MIO-MPAC Adult Re-entry Community Group

Maine Inside Out (MIO) and Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition (MPAC) have launched a new pilot program in 2026, entering a new phase that builds on the robust peer support networks that each organization has built over many years. The MIO-MPAC Adult Re-entry Community Group welcomes adults ages 18+ who are in re-entry after incarceration to come together weekly at MIO’s site in Lewiston for peer support, artistic expression, and civic engagement. 

MIO has a long history and expertise in working with system-impacted youth and young adults to create original theater to build strong peer communities and initiate social change. MPAC has a long history and expertise in working with system-impacted adults to advocate for policy change. Both organizations work inside and outside of correctional facilities and provide holistic re-entry support through peer mentorship, emergency funds, and personal advocacy. 

This collaboration brings together MIO and MPAC staff and adult communities to engage in peer support, art, and advocacy projects. This pilot program is a scalable model for re-entry support that works to address structural barriers to re-entry while supporting individuals to achieve personal goals, connect with an affinity-based community, and develop personal leadership. 

Participants include longtime MIO and MPAC community members as well as people joining in the early stages of re-entry, coming together to share food, stories, and resources, and to create change together. 

Contact us for more information or to get involved.