Director’s Update: December 2023
Operations:
December 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 11 individuals. Joseph Jackson, Jan Collins, Peter
Lehman, Joelle Jackson, Daniel Fortune, Brandon Brown, Wendy Allen, Andre Hicks,
Antonio Jackson, Linda Small and Kathy Elliot
MPAC has 9 volunteers leading projects. Doug Dunbar, Jon Courtney, Jamie Peloquin,
Leslie Manning, Cheryl Mills, Olivia Hochstadt, Lani Graham, Adriane Herman, and
Nicole Lund. 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: Justin Gilchrist completed his research to reduce violence in prisons and jails.
MPAC staff meeting in-person with incarcerated residents at MSP, Bolduc, MCC,
SMWRC.
MPAC Ways of Working committee has shifted staff roles to correspond to
accountabilities.
MPAC Strategy Meeting is the second Saturday of each month from 10-12.
MPAC - Legislative Strategy Meeting every Tuesday at 6pm.
Arts Programming Team - meets every Thursday at 8:30
MPAC Website Committee: meeting every other week.
On-going: Advocacy, correspondence, and Direct Dialogue.
MPAC Strategy Meeting - Met December 9, 2023. typical meeting, board update, increased budget. discussed access to medical records upon release. Discussed recent death, how to break the black hole. Family receives information. Last one Joseph facilitating. Do more research across the spectrum. Family may have more access. Should we seek the same access? HIPA regulations, who can know and who cannot. Do not tell because there is a risk of negligence.
Create a Brochure, on the rights of families who have an incarcerated family member. What information are they entitled too?
MDOC - Brief meeting with Deputy Commissioner Tony Cantillo about continued collaboration on the art project and to advocate for Health records part of exit plan.
MDOC - Women’s Service in upheaval, covid rampant inside.
MDOC - Report that the Supervised Community Confinement program (SCCP) policy
has been changed. It appears that eligibility for the program restricted to individuals in
minimum security facilities.
MDOC- residents in community custody (SCCP) can no longer access medical care
through the department. We believe Medical files should be part of an individuals exit
package, but are not. Must be requested and payed for per copy.
MCC Reentry Center- monthly meetings at the facility to resume.
MCC Reentry Center- 4 women left between Dec 20 and Jan 4. We delivered an SUV
full of clothes to the WC and SMWRC.
Longcreek- Andre is in Long Creek every day. 21 detained bc mini riot, 8 kids went to
SMU and the rest to the detention area and still remain, but the 8 sent to the MSU are now back in their dorm, 3 girls in the facility, Dre working with PO Lature and Roy King to hold a men’s group on Monday afternoons.
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. Linda joining!
MSP - unit manager of the medium unit contacted us about starting a reentry program at
the facility.
MSP-NAACP- MLK Event is being held January 29th. Samaa is the keynote speaker.
MERN- The ARRC has been selected as a pilot site for the nationwide Anti-Stigma
Initiative launched by the Addiction Policy Forum. This opportunity showcases our organization's dedication to improving our response to individuals with a substance use disorder and actively combating the harmful stigma associated with addiction.
MYJ - great month working with young people. They separated sections out of LD 1779 into LD 288. Strength based needs assessment to evaluate what needs they need support in the community to get help. LD 288 will identify what resources are needed in the community and who will provide those resources. We are also working on the fiscal notes.
● Androscoggin County Jail- Cuba connected with the family who lost their son at ACJ, Trevor Saunders was 27 years old. MPAC has a packet of information for people who lose loved ones in prison or jail.
Projects:
Reentry Support- MPAC supported 6 people in reentry transition.
Gallery Exhibit Project - waiting the word from MDOC about the future of the project.
Their response impacts if we can reschedule with LA Arts.
Book drive - Jon Courtney delivered books to Longcreek. Over a thousand books have
been delivered last year to prisons and jails.
MIO -Art for Healing Open Mic was held on Dec 14 5:30 to 7:30 at Afro Taste Restro. It
was an amazing event, and fitting for a community still in shock.
MPAC Film Series : Black Art in the Absence of Light. Marcia Minter will be the speaker.
Hoping Daniel Minter can also attend.
Reentry Sisters: Met with Rachel Talbot Ross this week as keynote speaker for the
2024 gender justice regional symposium on “The State of Women’s Incarceration”.
Sustainer learner: Craig and Joseph completed the project.
Justice Radio: Doing Decades in Prison” episode dropped on Dec 17. Have enough for
Part I & Part II. Have a contact at Solitary Watch willing to be interviewed next year.
Working with Catherine Besteman at planning a survivor 3-part series.
Freedom And Captivity - Catherine Besteman leads. Relaunching the website and
meeting with DOC this month.
MPAC'S Speakers Bureau- first meeting of the speakers Bureau to take place this
Saturday from 1-2.
Behind the Door Podcast- MPAC Coordinator Brandon Brown co-host with the
Executive Director of Recovery Connections of Maine Jeremy Hiltz.
Survivors Network - bringing folks together nationally and locally for survivor support
system for Maine RJM and Downeast, Survivor Speak (Amanda Comeau).
Communications:
MPAC brochures. MPAC Brochure
Public engagement is On-track.
Bates Article: Embodying Activism: Bates College
MEHAF retreat - Jan attending!
Portland Chamber of Commerce wants to grant MPAC membership, Tommy Johnson,
VP Member Engagement. Complimentary Membership
Communication Resources:
Behind the Door Podcast, MPAC Executive Director appeared on the podcast. Behind
Donors/ funders:
MPAC Fundraiser trailer
Grant team meets weekly
Maine Community Foundation: due February 15th
End of year letter going out to all donors.
Orange Bike Brewing Company- met with their investors. Planning an event together.
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 zoom meetings resume.
Solitary confinement
Parole4Me- zoom meetings have resumed. They meet every other Monday afternoon.
Indigent Housing - working with the Speaker of the House
Earned Good Time- working with the Speaker of the House
Longcreek Bill - working with MYJ and the Advocacy table.
Criminal Records Committee- MPAC Executive Director appointed by Senate President
Troy Jackson to serve on the committee.
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
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
