Maine Reckoning: Portland newsmaker Jill Duson

February 13, 2022

Maine Reckoning reflects on the lives of Black Mainers since the George Floyd murder, asking a key question: Has anything changed? Episode two features Jill Duson, a respected, long-time leader in Portland government, social policy and politics. ‘It’s important to take action, not credit,’ Duson says.

The Maine Reckoning podcast from The Maine Monitor reflects on the lives of Black Mainers since the George Floyd murder, asking a key question: Has anything changed? Graphic by Olivia Martin.

Has life changed for Black citizens in Maine since George Floyd’s murder? If so, in what ways?

Those questions are at the heart of interviewer Tori Lyn’s podcast with Jill Duson, who serves on the Maine Human Rights Commission and spent nearly two decades on the Portland City Council. She was the first Black woman ever elected to the council. She also served as mayor of Maine’s largest city.

The Maine Monitor will produce more episodes of Maine Reckoning throughout 2022. We thank the Goldfarb Center for Public Affairs at Colby College and the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation for supporting this project.

You can listen below to the episode or you can find it on some of your favorite podcast hosting platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Deezer, Castro, Listen Notes, Podfriend, Player FM and Podcast Index.

Tori Lyn

Tori Lyn is a podcast host for The Maine Monitor. Tori works in racial equity and economic development for a local government agency, and is a community advocate for her neighborhood of Portland. She also works as a community facilitator with Integrative Inquiry, helping organizations navigate discussions of equity and inclusion within the workplace. Tori was recently elected to the Portland City Council.

Carly Peruccio

Carly Peruccio is an audio producer for The Maine Monitor. She is the Teaching Assistant for the Radio and Podcasting track at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies at MECA, where she edits students’ stories. She also works at the Portland Public Library in Teen Services. Carly is a graduate of Bates College and the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies.