Director’s Update: September 2024

Written By Jamie Peloquin

Operations: August 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 at 8:00am.

  • 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. 

On-going: Advocacy, correspondence, and Direct Dialogue. 

  • August MPAC Strategy Meeting - featured Courtney Gary-Allen and MS Parks around a legislative agenda for the next session. There was insight about MERAP and Recovery Housing.

  • MDOC - met with Commissioner Liberty on the 29th regarding arts in prison documentary proposal to film music programs inside prison facilities. 

  • MDOC -  residents have the ability to renew drivers licenses. Includes written and drivers exams. 

  • MDOC - offering Class A drivers license classes at MCC and MVC. 

  • MDOC - purchased a tattoo removal machine which will be administered by Wellpath.

  • MDOC - Deputy Commissioner Tony Cantillo called me on his vacation. Concerns raised about Leslie's advocacy efforts.

  • MDOC - MPAC have received reports that all members (except Chair) of Maine State Prison BOV have resigned over the new requirement that a system-impacted individual be appointed to the board.

  • Penobscot county jail- Referendum on the new jail will not happen this fall. Note Aroostook is also planning a new BIGGER jail, (to enhance revenue).

  • Penobscot county jail- death at the jail. Man who died while being held at Penobscot County Jail identified

  • Penobscot county jail- support a woman's reentry. She reported there was no MAT available to her within the facility. There is no programming to support MAT. Residents in reentry had to rely on family to bring in undergarments and socks and sneakers to exit the jail.

  • Mountain View- resident death at Mountain view. Man imprisoned at Mountain View Correctional Facility dies at 73 

  • MCC Longtimers- Darlene is working on the Beyond the Bars project. 

  • MCC Longtimers- Darlene is working with Maya and Luca to support a transgender individual at the facility. Maya will be zooming at a later date to meet with the trans population. 

  • MCC Reentry Center- monthly meetings at the facility are going well. 

  • 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.

  • Advocacy Coalition- The DOJ is suing the state of Maine for flouting (ADA) Disability Rights when it comes to youth and community services. Table meeting to discuss next steps

  • 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 three detained. 

  • Longcreek - MPAC is supporting 19youth 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. Mold spores found in one resident's lungs, despite being told no mold in Women's Ctr. 

  • MCC Longtimers - met with Nina Miliken. LGBTQ resident is being transferred to another facility. Construction is about to begin at the women's facility.

  • MSP - MPAC participated in the healthcare meeting with residents, MDOC, and Wellpath, met with MSP-NAACP and Rep Milliken to discuss proposed policy changes.

  • MERN-  Second chance grant is winding down. It will be a while before we hear about the new grant.

Projects:

  • MSP - MPAC helped facilitate creation of sampler trays for Orange Bike Brewing Company with the Director of Industries Kenny Linsey.

  • Reentry Support- MPAC supported 7 people in reentry transition. 

  • Gallery Exhibit Project - The Francis Hotel is hosting a gallery exhibition. The exhibition will run through November. Over 200 photos up. The Francis will participate in First Friday events and advertising for each month. Drop in visits to view the art are encouraged.

  • MSP - MPAC ED, and Margo Walsh showed the Documentary from the United Recovery Fund about Maineworks.

  • Book drive - author who is downsizing gave Jon 50 boxes of books. 

  • Bates -MPAC is partnering with Bates on a project to offer legal literacy for system-impacted individuals and their families. 

  • MPAC Film Series : Film festival next week. Including films about formerly incarcerated women in Argentina. Jon is working on films and concerts for MSP. 

  • MCC Reentry Center- Brandon was at the women's center. Bridging the Divide class. Spoke to 16 women with Rebecca Barr.

  • 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.

  • Reentry Sisters- tabled at the Women’s Recovery Fair at MCC.

  • Permanent Commission: Joseph met with the Commission's Community Engagement Specialist Billale Fulli to discuss closer collaboration. 

  • Justice Radio: this past month we had an episode on Penobscot County Jail. We have recordings booked through December. Ritual for Return is coming up this week.

  • Justice Radio: Penobscot County Jail episode - Maine Jails August 2024 https://www.wmpg.org/wmpg-podcasts/justice-radio/  Gender and Racial Justice - 

https://www.wmpg.org/wmpg-podcasts/justice-radio/https://www.wmpg.org/wmpg-podcasts/justice-radio/ Maine Indigent Defense Center 

 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 September 14th. Brandon is working with Catherine on the workshop. Over 30 people have signed up for the project.

  • Behind the Door Podcast- MPAC Coordinator Brandon Brown co-host with the Executive Director of Recovery Connections of Maine Jeremy Hiltz. Behind the Door: Learning How to Engage in Healthy Relationships 

  • Charles Jordan House - Charles Jordan is continuing to progress. Expect to break ground in the spring. Met with Maine Housing Authority and discovered people on the registry can't receive a housing voucher per federal regulations. 

Communications: 

Communication Resources: 


Donors/ funders:

  • MPAC Fundraiser: September 17th, 5:30 - 7:30 at Orange Bike Brewing Company in Portland Maine. 

  • MPAC Fundraiser - Grant committee meeting weekly. Staff team working with Elise DeRosa to prep for speaking at the Fundraiser.

  • Sewell Foundation - Community Health + Wellness funding grant submitted

  • Mainecare expansion grant -$5000 awarded to lead  4 groups with Incarcerated individuals. 

  • Bates College Grant: 3000 awarded

  • Amalgamated Charitable Foundation - award 3602.00

  • Genesis Fund- 200,000.00 loan for pre-development process for Charles Jordan reentry housing.

  • MEHAF - MPAC is part of the 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 proposed policy changes. Supporting them to bring positive changes to MDOC. Wed the 18th will meet with NAACP, Speaker Talbot-Ross and others to discuss legislative proposals.

  • Legislative Committee - Jan met with the Parole board chairperson, Richard Harburger. He stated that everyone on the parole board is in favor of parole. 3 members are law enforcement, former DA Stephanie Anderson, and one other attorney. Chair of the board testified in favor at both the bill hearing and the committee hearing.

  • Jan also meant with the states mental health advocates regarding strategies to end solitary confinement. They will monthly until a strategy is developed.

  • Criminal Records Review Committee- Joseph sits on the Criminal Records Committee. Linda gave testimony about how her record impacted her from receiving a job at USM.

  • Legislative Committee - Joseph met with Rachel T Ross and Jan about parole and voter registration drive in all facilities. Reached out to political brew on Channel 6 for educational drive to moderate

  • 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

Jamie Peloquin
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