacy principles.

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While we strive to protect your information, please be aware that no method of internet transmission or electronic storage is 100% secure. However, we continuously update and follow best practices to minimize risks. We also encourage you to protect your own information by not sending sensitive personal details through unsecured channels. If we ever experience a data breach that affects your personal information, we will inform you as required by law and take steps to remediate the issue.

Our website may contain links to external websites or resources that are not operated by Cross Cultural Community Services (for example, links to partner organizations, social media pages, or donation platforms). Please note that once you click a third-party link and leave our site, this privacy policy no longer applies for those external sites. We are not responsible for the content, security, or privacy practices of other websites. We recommend that you review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit through links on our website, especially if you are providing personal information to them. This helps ensure you understand how those sites may handle your data.

CCCS is committed to protecting the privacy of minors. Our website and services are not intended for or directed toward children or anyone under the age of 13 . We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years old. If you are under 13, please do not submit any personal information on our website. In the event that we discover we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will promptly delete that information from our records. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child under 13 may have provided personal information to us, please contact us immediately so we can investigate and take appropriate action to remove the data.

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(Note: While our programs and content are generally geared toward adults and older youth, if any of our initiatives involve minors as participants, we ensure to obtain proper parental consent and comply with all applicable laws. However, our general website is aimed at an adult audience.)

We may update or revise this Privacy Policy from time to time, for example to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. When we make changes, we will post the updated policy on this page and update the “Effective Date” at the top if applicable. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information. If the changes are significant, we may also notify our users through a notice on our website or via email. Your continued use of our website after any changes to this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of the updated terms.