A traveling memorial honoring lives lost to substance use, inspiring hope, and encouraging change returned to Lewiston, Maine, on September 18-19, 2026.
After successfully bringing the Black Poster Project to our state for the first time last year, Spurwink partnered with the Maine Humanities Council and Maine Community Foundation to once again display the project and engage audiences with speakers and performers. This year, we expanded the event into a two-day program, inviting students to attend on Friday alongside the organization Students Empowered to End Dependency (SEED) and opening the project to the public on Saturday.
The event drew more than 600 community members together to honor lives lost and have difficult but important conversations about the impact of substance use on our community.
The Experience
Walking into Pathway Vineyard Church in Lewiston, people saw more than 1,000 posters honoring lost loved ones. During the formal program, they heard Scottish bagpipes played by James Thibodeau, a rendition of “Amazing Grace” and “Taps” by bugler and Sergeant Joel Morin of the 195th Maine Army National Guard, and striking musical performances by Shawna Haley-Bear, Christie Stroud, Tom Doucette, and Favor Kabwe.
As attendees walked through the memorial, they read the names and life stories of individuals who lost their lives to substance use. These individuals hailed from all backgrounds and were of all ages.
On site, counselors provided assistance and support to attendees, answered questions, and connected them with mental health resources.
Attendees also heard from Dee Gillen, the project’s founder, and other Black Poster Project staff. In addition, parents, family, and friends of those who lost their lives to substance use shared their stories, including Stephanie Gelinas, a parent who lost her son to overdose. Attendees listened to speakers including Gordon Smith, State of Maine Director of Opioid Response; Jeff Harmon, City of Auburn Mayor; Jenniver Edwards, City of Auburn Public Health Manager; and Catherine Ryder, Spurwink Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives.
Why The Black Poster Project?
The display provoked attendees to think deeply about the human impact of addiction. Its goals were to challenge assumptions, reduce stigma, and foster healing by transforming grief into awareness, prevention, and hope. The posters themselves serve as a powerful visual reminder that substance use affects real families, real communities, and real lives. It’s not just about numbers and statistics.
Founded by Dee Gillen after she lost her son to overdose, the Black Poster Project travels across the eastern seaboard. “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.”
Support for Students
It is particularly important to emphasize the impact of addiction to young people. Research shows that when young people avoid substance use, the risk of developing an addiction when they are older is greatly decreased.
To support prevention, counselors and support staff made themselves available to local students attending the event on Friday. They helped facilitate productive discussions, provide emotional support, and aid in student reflection. The event offered a safe space for students to experience the program and the silent memorial.
Students also heard from Dave Packhem, Founder and CEO of SEED, and Izzy, a SEED student presenter. SEED’s mission is to reduce substance use among Maine students by engaging them in learning opportunities and messaging campaigns. They work to give students the tools they need to protect their mental health and make choices that strengthen their futures.
Scott Gosselin, Drug Intelligence Officer, Maine, for New England HIDTA, also spoke to students.
Thank You to Our Supporters
Spurwink is grateful for the support of the Maine Humanities Council and the Kay E. Dopp Fund of the Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF).
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.
