Operations: August Operations
Bank account closed due to clerical error by the bank.
Switched Bank Accounts
Board Co-Chairs and ED had to open new account and navigate a multitude of bouncing checks and honoring bank fees associated with the bounced checks.
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
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- Contracted Coordinators Jon Courtney, and Adriane Herman support art programming within the MDOC. Incarcerated contractor Gordon Perry supports comms.
MPAC- Assistant Director Jan Collins returns in September.
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.
August MPAC Strategy Meeting - the Community Strategy Meeting was well attended. Listening session with community partner MeRap regarding drug policies and legislative agenda.
MDOC - Commissioner succession. Randy shared that he will be retiring October 1st and that Tony Cantillo has been named acting commissioner by the governor.
MDOC - MPAC Executive Director met with Deputy Commissioner Cantillo to discuss Money being removed from individual accounts for monetary sanctions that sometimes dates back years. Cantillo shared there are certain circumstances within the policy this could occur.
MDOC - MPAC Executive Director met with Deputy Commissioner Cantillo and the MSP team to discuss Leo Hylton's computer ban. Leo received a 5 year computer ban after being found not guilty by the Disciplinary captain. Leo has been allowed to appeal the finding.
MDOC- MPAC is sitting at the table to review and edit MDOC’S tech policy. MPAC submitted written testimony at the public hearing.
MDOC - MPAC Executive Director met with Deputy Commissioner Cantillo to discuss Leslie Manning request to attend RAC meetings. Tony is discussing this request with the team at MCC.
MCC Men - Leslie was asked by the men at MCC if she could attend Rac meetings and support them. They said that the meetings are often time canceled. That often they don't have advanced notice that the meeting is happening, and that there is rarely an agenda and that conversations are usually off the cuff.
MCC Longtimers - Leslie Manning attended regularly scheduled meetings at SMWRC, women are complaining of being strip searched by a transgender officer.
MCC Longtimers - MPAC Coordinator Darlene George handed in her computer a week ago for review and it hasn't been returned yet.
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 - have a collaborative grant to organize system-impacted voters.
No Penobscot County Jail: First look at the proposed Penobscot County Jail
Projects:
Paco's Place- we secured all the funding and closed on the property. We have contracted Sarah Violette to create a documentary.
Reentry Support- MPAC supported 8 individuals with mutual aid.
MDOC - SCCP meeting with DOC ongoing work for FAQ document and workshop
MIO/MPAC- the weekly drop in group resumed. They tabled at the Lewiston Art Walk and took a picture with the mayor.
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. Can Art Change the World.
Inside Vision: Mural pasting Saturday, September 12 at 10 am in Rockland to prep for International Film Festival Monday, September 14 at MSP film screening and workshop
Inside Vision - Adriane is planning a 6 week Mindful Murmurations class at SMWRC.
Inside Vision - Jon, Adriane and Linda are hosting the Tehachapi event on the 11th at the PMA. It is open to the public.
Mainecare- MPAC is working closely with the State as Mainecare eligibility is shifting and becoming more difficult to access.
MSP - the summer workshops Telling My Stories” concluded early due to facility staffing. Looking for a different date to celebrate the completion of the project.
Beyond the Bars - MPAC is supporting Beyond the Bars which takes place September 29th - Oct 2nd.
Pathways to Promise - Andre supported youth releases from Long Creek. He continues to meet youth individually and in groups. He's been working more closely with families in the interactions with DHHS.
Pathways to Promise - Breakfast sandwich Thursdays” went well and involved delivery of sandwiches to youth in southern Maine.
Brennen Center - MPAC renewed our contract with Brennen and met with their staff to discuss moving forward.
Broad Based Organizing- MPAC has been working with Groundwater and BBO. We have to decide if we want to commit long-term. This involves paying dues of 1% of our total budget?
Parole-4-Me- MPAC Staff and Volunteers continue to support Parole-4-Me.
Communications:
MPAC - Nicole Murphy is MPAC’S Communications lead.
Website - Nicole is working with Jamie to update our website.
Instagram- Nicole has connected our Facebook page to a new Instagram account.
Website- Nicole has updated our events page, and Directors Reports.
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 Orange Bike Brewing Company and was interviewed by WPMG.
MPAC will table at the Common Ground Fair.
MPAC will table at the Portland Museum of Art on Friday.
MPAC will table at the Recovery Rally in Lewiston on the 26th.
Maine Prisoners Organize to Protect Their Rare Right to Vote
Development:
Development strategy is on track
MPAC has been asked to serve as a fiscal sponsor for a Campaign to Free Jonny Lee?
Fall fundraiser set for September 10th at Caswell Farm. Nearly 80 people have RSVP’D.
Donors/ funders:
Grant team meets weekly.
Donate Button Zeffy platform - 17 donations totalling 940. 00
MPAC- United Way- 51.00
MPAC- Peter Alfond- 16,386.00
MPAC- Wellspring- $38,000
MPAC - DAFgiving 360 - 500.00
MPAC- Charles and Patty B - 10000.00
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- House Minority Whip and representatives advocating for voting-right removal of incarcerated persons.
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.
