Celebrating Juneteenth + Booking Workshops and Community Conversations
Juneteenth celebration at the Public Theatre in Lewiston, June 11, 2026. Photos by Sarah Violette.
Celebrating Juneteenth with Performance + Dialogue
Maine Inside Out celebrated Juneteenth with gratitude to be in community for creative expression, and for reckoning with the hard truth that none of us are free until all of us are free. Thank you to all who were part of our Juneteenth performances and community dialogues in Lewiston and Portland this year. As the justice system continues to have a disproportionate impact on people of color, we have deep appreciation for all who are working toward collective liberation.
The community dialogues were powerful following performances by MOJOSUDAN, remarks by Samuel James, a film screening of the MIO “Broken Clock” tour documentary, and the MIO Creative Ensemble’s live performance of “The Big Yes.”
Featured artist Samuel James generously shared his remarks:
Why Juneteenth is the most important day of the year
Thank you to Mayo Street Arts and The Public Theatre for hosting us, to Little Chair Printing for printing free Juneteenth shirts at the Lewiston event, to The Heritage Restaurant for making the Lewiston community meal, to Androscoggin Bank and to the MIO-MPAC Re-entry Community Group for volunteering, and to our Lewiston community partners for your participation: ArtVan; Gather to Grow; Mike Kleinfeld Photography; New Beginnings; Safe Voices; Somali Bantu Community Association; UnitedYES; Youth-LED Justice.
Thank you to our event supporters: Androscoggin Bank; Berman & Simmons; KeyBank; Lewiston Public Art Committee; Maine’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous, and Tribal Populations; Poland Spring; Sam L. Cohen Foundation; The Youth Justice Clinic and the Center for Youth Policy & Law at Maine Law.
And thank you to everyone who joined us!
Youth in Lewiston were asking:
When did you realize you needed to change for the better?
Who or what gave you the motivation to change?
What is the most important thing about Juneteenth?
Audience members in Portland were asking:
How do you conjure up hope?
Themes that resonated with audiences:
Love
Poverty
Pain in your heart
Forget about the past, move forward
Being better for your kids
Saying yes to who you are
Talking behind someone’s back
Arguments, crimes, shootings
Being compared to siblings
Wanting to hug a family member
Not giving up
And audience members were saying yes to:
Community
Love
People
Patience
Myself
Choices
Supporting MIO
Juneteenth
End all slavery
End ICE detention centers
Celebrating variety
We closed each Juneteenth event with a community sing of an original song written by MOJOSUDAN for Maine Inside Out: Trust, Love & Purpose. Thank you to all who shared your voices and your hearts.
Host a Theater Workshop or Social Change Conversation
Maine Inside Out is currently booking theater workshops and community social change conversations for fall 2026 and into 2027. We would love to talk with groups interested in engaging with MIO’s theater tools!
Ambiente Theater Workshops - For corporate leaders and mission-driven organizations ready to go deeper than surface-level team building, this 90-minute interactive workshop introduces tools to transform how your team connects, collaborates, and leads.
Community Social Change Conversations - To engage communities in conversations around difficult topics, this 75-minute program features a screening of MIO's Broken Clock Documentary, facilitated dialogue, and theater activities to strengthen community trust and engagement.
Contact mandy@maineinsideout.org to explore options for your group or community!
Final Call for Board Applicants
We are thrilled by the overwhelming interest in joining the Maine Inside Out Board of Directors. It is a true testament to our strong community and the deep dedication people have to this organization. The MIO Board will be reviewing candidates over the next few weeks. The final day to apply is June 23. And there are always plenty of other ways to support MIO by giving or by participating in events!
Help Close Out MIO’s $100k Campaign Today!
Today is the final day of our effort to raise $100k in 22 days. Thank you to all who have helped us raise nearly $70,000 already! Let’s close this out with love today!
