Maine Inside Out

Maine Inside Out is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2008 and headquartered in Portland, Maine. With a team of three employees, the organization focuses on utilizing the power of theater to promote transformative justice. Maine Inside Out's primary program involves facilitating theater programs at Maine's juvenile correctional facility, Long Creek Youth Development Center, in collaboration with incarcerated youth. Since 2014, the organization has expanded its reach to include community organizing and theater workshops for young people re-entering society after incarceration. These programs aim to improve outcomes for these youth through community engagement, peer and adult support, advocacy, leadership development, and practical skill-building. The organization's approach is deeply rooted in the principles of Augusto Boal's Theater of the Oppressed and Paolo Freire's critical pedagogy. Maine Inside Out's workshops encourage a collaborative and creative process where participants explore the root causes of oppression, both internal and external, and develop a powerful voice to engage their communities in dialogue about social change. To learn more about Maine Inside Out's mission and programs, visit their website at maineinsideout.org.