InhuMAINE This Summer: Saratoga Springs and a Return to Aroostook

This summer, InhuMAINE, the documentary Common Ground Friends produced about homelessness, addiction, and mental illness in Bangor, traveled to New York and is heading back to northern Maine.

Saratoga Springs, New York. On July 20, InhuMAINE was shown at the New York Public Welfare Association’s annual conference at the Saratoga Springs City Center, as part of a workshop called “From Bangor to Chenango: A View of Homelessness in the North and the Power to Change It.” After the film, director Rogan O’Donnell joined a panel with members of Chenango County’s Homeless Coalition: Daniel Auwarter, Commissioner of Chenango County Social Services; Jeff Chesebro of Catholic Charities of Chenango; Sarah Watson of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance; medical anthropologist Milica Milic-Kovacevic, Ph.D.; and Dustin Smietana, Undersheriff of the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office. Michael McMahon, Commissioner of Rensselaer County Social Services, moderated.

Back to Aroostook County. InhuMAINE first screened at the University of Maine at Presque Isle earlier this year, and Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library director Elyse Kiehn invited Rogan back. The library is hosting two free public screenings, today, Friday, July 31, at 5:30 p.m., and tomorrow, Saturday, August 1, at 10 a.m., in partnership with Homeless Services of Aroostook, AMHC, ACAP, and the City of Presque Isle’s outreach program. Non-perishable food donations will be collected at the door for people living unsheltered in the county.

Bring InhuMAINE to your community. Colleges, agencies, and community groups can book a screening and facilitated discussion at inhumaine.me.