Fall Updates from MIO + Partners
MIO on the Air
Leif Erickson, Joseph Jackson, and Chiara Liberatore at the Frank FM studio.
Maine Inside Out Co-Executive Directors Joseph Jackson and Chiara Liberatore were interviewed by Leif Erickson for the Community Connections radio show, which aired on September 13 on stations across southern, central, and midcoast Maine. Listen to the 19-minute interview here!
Welcome New Board Members
From left: Moe Beaulieu, Atiim Boykin, and Jeremy Litchfield.
We are thrilled to welcome three new members of Maine Inside Out’s Board of Directors.
Moe Beaulieu deeply believes in the power of connection, storytelling, education, and building community. After 12 years in outdoor and leadership education, she transitioned back to her classroom roots as an English teacher for multilingual learners. This blossomed into her current role in Lewiston Adult Education as a school counselor and teacher.
Atiim Boykin is a mental health clinician and multidisciplinary artist with over twenty years of experience across the criminal justice, mental health, and nonprofit sectors.
Jeremy Litchfield is the Vision Steward of Heart-Strong, a nonprofit centered around a simple belief. The world works better, for everyone and everything in it, when more of us are pulled by love than controlled by fear.
Our Theory of Change
Last year, Maine Inside Out had the opportunity to work with The Bridgespan Group to more fully articulate our theory of change, and we are thrilled to share the result of that work.
Our theory of change is rooted in our vision. MIO envisions communities and systems that see each person’s humanity, our shared connection, and our place in the natural world. Together, we are transforming a culture of punishment and isolation to one that thrives in connection, dignity, and community-led accountability.
Learn more about how our programming is designed for impact:
Inside Prison Theater Project Update
Left: Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center. Right: Bolduc Correctional Facility.
MIO theater projects with artists incarcerated inside Bolduc Correctional Facility and the Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center are going strong. Over the past month, participants inside each facility have been sharing stories and playing theater games that are building trust and creating the foundation for plays that each group will create together.
In their own words:
“I noticed that I opened up more today, and that we all did.”
“I can see that even though we come from different lives, we are all grappling with the same problems. We are all connected.”
Join us for original performances and dialogue with these artists:
Monday November 30, 6:00-7:30pm
Southern Maine Women’s Reentry Center, Windham
Tuesday December 8, 6:00-7:30pm
Bolduc Correctional Facility, Warren
To attend a show:
Email admin@maineinsideout.org by November 12 with your full legal name, date of birth, and which show(s) you’d like to attend. Your spot will be confirmed once the Maine Department of Corrections approves your visit.
College student volunteers to co-facilitate theater projects in 2027:
Two Bowdoin College students have signed on for independent studies co-faciliating MIO theater projects inside prisons beginning in January. We are thrilled about this volunteer collaboration. We are seeking up to two more student volunteers for 2027 - contact us to learn more!
Lewiston Youth Workshops Continue
MIO project facilitator Stacy Perez with youth theater workshop participants.
Maine Inside Out’s latest series of youth workshops, held in Lewiston in collaboration with Somali Bantu Community Association, have been engaging 10-12 teens in theater games and trust building activities. Youth participants have brought high energy and laughter as they learn to use theater as a tool for communicating beyond words. They’re bringing in topics they’re most focused on: joys and stressors, mental health, and balancing schoolwork and social challenges.
Partner Spotlight: Youth-LED Justice
Youth-LED Justice uses restorative justice and youth-led programming to support young people navigating systems involvement. They are incredible partners in supporting youth in Lewiston. Follow their social media for the latest updates.
Fiscal Sponsorship Spotlight: Sunlight Media Collective
Sunlight Media Collective has been fiscally sponsored by Maine Inside Out since 2023. They recently welcomed two new team members to the Collective: Katie Fletcher (Mi’kmaq, multimedia artist, journalist) recently assisted with coverage of Juniper Ridge Landfill’s proposed expansion. Mike Sockabasin (Passamaquoddy, director, videographer) was a key videographer on recent coverage of the proposed underwater AI Data Center off of Eastport in Passamaquoddy Bay. Learn more about Sunlight Media Collective’s latest projects.
Book Release: Let Me Correct Myself by E.C. Jay
Maine poet E.C. Jay’s book is now available through The Telling Room, featuring poetry written while he was incarcerated in juvenile detention for two years. He recently found a passion for writing and is using it to navigate his process of self-discovery. He would like his debut book of poetry, written through The Telling Room’s Young Emerging Authors program, to inspire others, especially other youth impacted by the corrections system. Read more and order the book here.
Norma Wong in Maine October 14
We are looking forward to being part of the conversation with Norma Kaweloku Wong, Zen teacher, political strategist, and author of Who We Are Becoming Matters, in Lewiston on Wednesday, October 14th, from 6:30-8:00pm. Learn more and reserve a spot.
2025 Impact Report
The “Broken Clock” finale at SPACE in December 2025.
2025 was a year of prioritizing internal culture, organizational stability, and vibrant, powerful programming. As a staff team, we worked to match our project work and budget decisions to a dramatically changing national and local landscape.
We’re proud to share the story of what we accomplished together last year. From the “Broken Clock” tour to open mics, from youth projects to public dialogue, the numbers are only part of the story. Take a look and see the impact that our community of supporters made possible.
