Dear Maine policymaker,

The pandemic laid bare underlying problems and inequities in our systems and laws. Things will not and should not be the same following COVID-19. There is no going back to what was and our communities call for better than this - we must see this moment as an opportunity to set a new path forward. This moment is an opportunity to help families regain lost ground, and to build a more resilient future where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. Our new normal must be more equitable and more just.

Responding to and recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic will require policy reforms that fix the underlying problems in our economy, systems, and laws. Rather than pursuing these reforms in silos, we've come together to support a shared Vision that spans agendas and constituencies to look holistically at the system and the policy changes that will move us toward an Equitable Maine.

We must reimagine systems and policies in light of COVID-19 and the inequities it has laid bare. The crises we face demand bold, long-term investment and systemic reform. We must address racial equity, income inequality, healthcare, education, housing, our environment, democracy reform, workers’ rights, and more. Preserving the status quo or tinkering around the edges will not meet the demands of this moment. Had the systems and policies that existed prior to the pandemic been more equitable, there would have been far less harm. This is a time to take stock, learn from the pandemic, and work toward and invest in systemic change. Our actions as a society, as a state, and as individuals can move us closer to our shared vision of justice and equality for all.

Please sign on to support our Vision for an Equitable Maine.

Please use this vision to help guide and inform your public policy decisions to help Maine recover from the pandemic -- and to come back better than before.

Please do all you can to advance systemic change that moves us toward a more just and equitable Maine.

Thank you.