Event Title

Racial Justice in Maine State Policy: Understanding the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous, and Tribal Populations

Presenters

Rachel Talbot Ross
Maulian Dana
Donna M. Loring

Presenter Information

Rachel Talbot Ross, Assistant House Majority Leader, Maine House of Representatives
Maulian Dana, Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador
Donna M. Loring, Penobscot Nation Elder and former Representative, Maine State Legislature

Link to Event Website

https://library.une.edu/mwwc/home/workshops-events/donna-m-loring-lecture-series/

Start Date

6-10-2021 12:00 PM

End Date

6-10-2021 1:00 PM

Streaming Media

Description

The Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous, and Tribal Populations was established in 2019 to examine systemic racial disparities in Maine and advise all three branches of Maine government on public policy changes that would make racial equity a central consideration in Maine lawmaking. Why is the Commission needed? What has it accomplished thus far, and what urgent matters is it taking up this fall? Through informal conversation with Donna Loring and audience Q&A, the guest speakers will address these and other important questions.

Additional Presenter Information

Rachel Talbot Ross, Assistant House Majority Leader, Maine House of Representatives, is a ninth-generation Mainer who has dedicated her career to public service and social justice. In addition to serving as the City of Portland’s Director of Equal Opportunity and Multicultural Affairs for more than two decades, she led the NAACP in aine and founded several nonprofit organizations, including Maine Black Community Development, Maine Freedom Trails and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellows. Talbot Ross chaired the Maine State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights as well as the African American Collection of Maine, housed at the University of Southern Maine. Talbot Ross is currently serving her third term in the Maine House, representing the Portland neighborhoods of Parkside, Bayside, East Bayside, Oakdale and the University of Southern Maine campus. She serves the Democratic caucus as assistant House majority leader and is the first and only Black woman elected to the Maine Legislature and to legislative leadership.

Maulian Dana, Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador, was appointed by Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis in September 2017. As Ambassador, Dana is responsible to act as a representative of the Penobscot Nation and to serve as a liaison for the Nation at the local, state and federal levels of government to educate and advocate for policy and laws that impact and protect the Penobscot Nation’s sovereignty, culture, natural resources and the general welfare of the Penobscot people. Prior to serving as Ambassador, Dana served as an elected member of the Penobscot Tribal Council. Ambassador Dana grew up on Indian Island within the Penobscot Nation’s Reservation. She graduated from the University of Maine in Orono with a degree in political science.

Donna M. Loring, Penobscot Nation Elder and former Representative, Maine State Legislature, is an elder and former council member of the Penobscot Indian Nation and has held the position of the Nation’s Representative to the Maine State Legislature for over a decade. She recently served as the Senior Advisor of Tribal Affairs to Maine Governor Janet Mills. She holds an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Maine-Orono and ‘The Alumni Career Recognition’ Award from the University of Maine Alumni Association. She was recently recognized with the Annual “Courage is Contagious” Award from the Maine School of Law.