On October 30, 2026, the Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition (MPAC) celebrated an exciting milestone as friends, family members, community leaders, and supporters gathered in Auburn for the groundbreaking of PACO's Place, a new reentry home for people returning from prison.
The gathering was a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together. People from different backgrounds and experiences showed up to support a shared vision: helping people coming home from prison find the stability, connection, and opportunities they need to move forward.
MPAC Executive Director Joseph Jackson shared his personal story of returning home from prison more than 13 years ago. He also spoke about his close friend, Robert “Paco” Payzon, whom he had met while they were both in prison. After coming home, Robert joined the MPAC team, working alongside Joseph. Joseph witnessed the struggles his friend continued to face and understood how difficult rebuilding a life could be without the right support.
Following Robert's untimely passing, his memory became an important part of the vision for PACO's Place. The home will carry the name by which so many knew him, while honoring the person, his experiences, and the need for stronger support for people returning home.
Among those who spoke was Auburn Mayor Jeff Harmon, who brought his perspective from a long career in law enforcement. Mayor Harmon expressed his support for the project and the importance of helping people returning from prison, recognizing the benefits for individuals and the community as a whole.
The groundbreaking also reflected the dedication of the many donors, community partners, advocates, and supporters who have helped bring this project to life. Their involvement has been essential in moving PACO's Place from an idea toward a reality.
Construction was scheduled to begin immediately following the groundbreaking, with hopes of celebrating a ribbon-cutting by late 2027.
PACO's Place is about more than a building. It's about making sure people coming home have somewhere to land, someone in their corner, and a real opportunity to build a life beyond prison.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported this journey. We look forward to sharing updates as construction moves forward and invite our community to continue being part of the story.
Together, we're building more than a home. We're building opportunities for people coming home.
