Deepening our Commitment + Announcing Fall Projects
Summer Reflections from our Co-Executive Directors
Staff, board, community artists, and loved ones celebrated Noah’s 10 years of leadership at Maine Inside Out as he transitioned out of his role.
After a busy end to Maine Inside Out’s Spring season, we’re back from our July period of rest feeling refreshed, deeply connected, and ready for the work ahead. We took time to pause on our regular MIO activity to spend time with family and in our communities. But during this period, the obvious need and call for MIO’s work was ever present. With the shooting death of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero by an ICE agent and former Maine Department of Corrections officer, and continued violence amongst young people in our home community of Lewiston, calls for more connected communities and alternative ways to respond to harm rang clear. We move forward with deepened commitment and awareness that the work ahead will require participation from all of us.
A bolstering theme of our reflections over the summer has been how much Maine Inside Out’s work is tied to community efforts across the country around justice system reform and ending mass incarceration.
A note from Joseph:
“This summer was amazing because I had the opportunity to attend a retreat in Puerto Rico as part of the Galaxy Leader Fellowship. It was exciting to be connected to system-impacted leaders and artists from across the country. I got the opportunity to learn from ex-political prisoners and other freedom fighters. I was in awe of the jaw-dropping amazing work of these humans. It made me realize the work we’re doing here in Maine isn’t conducted in isolation. It’s connected to work happening all across the country, and that work is rooted in love.”
And so, rested and ready, we picked right back up!
During the past two weeks, we activated MIO’s tools for social change by sharing original theater and film in the Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center and Bolduc Correctional Facility, connecting with staff and people who are currently incarcerated as audience members to engage in laughter, connection, and deep dialogue. This was also a chance to introduce our fall playmaking workshops in both facilities and invite people to sign up. Stay tuned for a chance to participate with these projects through the public shows in late November and early December.
This week, enthusiastic groups inside each facility began the process to create their own plays. We played, made theater, and enjoyed some very delicious cookies together!
Back home in Lewiston, we will hold theater workshops this fall with Lewiston youth in partnership with several other local community organizations. Our model for working with youth is designed to deepen relationships across the community in order to support long-term systems change that addresses the root causes of violence in our communities.
Thank you, as always, for being part of this work with us.
Joseph Jackson and Chiara Liberatore
Maine Inside Out Co-Executive Directors
Trainings with Jericho Circle and Theatre of the Oppressed NYC
Left: Theatre of the Oppressed NYC training. Right: Jericho Circle training.
To kick off our work this month, we’ve taken part in multiple trainings:
MIO staff and some of our board members participated in a powerful training with Jericho Circle, working on our practices for co-facilitation and building strong group containers. Big thanks to Damien, Michael, Ham, and Louise for sharing space and expertise with us.
And MIO Inside Program Coordinator Mandy Huotari participated in a Forum Theatre Intensive with Julian Boal hosted by Theatre of the Oppressed NYC. Forum Theatre combines the power of devising stories that reveal systemic oppression, and hosting the on-stage dialogue that turns spectators into active “spect-actors.” MIO theater projects have drawn from the Theatre of the Oppressed model since our founding.
Family Day
Maine Inside Out’s annual Family Day this month brought together current and past staff, board members, community artists, and loved ones for an afternoon of connection, celebration, good food, and shared joy. Gratitude to Joseph and Joelle Jackson for hosting!
Inside Prison Theater Projects
The 2026 MIO Creative Ensemble performed the original theater piece, “The Big Yes,” at the Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center and Bolduc Correctional Facility to kick off our theater projects and invite participation.
This week we launched theater projects inside Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center and Bolduc Correctional Facility. At each facility, incarcerated artists are coming together to collaboratively create and share original theater rooted in their lived experiences. The projects are designed to build peer support, prepare for re-entry, invite the public into dialogue, and drive systemic change.
Save the dates for performances and dialogue with the artists!
Monday November 30, 6-7:30pm
Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center, Windham
Tuesday December 8, 6-7:30pm
Bolduc Correctional Facility, Warren
Community Reentry Support Connects to Inside Projects
Adult Reentry Community supporting legislative action in Augusta.
The pilot phase of the MIO-MPAC Adult Reentry Community Group is complete, and the group continues to hold weekly drop-in gatherings at MIO’s site in Lewiston for peer support, shared meals, artistic expression, and civic engagement.
As MIO launches theater projects inside reentry centers this fall, participants returning to the community have the opportunity to come to these drop-in gatherings. Co-facililitators Stacy Perez (MIO) and A. Cuba Jackson (MPAC) will be joining once a month for MIO’s theater workshops inside the Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center and Bolduc Correctional Facility to create connections to the reentry community group.
Partner Spotlight
Fowsia Musse of Maine Community Integration on support needed for Lewiston youth.
