How we can move forward together
In 2019, the Maine legislature enacted a law to create a Permanent Commission on The Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations. The Commission works with state agencies and other stakeholders to examine information on a variety of social and economic factors that impact racial, ethnic, indigenous, and tribal populations in the state. It is authorized to promote, carry out, and coordinate programs designed to improve opportunities and eliminate disparities for racial and ethnic populations in the state and to suggest legislation and consult with the Governor and other state and federal government officials. Maine Equal Justice strongly supported the creation of the Commission and will help represent issues related to poverty that the Commission takes on.
UPDATE: In September of 2020, the Permanent Commission released a report recommending the Legislature pass legislation that combats racial disparities in Maine. The report contains an immediate proposal to pass 26 specific bills should the 129th Legislature reconvene for a special session, also noting 20 bills that could combat disparities with some additional work. The report also lists recommendations for future legislatures with the goal of making racial equity a central consideration in Maine lawmaking. The full report can be found online at this link, and a one-pager is attached.
Also in 2019, for the first time ever, Maine legislators came together for important trainings to move the needle on racial justice education and policy in our state. These included sessions focused on racial justice, implicit bias, and tribal and state relations. This should be the first of many steps to educate policymakers about their significant role in addressing systemic racism and reducing persistent disparities based on race in Maine.
Targeting and shrinking disparities through policy change
Maine can be a place where communities of color have an equal chance to get ahead, but only if we come together to target disparities and work to correct unjust policies and eliminate barriers to success. Maine Equal Justice aims to identify and measure disparities and to advance policies that target these disparities and proactively work to shrink them. We have developed a Racial Equity Assessment Tool based on the assessment created by the Government Alliance on Racial Equity (GARE). GARE’s toolkit provides some helpful guidance on how to assess, advance, and implement policies that will create more equity in our public policies and laws.
Access to data helps to effectively track and reduce inequities. Overall, data on Maine’s population broken out by race, ethnicity, country of origin, etc. is very limited. If we are going to address the inequities that lead to such disparate outcomes, we must change this. The Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations will be an effective tool for making that change. Maine Equal Justice continues to explore new ways to access qualitative and quantitative data when it comes to race.
What is LD 2, An Act To Require the Inclusion of Racial Impact Statements in the Legislative Process?
“Racial impact statements” are a powerful tool for addressing racial disparities through law making. They give policymakers fact-based background information that allows them to think through the impacts of future laws on racial, indigenous, and tribal populations.
Racism is a problem in Maine that shows up when we look at the data in systems like education, health care, housing, employment, income, wealth, criminal justice, and more. But looking at the data and discussing race has never been a central part of crafting legislation in Maine. LD 2 could create a process to start those conversations and to analyze racial impact when bills are being considered.
Fact Sheet on LD 2 from the Coalition on Racial Equity
Maine Equal Justice testifies in favor of LD 2
Equitable Access to Maine’s Economic Security Programs
Across Maine, immigrants are building new lives for their families and strengthening our communities. From Madawaska to Kittery and Lewiston to Millbridge, immigrants who have made their home here are making our state stronger. Immigrants are essential to Maine's future, leaders in our communities, and important contributors to a strong economy—it’s both a moral and economic imperative that we make good on our nation’s promise of fair treatment and invest in our shared future.
We have an overly complicated immigration system and some people need help to rebuild their lives after fleeing persecution, war, and violence. Others may need some support when they fall on hard times or face a crisis. Immigrants who have made Maine their home should have access to Maine’s economic security programs when they need some help, just like other Maine residents.
In 1996, the Maine Legislature voted nearly unanimously to ensure access to economic security programs for immigrants. But in 2011, the LePage Administration barred many immigrants from accessing basic supports. As a result, many people, including asylum seekers, are no longer able to access health coverage through MaineCare and it is harder to access food assistance (SNAP) or help with basic needs for children (TANF). With these restrictions, the safety net all but disappeared for hundreds of people—almost all non-white—solely because of when and how they came to live in Maine.
Maine Equal Justice believes that immigrants should have equal access to economic security and opportunity and we will continue to advance equitable treatment of all Maine people, regardless of how long they have called Maine home, in our public policies and laws.
“With the intervention of Robyn and other people who could advocate with our situation...if there was no such kind of help and support I don't know what I would be doing today.” – Sebastian Bukuru
