Director’s Update: October 2024
Operations: September 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, 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, Daria Cullen, Ann Beaudry and Craig McEwen. 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.
September MPAC Strategy Meeting - canceled. MPAC prioritized a ted talk workshop with Elise Derosa. Many thanks to her!
Freedom and Captivity- held a storytelling workshop on the second Saturday of September. It was well attended.
MDOC - met with Unit Manager Mendoza and Mike Fornier about more involvement with MPAC
MDOC - met with Warden Nathan Thayer for the first time. Good first impression!
MDOC - meeting with Deputy Commissioner Tony Cantillo October 18th.
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).
MCC Longtimers- Darlene completed the Beyond the Bars project. It was the first ever beyond the bars held in a facility.
MCC Longtimers- Brandon’s class Bridging the Divide is going well.
MCC Longtimers- there was a good turnout for the Voter registration drive, Darlene organized and coordinated.
MCC Reentry Center- monthly meetings at the facility are going well. Leslie visited with the unit manager and the women separately.
MCC Reentry Center - the women had complaints about the Supervised Community Confinement Policy ( SCCP). SCCP is going very slowly, hiccups and denials occur at the PO level. Reports the PO are not conducting interviews with housing providers etc. There are fewer approvals for furloughs. Scott Landry will be checking in to this.
MCC Reentry Center- MPAC supported women to bring health care complaints to MDOC.
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, 16 detained, with 4 girls. Our youngest participant has agreed to go to school and counseling. One child was committed until his 18th birthday. He received two years for running away. There are two kids in the SMU, locked down 23 hours a day.
Longcreek - MPAC is supporting 19 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. There were questions raised about the Inmate Benefit Fund and the lack of transparency when it comes to spending.
MCC Longtimers - Jon delivered and picked up books at MCC. MPAC Incarcerated Coordinator helped organize the prison's voter registration and education drive. She motivated many to attend and register to vote.
MSP - MPAC participated in the healthcare meeting with residents, MDOC, and Wellpath. We received a request for support with access to health care from a man at the Bolduc Unit with sciatica.
MSP - MPAC'S Executive Director and Assistant Director attended the first Barbecue at the facility for Longtimers. We received honorary membership with the Longtimers group.
MSP- MPAC'S Incarcerated Coordinator helped organize the prison's voter registration and education drive. Over 100 individuals registered or requested Voter absentee ballots.
MSP - an incarcerated individual was approved to be an organ donor. This approval marks a shift in policy and practice.
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. Prototype completed and approved for construction.
MSP - MSP-NAACP holding a Recovery fair October 23rd. MPAC will table at the event.
MPAC - Equality Maine invited MPAC to participate in Maine’s first Task Force Against Hate Crime.
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. Attendance was down this First Friday possibly impacted by the Beyond the Bars conference.
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 : Jon Courtney leads. An Iliad performances are scheduled at 4 facilities across Maine.
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.
UNE Presentation: Cuba, Linda and Santanu, sat on a panel to discuss Mass Incarceration as a Public Health Crisis with med students. Lani Graham facilitatated!
Justice Radio: celebrated their 100th episode. Emily from Indigent Legal services will be on soon. Also some contacts from Chicago.
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
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!
Behind the Door Podcast- MPAC Coordinator Brandon Brown co-host with the Executive Director of Recovery Connections of Maine Jeremy Hiltz. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OfN0gJEJNTU
Charles Jordan House - Charles Jordan is continuing to progress. Expect to break ground in the spring. Land survey is complete.
Communications:
Public engagement is On-track.
Website: MPAC Volunteer Jamie Peloquin leads our Website design. Ann Beaudry joined the communication team. We reviewed the website and made editing suggestions
Parole represents a path forward
Lewiston woman can sue jail officers who watched her give birth, federal court rules
https://magnoliatribune.com/2024/09/05/parole-represents-a-path-forward-for-those-who-earn-it/
Communication Resources:
Maine art Commission featuring Joseph's video. Joseph's poem "Lewiston Strong "
Peter's Video
Jan's VideoThis link is broken see Jamie for the new link
Cuba's Video This link is broken see Jamie for the new link
Joseph's Video
Donors/ funders:
Grant team meets weekly. MPAC Fundraiser trailer
MPAC Fundraiser: raised $45k from the event. Private donor offering to donate 100,000 if we can get it matched by the end of the year.
MPAC Fundraising Committee- plan to meet October 31st, to develop a strategy to match the 100,000.
Long Timers: are a group inside MSP who are in for the long haul (life sentences) have proposed a fundraiser to be held inside the prison for MPAC.
Multiple grants in play:
Maine Initiatives- Giving Project
Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation: we have not been successful, but we keep trying.
Alfred M. Senter Fund - our first time asking for support.
Boch Family Fund - 1st time - focus on children and arts and culture.
Sewell Foundation - grant denied
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 and participated in the advocates meeting that was organized by Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross
Legislative Committee - Jan met with MECASA who noted that they are in favor of expungement for survivors of sex trafficking but no other folks. She also talked with Melissa Martin about bringing more programming to MDOC.
Jan met with the new justice caucus of the legislature on the topic of parole.
ACLU staff working on legal mail policy. Residents should reach out and give info about their challenges receiving legal mail.
Criminal Records Review Committee- Joseph sits on the Criminal Records Committee.
Legislative Committee - Looking at models for oversight and transparency.
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. The last meeting hosted Richard Harburger, current chair of the parole board.
County Jail Boards of Visitors - Jan is on the Franklin County Board of Visitors, Sarah Johnson and Janet Drew are on the York County BOV. All are working to bring more humane policies that focus on successful reentry.
Parole4ME - In addition to our statewide work, we are also hoping to organize by county. York County has begun contacting all of the local rotary clubs to discuss the topics of mass incarceration and the topic of parole. They are using Speaker’s Bureau brochures with a cover letter from MPAC and Prole4ME.
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