Director’s Update: January 2026
Operations: December operations are on track.
MPAC: Board consists of 6 members, Co-Chair Ryun Anderson, Co-Chair Carla Hunt, Secretary Julian Rowand, board members Craig Williams, Rosalani Moore and Thraza Rosie Hylton.
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- Daria Cullen resigned from her roles as Women’s Advocate, and Communications Lead. Daria has a full time job and showed up full time for MPAC even though it was a part time role. I want to extend a Special thanks for the work and dedication she gave to our mission and vision.
MPAC- our contract with consultant Jeff Evangelos expired at the end of the year. Jeff's supported clemency and habeas corpus applications for incarcerated residents. Jeff's clinical trial failed as is his health! I want to extend a Special thanks for the work and dedication he gave to our mission and vision. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jeff.
MPAC - has decided to extend our contract with incarcerated resident Gordon Perry for another year. He will work alongside Brandon Brown to support the website and communication team.
MPAC has 12 volunteers. Lee Urban, Doug Dunbar, Jon Courtney, Jamie Peloquin, Leslie Manning, Olivia Hochstadt, Lani Graham, Adriane Herman, Nicole Lund, Sarah Johnson, Craig McEwen, Al Cleveland, and Isabelle H. 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 will support community volunteers after it became clear that we needed a structure for volunteers.
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: meets bi-weekly, Wednesday at 5:00 pm
MPAC - Development and Communications Committee meets Mondays every other week at 8:00 am.
MPAC - grant committee meets weekly on Tuesday.
MPAC - Ways of Working committee meets monthly.
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.
December MPAC Strategy Meeting - the meeting was well attended. Scott Fenstenmeier and Ted Berry addressed the group about towing companies and taking of vehicles disproportionately impact incarcerated individuals. There was discussion around our legislative priorities. Peter Lehman is attending a working group that is developing bill language on this topic.
MDOC - The MDOC reported they assembled a working group to examine the earned time bill. They submitted a report which erroneously identified MPAC as a member of the working group. MPAC’S Assistant Director challenged the assertion and wrote the chairs requesting our name to be removed from the report. The MDOC wrote the report, then asked individuals to comment by email.
MDOC - Deputy Commissioner Cantillo reached out to discuss the disagreement over the department's report to the Criminal Justice Committee about earned time. I shared with the Deputy Commissioner that an email string is not my definition of assembling a legislative working group and that asking me to comment on a report is not the same as co-creating a report. We agreed to try to do better at communicating our concerns before it reaches public spaces.
MDOC - MPAC is working with the MDOC, MDOL, UMA and other partners on the Jobs For the Future initiative. The group is meeting monthly and are planning to attend a conference in March. The purpose of the initiative is to ultimately reduce barriers to employment for system impacted people.
MDOC - MCC - Antonio Jackson has been cleared to meet with the men at MCC monthly via zoom.
MCC Longtimers - Daria and Leslie facilitate monthly meetings with the women on the hill and women in the re-entry center.
Advocacy Coalition- has resumed meetings weekly to discuss legislative strategy.
Longcreek- Andre has been called in for a meeting with Longcreek to discuss his role in supporting youth to testify in Augusta on the Longcreek bill. He has been temporarily suspended from going into the facility.
MSP - The MSP-NAACP supported a watch party for residents interested in hearing the public testimony on our priority bills.
No Penobscot county jail - we need a volunteer to attend the No Penobscot county jail meetings on Sundays.
Projects:
Paco's Place- on track. We submitted our report to the Maine Housing Authority. They are satisfied with the viability of the project.
MPAC Clemency and Appeals project - Jeff Evangelos is continuing to support incarcerated residents despite being in the final stage of his life. He continues to connect with lawyers, court clerks and incarcerated residents to ensure their endeavors are on track. MPAC is presenting Jeff with an award to demonstrate our Love and appreciation for all he has done to represent system-impacted people in Maine.
Guide for Filing Grievances. - MPAC has finalized a project to consolidate information on how to file grievances properly.
Reentry Support- MPAC supported 8 individuals in reentry transition for the months of December. We supported 2 families with a celebration of life.
MIO/MPAC- are working together on an adult reentry project. It's a weekly drop in group on Thursday nights for adults in different stages of reentry. The purpose to build community and reduce barriers system-impacted people face.
Gallery Exhibit Project: Inside Vision- MPAC exhibition at the Francis is over January 29th. Preparing for an exhibition at UMF.February 12 to March 13th. Opening reception February 12 5-7:00pm.Exhibit flier is done and Nicole Lund is going to be doing an article for the Bulldog.
Gallery Exhibit Project: Inside Vision - meeting with MSP to debrief and plan art programs for 2026.
Mainecare- We have a preliminary agreement to survey 2 youth groups in 2026!
Brennen Center- has contracted MPAC as consultants. We will continue to collaborate on their research of the MDOC
Reentry Sisters- and MPAC is working with MDOC to conduct a workshop on the Supervised Community Confinement Program.
Communications:
MPAC - Brandon Brown is our communications lead.
Website: MPAC Volunteer Jamie Peloquin leads our Website design.
Google Group: We have restructured our platform and have consolidated updates in a newsletter posted once a week.
Webpage: Brandon is learning to update our website. He recently removed an article after receiving a request from a family member of an incarcerated individual.
Webpage - new weekly blog from Gordon Perry is on hold for now
Google Group- Isabelle H is volunteering on our weekly newsletter.
Giving Tuesday - donation!
MPAC - new YouTube channel MPAC YouTube channel
Public engagement
On-track.
MPAC- supported Frankie in a channel 13 interview.
Donors/ funders:
Grant team meets weekly.
Donate Button Zeffy platform
individual donation Zeffy - 1610.00 in
donations for December
MPAC- 300.00 individual donation
MPAC- 10000.00 individual donation
MPAC- 10000.00 individual donation
MPAC - 29000.00 individual donation
MPAC- 1000.00 individual donation
MPAC- 35.00 individual donation
MPAC - 30.00 individual donation
MPAC- 1000.00 individual donation
MPAC- 3000.00 individual donation
MPAC- Maine Initiatives 15000.00 (MSP-NAACP)
MPAC- Wellspring - 38000.00
MPAC- National Religious Campaign Against Torture 30000.00
MPAC - Clean Slate Initiative 52730.00
MPAC - Resist - 2500.00
MPAC- Brennan Center- 375.00
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 5:30pm each week.
Legislative- Legislative session in full swing. Public hearings on Parole, Clean Slate, and the Omsbudman bills have been heard.
Legislative - organized youth to testify on the Longcreek bill.
Legislative - worksessions on priority bills in full swing.
Legislative Update- Parole4ME- meets every other Wednesday at 6:00pm over zoom.
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.
