Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations asks for CARES Act funding

On June 30, members of the Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations addressed the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs of the Maine Legislature about the $1.25 billion in federal CARES Act funding Maine has received, and the urgent need to direct funds to communities of color in a way that is proportional to those most impacted by COVID-19.

In Maine and across the country, racial and ethnic minorities have been disproportionately affected by the new coronavirus. In Maine, where fewer than 2% of the population is Black, upwards of 27% of positive COVID-19 cases are among Black people and 33% are among People of Color. Also addressing the committee at the invitation of the Permanent Commission were Mufalo Chitam of Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, and Kathy Kilrain del Rio of Maine Equal Justice.

“It is essential to name that in Maine we have a dual pandemic – coronavirus and systemic racism. Maine must admit that racism is a public health emergency,” said Interim Chair of the Commission, Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland. “Funds from the CARES act must go directly to the communities.”

“Investment is urgently needed, and overdue,” said Ian Yaffe, Executive Director of Mano en Mano, and a member of the Commission.

“You are using a traditional system to serve an untraditional community. It is important to listen, to hear, to give us the [financial] tools we need to help our people. We know our people. We know ourselves,” said Chitam.

Governor Janet Mills announced on June 30 that she has appointed Reverend Kenneth I. Lewis, Jr., Senior Pastor at Green Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Portland, and Isaiah Reid of Kingfield, a student at University of Maine at Farmington, as her representatives to the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations. That announcement follows the Governor’s decision to dedicate $50,000 in funding from the Governor’s Contingent Account to support the work of the Commission. The Governor hopes the Commission will help the Legislature more fully understand racial disparities in Maine and how they can be addressed.

“I am honored that Mr. Reid and Reverend Lewis have accepted these appointments and I firmly believe that their perspectives will contribute to the work of this important Commission,” said Governor Mills. “I look forward to following the Commission’s work in the weeks and months ahead as together we identify and try to address inequities so that Maine can be a place of equal opportunity for all.”

“I am grateful to Governor Mills for this appointment and opportunity to serve,” said Reverend Lewis.  I look forward to the critical work of this Commission to promote and develop equitable opportunities for Maine’s Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.”

“I would like to thank Governor Mills for offering me the opportunity to serve as a member of this commission,” said Isaiah Reid. “I am eager to begin working with the commission, government, and the people of Maine to together create a state that will equally represent all the people who call it home.”

 Governor Mills is authorized to appoint two individuals to the Commission: a member of the public representing the faith-based community and a member of the public representing youth.

 Serving as Governor Mills’ representative of the faith-based community is Reverend Kenneth I. Lewis, Jr, who has served as Pastor of Green Memorial African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Zion Church since 2003. Founded in 1891, the Green Memorial A.M.E Zion Church is the oldest historically African American congregation in the State of Maine. The A.M.E. Zion Church building was the preeminent cultural center for the Black community in southern Maine during the twentieth century. Reverend Lewis currently serves on the Police Citizens Review Subcommittee and previously served as a board member of the United Way of Greater Portland and chaired its Diversity Cabinet, and served on the City of Portland’s Community Development Block Grant Allocation Committee.

 Serving as Governor Mills’ representative of Maine youth is Isaiah Reid. Reid is a senior and Dean’s List student-athlete at the University of Maine at Farmington. A native of Kingfield, Maine and 2017 graduate of Mt. Blue High School, Reid represented Maine in Lake Placid, New York at the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association Nationals in March and was named Student-Athlete of the Week for Men’s Nordic Skiing in February and for Men’s Cross Country in November of last year. Reid recently wrote about his experience with racism in Maine in the Bangor Daily News.

Signed into law by Governor Mills last year, the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations seeks to promote, implement and coordinate programs that create and improve opportunities and incorporate the goal of eliminating disparities for historically disadvantaged racial, indigenous and tribal populations in Maine. However, the Commission was only appropriated $500 to support its work and it requested additional funding from the Governor in a June 18 letter. In providing the $50,000 in one-time funding to help jumpstart the Commission, the Governor also called on the Legislature to provide a sustained annual source of funding for the Commission to be able to continue its work.