Last updated October 15, 2025
1.0 Mission, Vision, and Principles
1.1 Mission
Our mission is to develop socialist parallel power in Midcoast Maine/Wabanaki Territory communities to replace capitalist systems through education, advocacy, and organization.
1.2 Vision
Our vision is to co-create viable alternatives to the current capitalist, imperialist, and classist systems, which will eventually render these obsolete. Through education, advocacy, and participatory community, we endeavor to build egalitarian systems that prioritize human needs over profit. By building solidarity, we can increase the safety and resilience of our communities and build regenerative systems.
1.3 Principles
We value life over profit. The practices and ideologies of capitalism, coloniality, racism, and bigotry infringe upon the agency of individuals, groups, and marginalized identities. Midcoast Solidarity strives to separate our survival needs from these oppressive systems.
Anti-Capitalist- All of our actions and work should reflect movement against capitalism and the expectations of a capitalist system. We work against the exploitation of the working class. De-centering capital as the currency that our organization uses allows members to find other forms of support within our community.
Anti-Imperialist - We stand against all imperialistic traits of dominance, extraction, and erasure.
Anti-Bigotry - Our organization and community are made up of a tapestry of different people with different beliefs. We stand together to combat bigotry and prejudice in our community. The prefix "Anti" implies actively combating internal and external bigotry. We acknowledge there will be different and sometime conflicting beliefs even within our organization. As long as there is open-mindedness and tolerance on all sides, these differences are what makes us all unique and stronger as community.
2.0 Solidarity
As a core principle, we agree to build solidarity with our fellow Midcoast Solidarity members, local community, and other organizations in our geographical area working towards liberation, because none of us are free until all of us are free.
Solidarity is sustained action that creates parallel power through direct support of our community. We recognize the interconnectedness of our lives, and at every opportunity we strive to protect, help, and enrich our fellow organizers, community members, and our ecosystem. While individual actions and choices are subject to constructive feedback and healthy conflict resolution, we agree to avoid unnecessary antagonization and degradation.
Solidarity is a verb and a social contract between community members. Action and follow through is required.
3.0 Area of Operation
We seek to organize and operate within the Midcoast community, stretching along the coast from the mouth of the Passagassawakeag river south to the Androscoggin river (enveloped by the settlements known as Belfast and Brunswick), and inland to I95.
4.0 Organizational Structure
Midcoast Solidarity is organized into groups called Circles. The members of each Circle will perform the entirety of the Circle's functions. Each Circle will manage and organize itself, train and educate its members, and plan and perform the tasks of the Circle. The intent is for the members working in that Circle to operate with autonomy in a non-hierarchical manner, and to be able to draw support from members outside their Circle. Members are welcome to join in as many or as few Circles as they have the time, energy, and capacity to join. You do not have to be part of a Circle to participate in their projects or activities.
The initial Circles within the organization are:
As we develop further projects, we expect to create project-specific Circles for projects that are large enough to require this level of effort. The operating parameters of the Steering Circle are defined below. The Organizational Circles (Book Club, Education, et al) will organize their circles as they choose, with some guidelines suggested below.
4.1 Steering Circle
The role of the Steering Circle is to help the organization navigate how to achieve the goals and to facilitate decision-making of the organization as a whole. This Steering Circle is not an authoritative body, but rather an advisor to the membership. Members agree to form an internal Steering Circle of at least three, but no more than nine members to aid in the coordination of meetings, projects, and research in the organization.
The role of the Steering Circle will include:
Steering Circle members will be volunteers agreed upon by consensus within the membership. Steering Circle members will be held fully accountable to the org with recall by consensus or vote available at all times. While there are no specific terms, Steering Circle members are encouraged to roll over frequently to prevent ossification and/or burnout. Steering Circle members are expected to engage in continual growth in their organization and community skills. Steering Circle members should be active members of the organization and participate in other projects.
Steering Circle meetings are open to all members, with limited participation for members outside the Circle for meeting efficiency. Steering Circle meeting notes are open to all members. Steering Circle Meetings, findings, decisions, and conduct will be subject to broader organization consensus with dedicated time at Org meetings to address them.
4.2 Organizational Circles
All Circles are made up of three to nine members that operate in a non-hierarchical manner to plan, coordinate, and accomplish the goal they are tasked with. Ultimately it is up to the members of a given Circle as to how they wish to divide roles and tasks. The Circle's chosen process should align with community culture agreements and be written down and agreed upon by all members of a Circle. An Organizational Circle does not limit non-Circle participation (i.e. the Book Club Circle runs the Book Club but many people, Members or community members, participate in the Book Club without being part of the Circle.)
All Circle members will be listed in a directory accessible to members to facilitate ease of information sharing. A separate document will record all current Circles and their self-determined scope.
5.0 Membership
All People in the Midcoast community are welcome to attend open meetings, work alongside our organization, and voice their ideas. Official Membership comes with additional requirements, expectations, exclusions, and privileges, which are outlined in this section.
5.1 Non-Member Participation and Involvement
Non-members can participate in groups and activities that the organization or a circle convenes, or who otherwise support organization initiatives. While Circles are confined to Members only, who anchor the group to the organization, Circles may set their own parameters around interacting, consulting, or working with non-members. This can include vetting participants, decision-making, communications mechanisms, and other areas, as long as these are not in violation of Midcoast Solidarity policies and agreements. The broader group/public is not allowed access to internal Midcoast Solidarity accounts, documents, and drives.
5.2 Official membership of the organization will be made up of individuals who:
5.3 Vetting Process for Membership
5.4 Membership Exclusions and Revocation:
All parties below may participate in projects or events but will be excluded from joining the organization because their membership would present an unacceptable risk to the organization:
Membership may be revoked if community agreements are breached. This will be handled with due diligence by a designated circle. In some cases, a restorative justice process will be followed, and in other cases a breach of community agreements may lead to long term expulsions or permanent removal.
5.5 Onboarding Process for Official Membership
The Onboarding process is to be conducted by two members of the Onboarding Circle to ensure onboarding continuity for all members. This onboarding process is expected to be two meetings: the vetting interview meeting and the onboarding meeting.
Check List:
6.0 Security
For the safety of our members, the organization, and the broader community, we agree to operate within the confines of the law in our capacity as an organization. We take the following steps to help protect the physical and information security of our members:
6.1 Security Protocol for Members
6.2 Designated Liaison / Communication Circle
Each event/action/ongoing project will have a designated liaison to the public coordinated by the Communication Circle. All questions, requests for comments, or information from media personnel should be directed to the liaison(s). This serves to reduce confusion, misinformation, and intentional or unintentional misrepresentation.
To protect ourselves from false prosecution, the organization and participating members agree not to speak with law enforcement or media in any capacity. Official statements will be made by the Communications Circle, the Steering Circle, or the designated liaison for the event.
7.0 Internal Culture
We recognize the interconnectedness of our lives. At every opportunity we strive to protect, help, and enrich the lives of our fellow organizers, community members, and the environment. We aim to work with our members, the broader community, and other organizations with commonality of purpose, respect, and courtesy. We as members agree to operate within the guidelines of our internal agreements around discussion, personal interactions, meeting procedures, and the development of a general culture. (Reference living document of Internal Culture)
8.0 Tasks and Projects to Advance the Cause
8.1 Education
In seeking to develop the broader radical and liberatory education of both organizers and the community, we will host workshops, classes, and study groups on history, theory, language, and practical skills. Education initiatives can be hosted and organized ourselves, or coordinated with already existing bodies like EMTs, local gardeners, chefs, etc.
Ideas/Examples
8.2 Mutual Aid
We will develop systems to secure the material needs of our broader community and organizing members. These mutual aid efforts can be specific one-time projects, hosting ongoing mutual aid networks, participating in existing mutual aid networks, and/or participating in charity. In many instances, it’s more advantageous to help existing networks than to start our own.
Ideas/Examples
8.3 Advocacy
8.31 Climate justice
We as an organization will pursue ecological justice in its many forms, such as mitigating climate change, preserving the well-being of all life, combating environmental damage, and holding those responsible for such damage accountable. We recognize the need to center at-risk communities in our pursuit of climate restoration, so we can find solutions that protect and value all communities.
8.32 Prison Abolition
We stand in total opposition to the prison industrial complex, and seek to enact forms of restorative justice for all. We especially seek liberatory justice for oppressed classes and political prisoners. This may take the form of advocacy, mutual aid, legal confrontation, and legislative action.
8.33 Decolonization
We stand for complete decolonization around the globe. We stand in solidarity with indigenous groups and activists, and will pursue the protection and enactment of treaty rights and ultimately complete indigenous sovereignty and land back.
8.4 Community Involvement - Promotion
In promoting the activities and mission of our organization, we can engage with various methods of community engagement. These exist to raise awareness, engage with our community, and raise money.
Ideas/examples
9.0 International Stance
As a locally focused community development organization, we limit our international stance to complete and total opposition to U.S. imperialism, whether it be political, economic, military, or otherwise. We stand in solidarity with local actions against the global effects of U.S. imperialism.