Director’s Update January 2022
Operations: Winter operations are on track.
MPAC currently has a staff size of 12 individuals. Five identify as BIPOC!
MPAC has 3 volunteers leading projects.
Kelvin Collins is no longer on staff with MPAC. His employment with LL Bean was a barrier to him fulfilling the role and accountabilities for his position.
MPAC has hired Andre Hicks as a Peer Consultant and Coordinator.
MPAC Staff and Volunteers meet as a full team weekly to update and resolve tensions.
Every MPAC staff member is engaged in written correspondence with incarcerated individuals on a daily basis.
In-person meetings between MPAC staff and incarcerated residents at MSP, Bolduc, MCC, SMWRC have been suspended due to covid outbreaks.
MPAC's application for 501c3 status is nearly complete.
MPAC website management is on-going. Wendy is reviewing the training materials Jamie created for staff to expand website management.
MPAC Administrative Assistant is picking up the mail and distributing the correspondence to staff who reside in the region of the request.
MPAC Strategy Meeting took place Saturday from 10-12. One of the few times the strategy meeting occurs before the Board meeting.
The Executive Director is receiving Leadership coaching and consultation to continue to move the organization forward.
On-going: Advocacy, correspondence, and Direct Dialogue.
MPAC Strategy Meeting - Saturday January 8th was one of the most well attended over zoom. At one point we had 40 people in attendance, including an incarcerated woman from MCC. We heard updates from the board co-chair, MERAP, and Catherine Besteman.
MPAC'S 5 solitary confinement videos.
The MPAC Executive Director took part in a meeting with the governor on December 17th. The topic of discussion was youth Justice. We plan to meet again on the topic.
MDOC - outbreaks at MSP, MCC, and Mountainview are on-going. MPAC is advocating for a vaccine mandate for all MDOC staff.
MPAC Executive Director advocated for the transfer to a medical facility for an covid positive incarcerated resident on oxygen in his cell. Resident was transferred.
MDOC- staff(Wendy, Brandon and Jan) was present for Grievance policy public hearing to advocate for changes to the policy. Staff organized our coalition of organizations and volunteers for the public hearing. We worked with MSP and gained approval for an incarcerated resident to testify at the hearing. MDOC Assistant Attorney General Diane Sleek communicated with the incarcerated resident during the hearing that the hearing had been canceled depriving him of his right to testify. MPAC consulted with the ACLU, and has filed a formal complaint with the Secretary of State ccing the Attorney General, and other state agencies and legislators.
MPAC received a letter from a man in Two Bridges County Jail and expressed concern about the lack of access to the law library. MPAC staff contacted the Sheriff, and MDOC Jail assessor about our concerns. Incarcerated residents are now being allowed access to the law library.
MDOC - MPAC Executive Director and Assistant Director scheduled to meet with the commissioner to discuss access to the library at MSP.
MDOC- MPAC Coordinator Brandon Brown is reviewing MDOC'S new SCCP policy changes, and is working with the Department to ensure that all probation officers, and community placement decision-makers are trained in the new policy.
Longcreek - MPAC Coordinator Brandon Brown has been invited by MDOC to regularly visit the youth detention Center to work with youth. One highlight is that he heard about a youth on the run from probation. Brandon located the youth on social media, got in contact with him, and convinced him to contact his PO. They were able to address the youth's concerns and avoid jail time.
MCC Reentry Center- Rory Robb volunteer(former restorative justice - worked with our Co-Chair Ryun) wants to work with women at MCC. Cheryl thinks she would make a great addition to the group
MCC Reentry Center- MPAC Coordinator Wendy Smith has been allowed to attend meetings. Her presence is reassuring and creates hope.
Women's Center- MPAC representatives heard many complaints about medical and incarcerated residents' battles to get health care and referrals to outside providers.
MCC Longtimers - MPAC Volunteer Leslie Manning was allowed to meet with a terminally ill incarcerated woman who previously requested Advocacy and Support. Leslie held her hand, she passed away this week. Many residents are heartbroken.
MCC Longtimers - MPAC Coordinator Cheryl Mills is in talks with Michelle McLauchlan (MDOC administrator) about scheduling for Board of Visitors meetings.
MPAC Director and coordinators are actively engaged in Reentry support for returning citizens.
A returning citizen who received support and was released a week or so ago was found unresponsive in his hotel room.
MPAC Staff are meeting with formerly incarcerated individuals at the REST Center Monday evenings.
Projects:
Solitary confinement campaign is about to begin. We have completed 5 videos. They will start to be released on our social platforms next week.
Assistant Director Collins is working with the National Campaign to End Solitary Confinement - Unlock the Box to secure funding to boost social media posts.
Penobscot County- MPAC Staff and Volunteers supporting a campaign to prevent jail expansion at the Penobscot County Jail. Staff and Volunteers attended the county government listening sessions. Advocating for the directing of ARPA funding to services that would keep people from incarceration.
Assistant Director Collins is working with Dan Fortune at MSP to initiate a project to conduct a Yearly gallery exhibit. They are also working to submit inmate submissions to the last exhibit to the Maine Historical Society digital archives.
Assistant Director Collins met with Adriane Herman, Social Engagement Director at MECA&D and Chadwick Curtis Deputy Warden of Programs at Mountain View Correctional Facility to discuss bringing art programming to that facility. James Meyer, a graduate student at MECA&D, will be offering beginning classes in drawing at the facility this summer. He has lived experience.
Assistant Director Collins met with Laura Rodas, recently hired MDOC Director of Education to discuss a program to encourage retired educators to volunteer at correctional facilities. Jan will be speaking before the Maine Retired Educators in March to garner support.
Assistant Director Collins is working with Bates professor Amy Douglas to test talking points for a parole campaign.
MPAC Reentry housing - in conversation with Aron McPike to start a reentry program at 87 Bartlett st Lewiston Maine. The property has 10 rooms, 3 bathrooms, it will be fully furnished and include electricity, and heat.
MPAC Reentry housing- meeting with Victoria Morales and a real estate developer about the Charles Jordan House. It is located at 63 Academy Street very near the Community Little Theater and downtown Auburn. The house was a boarding house with 12 rooms, bathrooms, and community space for living and kitchens. It has experienced a fire and is in need of significant renovation. The owner of the Charles Jordan House is considering transferring ownership to a nonprofit to run it.
MSP- MPAC Coordinator Dan Fortune is leading a project to create an informative brochure about Covid-19 for incarcerated residents.
Justice Scholar strategy- MPAC Executive Director is meeting Catherine Besteman and Erica King and Mara Sanchez from Muskie and Place Matters to initiate a project to expand opportunities for justice impacted students and to expand that network to include faculty (51). We hope the outcome will lead to free and full credit courses open to incarcerated students.
Mellon UMA Grant - Executive Director is the board for the grant. Project is in its second year!
The Executive Director is working with UMA Melon Director and the Director of the College Guild on the Letters Project. It's a project targeting incarcerated residents to participate in a correspondence course to prep them for the college experience.
Social Media platforms:
Public engagement is On-track..
Website engagement up. Facebook post reached 1763 accounts. 557 engaged with the post in someway. Likes are up 20%.
Donors/Funders:
MPAC received 25000 Grants for Change from Maine Initiatives.
MPAC received 5000 from the Cottonwood Foundation
MPAC received 4000 from the Gill Foundation
MPAC received 5000 from a Foundation that requested to remain unnamed.
GiveButter Donations total 6069, from 44 supporters, 9 individuals donated 250 dollars or more!
Legislative:
MPAC Staff is sitting on 3 legislative committees.
MPAC is following two bills in work session this LD 476 An Act To Provide Licensed Assisted Living and Nursing Facilities Levels of Care for Incarcerated. and a work session prison phone system rates.
LD 476 An Act To Provide Licensed Assisted Living and Nursing Facilities Levels of Care for Incarcerated Persons( tabled in work session 1/12/22)
LD 1175 An Act To Prohibit Excessive Telephone, Video and Commissary Charges in Maine Jails and Prisons(tabled in work session 1/12/22) This bill needs support from constituents. now.
LD 1552 - Reentry Bill will be changed to include prohibiting probation “technical violations”.
LD 982 - extends human rights legislation to government entities.
LD 1721 - Women’s Dignity bill is being stripped down and rebuilt.
LD 696 An Act to Ban Solitary Confinement in Maine’s Correctional Facilities
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, 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. Penobscot County Jail Expansion Group, ME-RAP, Southern Maine SURJ(Standing Up for Racial Justice)
Communications/Media:
https://mainebeacon.com/people-held-at-maine-state-prison-report-dangerous-conditions-amid-covid-outbreak/
https://mainebeacon.com/omicron-wave-once-again-spurs-worries-that-those-incarcerated-in-maine-are-sitting-ducks/
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/art-by-the-incarcerated/
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=922793085272412&id=100026251882956
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=929565741261813&id=100026251882956
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=930272824524438&id=100026251882956
https://portlandphoenix.me/brandon-brown-and-the-case-for-parole-in-maine/
