Director’s Update: July/August 2026
Operations: July and August Operations
Bank account hacked
Switched Bank Accounts
Board Co-Chairs co-sign
MPAC: Board consists of 7 members, Co-Chair Julian Rowand, Co-Chair Carla Hunt, Secretary Thraza Rosie Hylton,
Board members Craig Williams, Board member Rosalani Moore, Board member Reese Remington, Board member Foster Bates
Board member Ryun Anderson transition off the board
MPAC currently has a staff size of 12 individuals. Joseph Jackson, Jan Collins, Peter Lehman, Joelle Jackson, Darlene George, Brandon Brown, Andre Hicks, Antonio Jackson, Linda Small, Sammy Basu, Nicole Murphy and Kathy Elliot.
MPAC - Brandon Brown transition from staff role.
MPAC- Contracted Coordinators Jon Courtney, and Adriane Herman to support art programming within the MDOC.
MPAC- we are currently reviewing our contract with incarcerated resident Gordon Perry.
MPAC- Assistant Director Jan Collins returns in August.
MPAC has 12 volunteers. Lee Urban, Doug Dunbar, Jamie Peloquin, Leslie Manning, Olivia Hochstadt, Lani Graham, Nicole Lund, Sarah Johnson, Craig McEwen, Al Cleveland, Diane Martin and Cyndi Tucci. 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 meet weekly to ensure we are in alignment.
MPAC- Community facilitators support community volunteers.
MPAC staff members regularly communicate 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: meets weekly, Wednesday at 5:00 pm
MPAC - Development and Communications Committee meets bi-weekly on Mondays at 8:00 am.
MPAC - grant committee meets weekly Tuesday evenings.
MPAC - Ways of Working committee meets as needed.
MPAC - staff continues to support formerly incarcerated individuals in reentry, with transport, peer to peer support. One on one and in group settings.
On-going: Advocacy, correspondence, and Direct Dialogue.
May MPAC Strategy Meeting - July's Community Strategy Meeting canceled to hold a board/staff retreat.
MPAC - held its annual staff board retreat and marked the transition of Ryun, Jamie, and Brandon. We also did some planning for our upcoming fundraiser.
MDOC - Deputy Commissioner Cantillo asked if a representative of MPAC could join a committee to review the tech policy. Cuba and Linda both sit on the committee.
MDOC - MPAC Executive Director met with Commissioner Liberty to advocate for civic group access to tech without fear of over-zealous policing.
MDOC - MPAC Coordinator Linda Small and MDOC continue to collaborate on the development of a SCCP workshop to address FAQ’s and resident concerns.
MCC Longtimers - Leslie Manning attended regularly scheduled meetings at SMWRC, women are complaining of being written up for frivolous things as they approach their release dates.
MCC Longtimers - held their Juneteenth event. MPAC Coordinator Darlene George planned the event.
MCC Longtimers- Darlene recruited 5 women for the new policy committee at the facility. The committee will focus on policy issues.
MCC Reentry - MPAC Volunteer Dr. Lani Graham accompanied Leslie to the Reentry Center. Her visit was well received.
Advocacy Coalition- reduced our meetings to monthly.
Longcreek- Andre has been approved to return to the facility. Continues to collaborate with partners to support youth.
Pathways to Promise - Andre is collaborating with Nicole Lemay from Youth Led Justice in Lewiston to support youth.
MSP-NAACP - contracted Rachel Talbot Ross to serve as their community liaison.
No Penobscot county jail - Darlene and Linda are attending the No Penobscot county jail meetings.
No Penobscot County Jail: First look at the proposed Penobscot County Jail
Projects:
Paco's Place- moving towards purchasing the property.
Reentry Support- MPAC supported 14 individuals with mutual aid since June.
MIO/MPAC- the weekly drop in group was paused for the month of July. They resume the first week of August.
MSP-NAACP - Juneteenth event was held June 23rd. MPAC Coordinator Jon Courtney attended. Kenya Hall performed
Inside Vision- Jon is working with Reentry Sisters and coordinating with Ashley Hamilton from Can Art Change the World on the Still Becoming mural project. Project currently has Murals of 40 system impacted women to be
Inside Vision - Adriane started a workshop session, about creating and distributing mindfulness-themed zine. 6 participants enrolled.
Inside Vision - Will support the fundraiser with art from Iparticipated.
Jeff Evangelos- prior to his passing Jeff supported Dan Fortune to get his case reviewed. We organized 16 people to all wear green to attend. The judge noted that it was unusual for so many people to attend an evidentiary hearing and that our attendance was noted and appreciated.
Mainecare- MPAC held focused youth group meetings in Portland and Lewiston's. 14 youth partucipated.
Pathways to Promise - Andre supported an event with youth at Mill Creek Park in South Portland. The young people had a great time and performed original art they created.
Pathways to Promise - conducted an outing to the camp, there was barbecue, boating, swimming, and fishing.
Brennan Center- Linda presented in New York. Commissioner Liberty attended and called MPAC’S Executive Director to express gratitude for her presentation.
Brennen Center - MPAC renewed our contract with Brennen and will consult on their work in Maine.
Broad Based Organizing- MPAC staff and board attended a training, along with two youth from pathways to promise.
Parole-4-Me- MPAC Staff and Volunteers continue to support Parole-4-Me.
Communications:
MPAC - Nicole Murphy is MPAC’S Communications lead.
Website - Nicole onboarding continues. Jamie will offer training on how to update and edit the website.
We have winners from T- shirt Contest. Congratulations to Hillary Goding from Maine Correctional Center and Christopher Wynne from Maine State Prison.
Website- our project to offer MPAC merch is on track. We still have to work out some kinks with Bonfire. When we upload it to the page, visitors can purchase t-shirts, coffee cups and the like.
Google Group: Peter continues to lead and manage the Google Group. Tension remains about its function and purpose.
MPAC - new YouTube channel MPAC YouTube channel
Public engagement
MPAC tabled at Pride in Lewiston.
Antonio Jackson participated on a panel at the Juneteenth Festival at Bates College.
MPAC will table at the Common Ground Fair
Maine Prisoners Organize to Protect Their Rare Right to Vote
Development:
Development strategy is on track
The grant team is working on a collaborative grant with MIO and Reentry Sisters.
Fall fundraiser set for September 10th at Caswell Farm. Invites have went out.
Donors/ funders:
Grant team meets weekly.
Donate Button Zeffy platform - 9 donations totalling 240. 00
MPAC- Maine Initiatives- 7500.00
MPAC- Maine Initiatives - 780.76
MPAC- Clean Slate - 32730.00
MPAC - Quakers in Durham - 500.00
MPAC- Assets Under Movement - 4000.00
MPAC- Maine People's Resource Center - 5000.00
MPAC - Maine Initiatives- 437.00
Legislative:
MPAC’S Coordinator Linda Small and Peter Lehman leads!
Legislative Committee Meetings - meets Tuesdays at 5:30pm each week.
Legislative- a comprehensive women's health bill is emerging as a priority next session. The suggested title is “Health for Women in State Custody”.
Legislative- Solitary confinement is a top priority next legislative session.
Legislative- the group plans to hold a gubernatorial candidates forum was fixed by the Deputy AG. The forum is deemed a violation of the Hatch Act.
Legislative Update- MPAC’S 2025 Legislative Tracker
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, Friends of LongCreek, Groundwater Institute, Volunteers of America, Brennan Center, Maine Arts Commission, Maine Clean Slate Coalition.
