Voices from Within
By Gordon P.
Hello & Welcome folks to our new interactive feature called Voices From Within. My name is Gordon, your voice and friend from the inside. I designed this to give people impacted by thesystem simple practical, low-barrier ways to connect, learn, and reduce harm. I did add a little teaser from the PBS Frontline Solitary Nation documentaries from 2014 & 2019 showing me in the old M.S.P. segregation unit. This is for those of you who may not be familiar with this important part of M.D.O.C. history, and how far the M.D.O.C. has come. There was a time when rehabilitation related programing or support avenues at M.S.P. were unheard of. Thankfully M.P.A.C. has been a leader for prison advocacy in ME, and has helped push the M.D.O.C. into what it has transformed into today.The M.D.O.C. is now a leader throughout the entire country in unique & innovative prison reform practices. More on that later, for now let me focus on the programs we are implementing 😀.
Why this feature exists
People inside and their families have felt the negative effects of the system for far too long. Voices From Within aims to help minimize this by making a meaningful positive impact on the people participating in these different programs. These programs focus on education, harm reduction, and building practical support networks, and the work M.P.A.C. has pushed for and continues to support so this important work is able to continue. My hope is that my persistence, dedication, and hard work will successfully help individuals do this effectively.
A personal note
I grew up in a broken system that offered almost zero help from when I was just a child touring the youth center facilities to the adult prison system. Roughly a decade ago things started changing for the better in ME when restorative practices and ways of being started being explored and implemented. Since that time the M.D.O.C. did a 180° turn changing into the M.M.O.C.. A new styled system utilizing restorative programming along with medicines to treatmental health related issues like ADHD/ADD and SUD to name a few. These tools finally started reaching people like myself who desperately needed them to function like a normal human being. That change transformed my life like I never imagined possible. I recognize and appreciate all of thisand now I want to pay it forward.
Thank you for checking out Voices From Within. Give these programs a chance to grow on you, use what you learn, and pass it on. Your attention, questions, support and voice help change lives.