Opening Doors in Lewiston

Watch MIO's new film about the history of our Lewiston group (est. 2015)
and our vision to open a community site in 2021:

MIO performs "Unspoken Truth" at the Kennedy Park Block Party in June 2019. The film features Adan Abdi, Bashir Matan, Bruce King, Mouamed Mouamed, and Tyler Jackson. Thank you to Alex Sutula for editing the film (check out his work at https://acsutula.com).

A Vision for Community Sites

We are thrilled to announce that this year MIO is opening doors to a community site in Lewiston!

MIO is built on a sense of togetherness; whether “inside” or “outside” we can transform social conditions when we see each other’s humanity. MIO started 12 years ago creating plays “inside” Long Creek Youth Development Center. In 2014 we formed “outside” community groups where young leaders use art to advocate for communities where everyone matters and belongs. We built a bridge from a culture of punishment to a world without prisons. Our next step is to invest deeply in MIO youth leadership to realize this vision in their communities. We will open physical sites in each community with MIO leadership over time, starting with a Pilot Site in Lewiston in 2021.

The MIO Lewiston group was founded in 2015. Since then, our Lewiston group has met at Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services (MEIRS), Grace St. Recovery Services, Recovery Connections of Maine - thank you for hosting and supporting us! We are thrilled to open a home in Lewiston and look forward to building with all the people and organizations we’ve met along the way, and forming new relationships too.

“I think it can be a place where people can come around and feel like part of a family whether it's creating art, poetry, dialogue, and theater or just coming here and seeking support, whether it's from Maine Inside Out or the upcoming leaders of the community. A place where people can just be themselves.”

- Mouamed Mouamed

Upcoming Events:

March 23, 2021 5:30-7pm - TONIGHT!

Bruce King, MIO Co-Executive Director

along with Indigo Arts Alliance & Sunlight Media Collective

Maine Initiatives Racial Justice and The Arts panel, facilitated by Samaa Abdurraqib. Register here

April 28, 2021, More info to come

Lewiston Virtual Open Mic, thanks to Andrucki and King Law Offices for being a sponsor!Want to become an event sponsor for MIO's April or June open mics? Get in touch!

In the next few months, we’ll be sharing more information about MIO history and how we got here, how we chose Lewiston for the pilot site, and our collaborative process to design and open the Lewiston community site. Stay tuned for more details on the MIO Lewiston Site and please get in touch!