Janet T. Mills, Governor of Maine, stepped up to join 39 other Maine women survivors of domestic abuse in the bold Finding Our Voices campaign to spread awareness. The first Finding Our Voice window-banner featuring the Governor was posted today at the Camden Town Office. 

Gov. Mills posed for her portrait in the Blaine House and provided this quote for use on her Finding Our Voices banner:: “Domestic Abuse affects everyone. Years ago, a man I loved threatened my life. Escape from violence is possible.””

Patrisha McLean, president/founder of the Camden-based nonprofit Finding Our Voices, said: “The message from Governor Mills is just what everyone in Maine needs to know: Domestic abuse DOES happen to successful, smart women and it IS possible to get out. Saying something is the key and that is what our bold banner/bookmark campaign, now amplified with the powerful voice of Maine’s first female governor, is all about.”

McLean added that the Governor’s voice comes at a time when stress and isolation from both the holidays and COVID: “are surely making it even more dangerous than usual for the countless women and children across our state who are trapped with angry and controlling family members. We are grateful to Janet Mills for taking a decisive stand to prioritize domestic abuse and domestic abuse victims."

The Finding Our Voices campaign features Maine women standing proud and speaking loud, with their faces, names, and experiences of abuse, to erase shame and stigma for the victim and bring education and awareness to the general community. Participants range in age from 18 to 81 and include a doctor, nurses, a prisoner, teachers, college students, artists, and business owners. 

Finding Our Voices has brought domestic abuse into the light in more than 50 Maine towns with more than 2,000 huge banners in downtown business windows, and more than 25,000 bookmarks distributed in food pantries, by police on their domestic violence calls, and in public libraries, bookstores, and all manner of retail and health and beauty establishments. 

The survivor-powered, domestic abuse awareness/prevention posters and bookmarks are now going into high schools, colleges and universities as well as into immigrant/refugee communities. 

Finding Our Voices received a Maine Humanities Council grant to expand its sister-to-sister book giveaway program and operates a fund to help women get and stay out of dangerous relationships and get and keep their children safe as well.  

McLean hosts a public DV-themed online book club, and both a radio show and podcast featuring conversations with survivors. Finding Our Voices has received two national awards for its banner campaign and community art/poetry exhibits. 

McLean said that she got the idea to ask Governor Mills to appear on the group’s outreach when Mills spoke publicly about a previous boyfriend holding a gun to her head.

“I thought, ‘OK that is two governors of Maine in a row who have gone through domestic violence,’” she said.  “We need everyone in Maine to know how much of this is all around us, and how it affects everyone.’ And this is exactly what is being accomplished with our governor now appearing as a survivor on our bold and broad outreach.” 

McLean is a photojournalist and 29-year survivor of physical, emotional, financial, and sexual abuse in her marriage.  In July 2021, she was named one of 21 leaders for the 21st century by Women’s E-news. 

McLean said: “I have been bowled over by the graciousness of Governor Mills and every one of her staff members who made this milestone banner happen. I am proud and grateful to have a governor who not only ‘gets’ domestic abuse but is actively doing something to end it.”