On Wednesday, December 6th, The Town of Stonington kicked off the first of a three-part series called “Talk of the Towns,” at the Stonington Opera House. Island Institute is sponsoring the series. The first talk: “Sea Level Rise, Warming & Storming: Navigating for Climate Resilience in Fishing Communities” featured a panel with Island Institute’s Dr. Susie Arnold.
Category: Blog
Continuing Community Collaboration
Posted by Lisa Millette, Community Development Officer & filed under Blog.
The Island Institute Fellows program was recently awarded a USDA Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) grant for the support of three fellows including Grace Carrier who supports the Brooklin Climate Response Committee.
Island Students, Teachers, and Families Connect
Posted by Jack Sullivan & filed under Blog.
The Inter-Island Event is a grass roots outer-island tradition that has taken place nearly every fall since the 1980s in which the children of Maine’s outer island schools convene on a host island for an opportunity to expand their social networks and connect with kids from other island communities. The schools that participate in the Inter-Island event have some of the smallest student populations—in fact, the children on most of these islands can count their classmates on one hand.
Supporting Coastal Entrepreneurs
Posted by Jeff Frank, Senior Community Development Officer & filed under Blog.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an award on October 17 to Island Institute for nearly $87,000 from its Rural Business Development Grant program. These funds will go towards supplementing the Tom Glenn Community Impact Fund’s revolving loan fund.
Reflections on the Maine Climate Council Meeting
Posted by Nick Battista, Chief Policy Officer & filed under Blog.
At a late September kickoff meeting for the next round of work by the Maine Climate Council, the Council and working group members heard from community stakeholders, legislators, students, and climate science experts about the how Maine has been doing in terms of implementing the 2020 Climate Action Plan, Maine Wont Wait as well as some of the latest knowledge about climate science and impacts to the State.
Policymakers Examine the Oyster Farming Process
Posted by Jeff Frank, Senior Community Development Officer & filed under Blog.
Earlier this month, Island Institute hosted an aquaculture tour that showed local and statewide policymakers the lifecycle of how farmers grow oysters. This tour a variety of important legislators and others elected officials including state Sen. Cameron Reny, Reps. Allison Hepler, Victoria Doudera, Holly Stover, Lydia Crafts, and town officials from Newcastle and the Midcoast Council of Governments.
From Peaks to Penn
Posted by Emma Conrad & filed under Blog.
Emma Conrad grew up on Peaks Island and has been the recipient of multiple Island Institute grants and scholarships. Emma’s reflection explores how she approached the college admissions processes, navigated the pandemic as a first-year college student, and utilized the resources available to her to build upon her interests and discover her passions.
Policy on the Pier
Posted by Jeff Frank, Senior Community Development Officer & filed under Blog.
As Maine’s coastal communities navigate the challenges posed by a changing environment and shifting economic landscapes, one sector stands out as a beacon of opportunity: aquaculture. At Island Institute, we recognize the vital role that aquaculture plays in supporting our communities by allowing farmers small and large to find new forms of income and are committed to working with policymakers to ensure its continued growth and success.
Learning together on Cuttyhunk Island
Posted by Ken Stevenson, Community Development Officer & filed under Blog.
The Outer Islands Teaching and Learning Collaborative is a group of Maine’s one and two-room island schools that work together to support high-quality learning opportunities for outer island students. For 14 years, this Island Institute project has brought together students, teachers, and parents from these small island schools to share curriculum, learn together, and build social connections. Our field trips are an important component of this program, which is part of the Island Institute’s work to empower students, foster strong leadership, and create more resilient coastal communities.
The Ninth Artists and Makers Conference Brings the Creative Community Together
Posted by Lisa Mossel, Archipelago Director & filed under Blog.
We were thrilled to bring back the Artists & Makers Conference this year and celebrate the theme, Together Again! With over 100 attendees, eight inspiring sessions, live music, Pecha Kucha-style (lightning fast, story-telling based presentations), and more, we considered the day to be a great success!
