Support Theater and Art for Social Change - Make a Gift to MIO
MIO staff and artists. Photo by Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal.
Dear Friends,
This has been a year filled with loss and grief both locally and globally.
We’re writing with deep gratitude for your engagement with Maine Inside Out (MIO), and with hopeful anticipation of the impact of your support this fall. Your contributions support powerful original theater and art created by young MIO artists in schools, in prisons, and in the community.
One of the most potent moments this year was the performance of “Courage Beyond Control,” an original play by young adult artists incarcerated at Mountain View Correctional Facility in Charleston, Maine, and featured in MIO’s latest short film. The visitation room was filled with family members of the artists, MIO community members, and correctional officers. The artists shared a collaborative performance about the ways that control and courage impact our choices, relationships, social systems, and what we believe is possible, drawing the audience into an emotional and courageous dialogue. They invited all of us to meet the challenges of this moment with “Courage Beyond Control.”
This work facilitated by MIO’s talented theater team is made possible by our supporters (like you!) who are building a world of courage, trust, and connection that attends to the systemic roots of harm. In this time of immense grief here in Lewiston and beyond, MIO’s approach shifts power and inspires new perspectives, creating openings for change and healing. Our model is built on supporting system-impacted leaders and artists with peer support, leadership development, and mutual aid.
Hundreds of people have engaged with MIO over the past year: in public events like our three open mics, four middle school student performances, two Mountain View performances, and our Juneteenth community event; and in our 12 theater workshops for educators and other groups, four community lunches for system-impacted participants, and three art share events bringing together MIO program alumni and middle school students. “Courage Beyond Control” is an invitation to you - our community - to show up with courage for this work for change. Together, we can create new ways forward.
Will you make a year-end gift or set up monthly donations to support system-impacted artists working for social change?
Thank you for being part of our work to build a world where everyone matters and belongs.
In Community,
Margot Fine
Co-Executive Director
Bruce King
Co-Executive Director
Opportunities to support MIO’s community partners:
