With the support of the Maine Humanities Council and Maine Community Foundation, Spurwink is bringing the Black Poster Project (BPP) back to the Greater Lewiston-Auburn area and expanding the event into a two-day program, held September 18–19, 2026, with Friday open to students only, and Saturday open to the general public.
About The Black Poster Project
The BPP is a national addiction and overdose awareness initiative, displaying hundreds of posters honoring loved ones who lost their lives to substance use. Attendees walk through the silent memorial, reading the names and life stories of more than 900 individuals of all ages and backgrounds. The BPP engages us deeply with the human impact of addiction—it’s an experience that challenges assumptions, reduces stigma, and fosters healing. The project exists to honor lives lost and transform grief into awareness, prevention, and hope. It creates a powerful visual reminder that addiction affects real families, real communities, and real lives—not statistics.
Founded by Dee Gillen after she lost her son to overdose, the BPP travels nationwide. “The purpose of this project is not to make you sad,” Gillen states. “It is to help you understand what addiction is, how it happened to our family, how it can happen to you or your family, what to look for, and where to get help.”
Last year, Spurwink brought the BPP to Maine for the first time, drawing more than 300 community members and receiving positive responses. After the event, many Maine families requested to include their loved ones, and we anticipate many more posters honoring Mainers this year.
Event Details
On Friday, September 18, Spurwink is partnering with Students Empowered to End Dependency (SEED) to bring Maine students to the event, with counselors and support staff present to facilitate discussion, provide emotional support, and aid student reflection. The September 18 event is not open to the general public, so we can offer a safe space for our students to experience the silent memorial.
On Saturday, September 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the event will be open to the general public. On both days, counseling assistance will be provided onsite to offer support, answer questions, and connect attendees with resources. The BPP will also include presentations from family members who have lost loved ones, the founder of the BPP, and will feature Gordon Smith, Maine’s Director of Opioid Response. The formal program will run from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Thank You to Our Supporters
We are so grateful for the support of the Maine Humanities Council. Maine Humanities Grants distribute funding to Maine-based humanities programs and projects that involve broad public outreach, well-developed humanities content, strong participation from experts, and robust support from partners in the community.
In addition, we owe great thanks to the Kay E. Dopp Fund of the Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF). MaineCF supports projects and organizations focused on making communities stronger.
The people featured in the Black Poster Project are our friends, siblings, co-workers, and neighbors. Maine has been deeply affected by the opioid and substance use epidemics. We have made significant progress, but there is still much work to be done. By honoring the lives we’ve lost and creating space for dialogue, we hope to foster resilience and support a community striving toward recovery.
