ISLAND FELLOWS BEGIN WORK ALONG MAINE COAST

Rockland, Maine - The 10 members of the Island Institute’s 2012-2013 Island Fellows cohort have recently started working in their host communities along the Maine coast.  Six new Island Fellows have joined four second-year Fellows to bring an “extra set of hands” to assist with local projects in year-round island and working waterfront communities from Casco Bay to Down East.  These talented, energetic college and master’s-level graduates will help move efforts forward in schools, town offices, historical societies and nonprofit organizations during the coming year.

In the Casco Bay area, Celia Whitehead, the new Chebeague Island Sustainable Agriculture Fellow, is working with the island school and the community at large around the topics of local food, healthy eating and natural resources. Erin Crowley, the new Long Island Community Planning Fellow, and the 2012 recipient of the Louis W. Cabot Island Fellowship award, is assisting the town selectmen and other town departments with community planning and economic development activities. On Peaks Island, Maggie Small, the new Environmental Action Fellow, is working with the Peaks Island Environmental Action Team on initiatives and strategies related to environmental issues.

Farther east in the Midcoast region, Alexandra Hodges, the Islesboro School & Town of Islesboro Technology Fellow, and the 2012 recipient of the James and Joanne Cooney Island Fellowship award, is starting her second year of helping the school and the town with various technology projects.  Andrew Dorr, the Vinalhaven Community & Economic Development Fellow, and the 2012 recipient of the Willoughby I. “Toby” Stuart Fellowship award, is spending one more year assisting the town and the island’s chamber of commerce with many community and economic development initiatives.  On Isle au Haut, Megan Wibberly, the new Community Planning Fellow, is working on expanding affordable housing efforts and economic development efforts.

Down East Maine’s island and coastal communities are hosting three Island Fellows.  Kaitlin Webber, the Swan’s Island Fellow, and the 2012 recipient of the Swan’s Island Fellowship award, is beginning her second year with the Swan’s Island community to preserve island history while making it more accessible. Wesley Norton, the Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School & Historical Society Fellow, and the 2012 recipient of the William Bingham Island Fellowship award, is working on school-based technology projects and historical society events and initiatives.  Maria McMorrow, the new Downeast Salmon Federation and Washington Academy Fellow, is working on a multi-faceted community-based fisheries conservation effort in eastern Maine.

Based out of the Island Institute’s Rockland offices, Hannah Tannebring, the new Service-Learning Fellow, will work closely with all of the Island Fellows to implement service-learning activities in their host communities’ schools.

Since 1999, more than 90 Island Fellows have spent their one to two-year placements helping island and working waterfront communities remain vibrant places to live, work and educate children. They are funded in part through a grant provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Maine Commission for Community Service.

For more information about the Island Fellows program, please visit www.islandinstitute.org/fellows or contact Christine Wolff, Community Service Director, at 207-594-9209 x102 or cwolff@islandinstitute.org.