Director’s Update: June/July 2024
Operations: July operations are on track.
MPAC: Board consists of 6 members, Co-Chair Ryun Anderson, Co-Chair Carla Hunt, Executive Secretary Julian Rowand, board members Jadirah Ortiz, Craig Williams, and Rosalani Moore.
MPAC currently has a staff size of 12 individuals. Joseph Jackson, Jan Collins, Peter Lehman, Joelle Jackson, Darlene George, Brandon Brown, Wendy Allen, Andre Hicks, Antonio Jackson, Linda Small, Sami Basu and Kathy Elliot
MPAC has 11 volunteers. Doug Dunbar, Jon Courtney, Jamie Peloquin, Leslie Manning, Tatum Rosenberg, Olivia Hochstadt, Lani Graham, Adriane Herman, Nicole Lund, Sarah Johnson and Daria Cullen. Special thanks for their work and dedication.
MPAC Mission. Value, and Purpose statements
Our Mission is to support and advocate for Maine’s incarcerated citizens, their families and friends.
Our Purpose is to reduce Maine’s use of incarceration by advocating for a criminal legal system that is ethical, humane and restorative.
Our Vision is of a justice system that is restorative. It supports humanity in every person, and reflects and creates transformation and accountability.
MPAC Staff and Volunteers meet as a full team weekly to update and resolve tensions.
MPAC staff members are in regular communications with incarcerated residents and formerly incarcerated individuals.
MPAC staff meeting in-person with incarcerated residents at MSP, Bolduc, MCC, SMWRC.
MPAC Strategy Meeting is the second Saturday of each month from 10-12.
MPAC - Legislative Strategy Meeting every Tuesday at 5:30 pm.
Arts Programming Team - meets weekly Thursday mornings.
MPAC Website Committee: is switched to the first Monday each month.
MPAC - Development and Communications Committee meets Mondays every other week.
MPAC - grant committee meets weekly on Tuesday.
MPAC - Ways of Working committee meets monthly.
MPAC- All staff are enrolled in the State of Maine retirement benefit program.
MPAC - held its annual board/staff retreat this month. Our org assessment activity was facilitated by Catherine Besteman.
On-going: Advocacy, correspondence, and Direct Dialogue
MPAC Strategy Meeting - did not meet during the month of July.
June MPAC Strategy Meeting - Went very well! Mainecare did a presentation - Mainecare expansion for Incarcerated individuals. Invited guests from MaineCare talked about the expansion of eligibility for those in custody for 30 days before release and after release.
August MPAC Strategy Meeting - Courtney Gary Allen of MERAP( Maine Recovery Advocacy Coalition) led a listening session to gather thoughts on bills for the next legislative session.
Franklin County Board of Visitors- Jan serves on the FC BOV where they are working on reentry programs and on training for BOV.
MDOC - meeting with Commissioner Liberty on the 29th regarding arts in prison documentary..
MDOC - met with Deputy Commissioner Tony Cantillo about the Inside Vision collaboration.
MDOC- MPAC advocated for an incarcerated Mainer requesting a return to Maine because his parents are elderly. The Deputy Commissioner would not discuss the case.
MDOC - MPAC inquired about the criteria for admission to prisons mental health unit. Inquiry was based on reports about the mental health of an incarcerated individual held in solitary-like conditions. The Deputy Commissioner highlighted that mental health assessments were conducted outside of the oversight of the MDOC and the individual in question had been admitted to the mental health unit.
MDOC - Deputy Commissioner Tony Cantillo and MPAC agreed to meet monthly.
MCC Reentry Center- monthly meetings at the facility are going well.
MCC Reentry Center- the unit manager has been very responsive to inquiries. MDOC is shifting its policy around Religious programming after incarcerated women of indigenous descent filed a complaint when prison officials required they hold their religious ceremony in a Christian chapel. Religious spaces within MDOC are being classified as non- denominational. The staff in religious programming at the facility resigned.
MCC Reentry Center- MPAC supported women to bring health care complaints to MDOC. Eyecare has come up as an issue along with continuing dental care neglect.
Longcreek- MPAC is entering the youth facility 5 days a week. At last count there were 14 committed, and 12 detained. There are 2 girls committed and two detained. The 11 year old is still struggling.
Longcreek - MPAC is supporting 17 youth in reentry. There is weekly engagement with youth in a one on one or in groups. Youth are provided food, shoes, and haircuts. They are supported with seeking employment (help with filling out applications).
MPAC - staff continues to support formerly incarcerated individuals in reentry, with transport, peer to peer support. One on one and in group settings.
MCC Longtimers - meeting with Longtimers twice a month and the women on the hill once a month. Leslie met with unit managers.
Darlene’s Juneteenth event was amazing. Nearly every incarcerated woman in attendance. MPAC'S Executive Director and Coordinators participated in the event.
MSP-NAACP- MSP's Juneteenth was held and MPAC Coordinators participated. Kudos to Jon Courtney for supporting the planning of the event.
MSP- there was an overdose last month. The resident survived.
MSP - took part in The Bars to Books conference. There were High Impact Panels and there was a lot of Power in the room.
MSP- reports that the Kitchen was shut down for three weeks. Residents were issued three bagged meals a day. The question arose of whether the MDOC was required to provide hot meals.
MSP - MSP NAACP applied for the Grants for Change from Maine Initiatives. MPAC will serve as the fiscal sponsor.
MSP - MSP has rebranded the chapel as the Resident Wellness Center. It is a multiple use space.
MSP - MPAC participated in the healthcare meeting with residents, MDOC, and Wellpath.
Penobscot county jail- Wendy supported two people who were recently released. She provided one with a phone and connected another to Recovery resources.
MERN- 172 individuals served in the first six months with 700-800 interactions.
Projects:
Reentry Support- MPAC supported 8 people in reentry transition.
Gallery Exhibit Project - the June 7 exhibition at the Meetinghouse Arts Gallery in Freeport was well received.
Gallery Exhibit Project - MPAC held an exhibit for Portland's first Friday art walk in July. We were hosted by Orange Bike Brewing Company
Gallery Exhibit Project - The Francis Hotel will be hosting a gallery exhibition September, October, and November. It will be open to the public the first Fridays each month. Postcard.
Book drive - Jon Courtney has sent 400-500 books to York County jail. More books have been requested from MCC.
Bates -MPAC is partnering with Bates on a project to offer legal literacy for system-impacted individuals and their families.
MPAC Film Series : Jon met with Erica Grover and Peter Servidio at MCC. They were enthusiastic about bringing the project to MCC. Proposed film project
MCC Reentry Center- Leslie: writing program beginning “Healing our Stories”. The unit manager has been very supportive.
Reentry Sisters: is supporting women in reentry with backpacks filled with donated clothing. We just received a donation of backpacks from a generous donor. For years women have been released in prison garb. Our program curbs this practice.
Resource Organizing Projects: Joseph joined this Affinity Space for Black leaders in New England. It is a supportive space for black leaders.
Justice Radio: talk show on radio to give voice to what is really happening in the carceral system. Emily Goulet, law students and INdigent Legal System Will be taking over one week a month to go through justice 101 legal questions.. Just finished the interview and editing with Justice and Nutrition.
Justice Radio - college credit for Right of Passage class one for men and one for women. Talks about masks that we wear in prison. How do you process the trauma and all the other tasks of reentry.
Justice Radio: For archived episodes, please visit: https://www.wmpg.org/show/sunb/
or tune-in every Thursday at 5pm for Justice Radio on Community Radio WERU 89.9 FM!
Freedom And Captivity - Catherine Besteman leads. Storytelling Project workshop in September. Brandon is working with Catherine on the workshop. Over 30 people have signed up for the project.
MPAC'S Speakers Bureau- Speakers Bureau meetings are rescheduled to Tuesday evening 5:30 - 6:30pm of each week while the legislature is not in session. Program Brochure.
Behind the Door Podcast- MPAC Coordinator Brandon Brown co-host with the Executive Director of Recovery Connections of Maine Jeremy Hiltz. Clip from Behind the Door Podcast . Recordings have resumed after a brief hiatus.
Charles Jordan House - MPAC has site control over the Charles Jordan House. MPAC has hired attorney Edward (Ted) J. Kelleher from Drummond Woodsum to represent us.
Communications:
MPAC brochures. MPAC Brochure
Public engagement is On-track.
Website: MPAC Volunteer Jamie Peloquin leads our Website design and updates regularly. maineprisoneradvocacy.org
Maine Osteopathic Association - Jan held a presentation at their annual gathering.
State, counties not following all requirements for boards overseeing jails and prisons.
Maine pays for kids to go to out-of-state treatment facilities where investigation found abuse
A judge committed these Maine patients to a hospital. Some say they’re being sent to prison.
Communication Resources:
Maine art Commission featuring Joseph's video. Joseph's poem "Lewiston Strong "
Donors/ funders:
Grant team meets weekly. Slow period for grants!
MPAC Fundraiser: September 17th, 5:30 - 7:30 at Orange Bike Brewing Company in Portland Maine.
Maine Initiatives- awarded 10000 for their outdoor equity fund.
Maine Osteopathic Association- 100
Maine Community Foundation- awarded 7500.00
Maine Community Foundation - awarded 10000 for their community building grant!
Maine Community Foundation - awarded Reentry Sisters 9000 for their community building grant. MPAC are fiscal sponsors
MEHAF - MPAC joined MEHAF design team along with six organizations to develop a plan to distribute 2 million dollars.
Become A Sustainer campaign- A sustainer is a Donor or Supporter who commits to making monthly or yearly donations of time or money to the organization. Sustainers play a crucial role in providing a stable and predictable source of income for us by allowing us to plan and execute long-term initiatives with greater confidence.
Legislative:
Assistant Director Jan Collins leads!
Legislative Committee Meetings - meets Tuesdays at 6 each week.
Legislative Committee Meetings - is experiencing more participation from incarcerated individuals.
MSP - Jan met with the MSP-NAACP about their legislative priorities. Supporting them to bring this to MDOC.
Legislative Committee / Speakers bureau- Speakers Bureau Brochure
Legislative Update- Parole4Me- meets every other Monday over zoom. The group is developing a plan to bring the issue back during the next legislative session
Strategic Partnerships: ongoing- MaineTransnet, GLADD, Portland Outright, MIO, MYJ, Maine Law School, Disability Rights, Maine Equal Justice, ACLU, Muskie, Recovery Connections, Recovery Housing, JJAG, Women’s League of Voters, MPRN, MPDA, MSP-NAACP, Colby College, Bates College, UMA, RJIM, Maine Immigrants, Maine Family Planning, Maine Humanities Council, FAMM (Families for Justice Reform).
New Partners- Pubic Health Committee for Maine Medical Association, Knox-Waldo Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), Maine Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women. No Penobscot County Jail Expansion , ME-RAP, Southern Maine SURJ(Standing Up for Racial Justice), Amistad, Maine CDC, Vera Institute, Curative, Augusta Recovery Center, Reform Alliance, College Guild, Project Home, Maine Health Equity Foundation, Orange Bike Brewing Company
