Community in Action
The art of solidarity
In the face of tragedy and injustice, art can provide a pathway for healing and a catalyst for change. Around the state, artists of all kinds have been finding creative ways to put their passions to work for Maine’s immigrant justice movement. Thank you to all the artists and community members continuing to come together to create art, support each other, and stand alongside immigrant communities in Maine.
Following the murder of Johan in Biddeford, three local artists, Ryan Adams, Rachel Gloria Adams, and Erica Sedler, collaborated to paint a mural to honor and commemorate Johan’s life. The mural, depicting Johan with his 3-year-old daughter surrounded by flowers, has brought the community together in grief and in protest.
Here are a few of the many ways artists and musicians have been using art to resist injustice, build community, and directly support ILAP’s work:
Local author Eleanor Morse was driven by anguish during Trump’s first term to begin writing a novel, This Foreign Land, that follows families separated at the southern border. Eleanor launched her novel this summer and has been generously donating a portion of the proceeds from her book events to ILAP.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick closed out its 2025-2026 Concerts for a Cause season with $10,949 raised across nine performances, split between Oasis Free Clinics and ILAP. Susan Michaud, chairperson of the Concert Committee said, “This season’s charity choices were unanimous. The services that ILAP and Oasis provide are critical during these challenging times.”