Since 1999, the Island Institute has matched over 50 recent college graduates with communities throughout the coast of Maine. These Island Fellows stay for one to two-year assignments, living in the community and working on locally led projects.

Fellows have offered expertise and assistance on a wide range of projects. They have helped develop school curricula, created arts programs, mapped community resources using GIS technology, leveraged assistance for island small businesses, conducted research projects or surveys, catalogued historical society and library collections, monitored marine or other natural resources, assisted with community comprehensive planning, found the funding to build a new community center — to name a few.

Fellows often expand beyond their projects. Scott Sell teaches extra-curricular writing classes in addition to his regular art, music and physical education classes on Frenchboro. Alden Robinson’s fiddling skills are in high demand at Long Island community suppers, while his expertise with technology and GIS are valued in the town office. Carly Knight, trained as an EMT, leaves the archive rooms of the Chebeague Island Museum to respond to medical emergencies. “No matter where I wind up,” she says, “the pace of life on Chebeague, and the sense of place and community I’ve found here, will always stay with me.”

Aside from the experience of living on a Maine island, Fellows gain valuable professional development experience.

Alyson Mayo expanded her work with Islesboro Affordable Properties to organize a two-day Island Affordable Housing Symposium that shared the results of her research on affordable housing efforts in each Maine island community. Nearly 100 people attended last April. Mayo also prepared resource manuals that included her research, lists and contacts for affordable housing funding sources, as well as other information for affordable housing groups including examples of protective covenants, deed restrictions and resale formulas to ensure continued affordability of property. Mayo now works the Upper Valley Housing Coalition in Vermont and continues to her passion for affordable housing.

Sarah Curran, and Jeremy Gabrielson, both former fellows, are working on an “Island Indicators Project” that collects and examines data on the economic, social and environmental conditions of the 15 year-round islands. Results will be published in March and updated in two years. Curran was a fellow on Peaks, and describes her time there as “an incredible opportunity.” Gabrielson has moved on to a position as a planner with the Washington County Council of Governments.

Andrew Mountcastle completed his fellowship with the Lobster Conservancy in Friendship and entered a PhD program in biomechanics at the University of Washington.

Siobhan Ryan was recognized as one of “100 Emerging Leaders” by the American Library Association and traveled to Seattle in February to share her experience on Swan’s Island.

Says Ryan, “I love the amount of responsibility that I’ve been given as an Island Fellow, while at the same time having an overwhelming sense of fun doing my job. Being around people who work well together and who truly enjoy what they do is what I will want for myself in any job I end up in. From this experience, I know it’s possible.”

To apply to be a 2007 Island Fellow, please visit the Institute website and download an application at http://www.islandinstitute.org/fellows/beafellow.asp.

The deadline for applications is Friday, May 25th, but Fellows are selected on a rolling basis, so applicants are encouraged to apply early. If you have any questions about the program, please contact Cyrus Moulton via email at cmoulton@islandinstitute.org, or at (207) 594-9209 x 146.

Cyrus Moulton directs the Fellows Program at the Island Institute.