Director’s Update: May 2026
Operations: April Operations On-track
MPAC: Board consists of 7 members, Co-Chair Julian Rowand, Co-Chair Carla Hunt, Secretary Thraza Rosie Hylton, Board member Ryun Anderson, board members Craig Williams, Board member Rosalani Moore, Board member Reese Remington.
MPAC currently has a staff size of 11 individuals. Joseph Jackson, Jan Collins, Peter Lehman, Joelle Jackson, Darlene George, Brandon Brown, Andre Hicks, Antonio Jackson, Linda Small, Sammy Basu, and Kathy Elliot.
MPAC- Contracted Coordinators Jon Courtney and Adriane Herman support art programming within the MDOC.
MPAC- Incarcerated resident Gordon Perry contracted to support our comms department.
MPAC- Assistant Director Jan Collins on a 6 month leave.
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.
April MPAC Strategy Meeting - The April Community Strategy Meeting was canceled. Linda was out of state. Cuba attempted to facilitate a virtual meeting from Old Town but his wifi was unstable.
MDOC - Executive Director Joseph Jackson, Peter Lehman and Cuba attended the launch of Reentry 2030 at the Statehouse on April 27th. It marked the official launch of the JFF grant.
MDOC - Deputy Commissioner Cantillo was named as lead of the JFF Grant in Maine.
MDOC - Deputy Commissioner Cantillo raised concerns about MPAC'S Incarcerated Coordinator role. The role and accountabilities were shared and we were able to clear up confusion.
MDOC- Executive Director Joseph Jackson met with Deputy Commissioner Cantillo regarding complaints from a man who was found not guilty at a disciplinary hearing and still punished. It was determined that he violated the tech policy and was held accountable.
MCC - 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 facilitates monthly meetings at the Women's Center and SMWRC. She advocated for 2 women this month.
MCC-Longtimers - Discussed reports of women bullying other women with MCC Leadership.
MCC-Longtimers- the women are mourning the death of a woman who was recently released.
Advocacy Coalition- reduced our meetings to monthly.
Longcreek- Andre met with senior leadership at Longcreek. He has been approved to return to the facility.
MSP- held a voter registration drive on April 13th. Many men are mourning the loss of Ephraim Bennett. His book signing event at MSP, is now an end of life celebration.
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- Lease agreement, house rules and tenant selection plan complete. The appraiser did a walkthrough, and we submitted a grant request to the AG for Opioid funds. The Commissioner and Mayor of Auburn submitted Letters of Support.
Reentry Support- MPAC supported 8 individuals with mutual aid.
MIO/MPAC- weekly drop in group for people in reentry at the MIO office in Lewiston continues to grow. MPAC's Lead of Strategic Partnerships Antonio Jackson and MIO Facilitator Stacy Perez facilitate the group. The community that is forming is beautiful to behold. We offer food, transportation and mutual aid.
Inside Vision- Jon conducts virtual screening of Feminist in Cell Block Y had modest attendance despite organizational challenges.
Inside Vision - Linda is meeting with someone who is proposing to hold art workshops at the Downeast facility.
Inside Vision - Jon's one-on-one mentorship idea is going well. It is an idea that pairs a community artist/professional to an incarcerated individual. Daniel Minter is currently volunteering his time in a one on one with an incarcerated resident.
Mainecare- MPAC will conduct surveys for formerly incarcerated youth. We have formalized the contract and plan to complete the project by June 30th.
Brennan Center- MPAC completed our work as consultants on a research project with the Brennan Center. The full Report has been released.
Broad Based Organizing- MPAC continues to support Broad based organizing efforts with Bay Love and his team. There is a training scheduled for May 28-30. Staff and board members are encouraged to attend.
Parole-4-Me- MPAC Staff and Volunteers continue to support Parole-4-Me as the group formalizes itself as a 501c3.
Communications:
MPAC - Brandon Brown is our communications lead.
Website: Brandon continues to update and edit the website.
Website - one project being proposed is to add a section on our website about MPAC'S origin story. We plan to interview MPAC'S founders and have a page that features them.
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 Executive Director was part of the Plunkett Poetry Festival
MPAC Executive Director was featured in a USM article.
Former MPAC Coordinator Zack Swain awarded a settlement from the MDOC for his treatment in solitary confinement Article on Zack
Development:
Development strategy is on track
The organization is outgrowing its current pool of smaller grants, as many grants are now limited to organizations with budgets under $400,000.
The Executive Director and Cuba traveled to Denver engage national funders.
The strategy to connect with national funders is paying off. MPAC joined the coalition FICPFM. The Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted People and Families Movement (FICPFM) is a national network of civil and human rights organizations led by people with conviction histories and their family members.
Executive Director confirmed fall fundraiser September 10th at Caswell Farm
The Development committee has formed a fundraising committee. Key donors are volunteering to support the planning.
Donors/ funders:
Grant team meets weekly.
Donate Button Zeffy platform
individual donation Zeffy - 55.00
MPAC- Individual donation 10000
MPAC- Brennen Center 1000.00
MPAC - Mainecare 1159.73
MPAC- Fidelity Charitable- 500
MPAC- United Way 31.51
MPAC - Maine Initiatives- 20000.00
Legislative:
MPAC’S Coordinator Linda Small and Peter Lehman leads!
Legislative Committee Meetings - meets Tuesdays at 5:30pm each week.
Legislative- Maine's new statistic for 2024, lowest violent crime rate in the country.
Legislative- gubernatorial forum on May 18 has been tabled.
Legislative- Governor Mills vetoed Clean Slate! We missed overturning her veto by one vote.
Legislative- The parole bill passed as a study bill. MPAC expects to have representation at the table.
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.
