Topic: Local Capacity & Leadership

Limited access to resources and a lack of economic opportunity are among the challenges that can restrain community capacity. However, when local leaders are empowered to make positive change in the places they care about, challenges become easier to address. Network building and leadership programs are some of the methods that can be used to increase local capacity.

What Works Solution

Virtual Meeting Facilitation

Living and working remotely, while collaborating with distant partners, can make meeting in-person difficult to near impossible. Ultimately, it can slow the progress of work or limit the opportunity for that work to happen in the first place. The possibility of meeting virtually, either for everyone or for some members… SEE MORE

What Works Solution

Outer Islands Teaching & Learning Collaborative

Isolated schools are vital, innovative, collaborative centers of teaching and learning that prepare students to thrive in the 21st century. The Outer Islands Teaching & Learning Collaborative, or TLC, is a 12-year-old, teacher-created and teacher-led group that provides a virtual community for the smallest island schools where students and teachers… SEE MORE

What Works Solution

Vinalhaven service list

As the largest island in Maine, Vinalhaven lacks neither a sizeable ageing population nor a variety of services. However, many Vinalhaven elders didn’t know whom to call to get their lawn mowed or get a ride to the grocery store. To bridge the gap, a group of volunteers created and… SEE MORE

What Works Solution

North Haven Outreach Worker

Aging islanders often don’t need full-time help, but when traveling to the mainland for a medical appointment or cleaning their house, an extra set of hands makes it easier and safer. When elders are still fairly mobile they often have a hard time admitting they need help, especially if they… SEE MORE

What Works Solution

Chebeague Cares

Many island elders need help with daily tasks but aren’t ready to leave their homes. For example, they can get up from a chair by themselves or with the help of one person, but need assistance to bathe or cook three meals a day. They may not need to move… SEE MORE

What Works Solution

Boardman Cottage

Many elderly islanders eventually must move out of their homes and live with family or in an assisted living facility. If there is no such facility on their home island, they must move away from family, friends, and lifelong familiarity of their small island community. Residential care facilities already operate… SEE MORE

What Works Solution

Island Institute Fellows Program

Since 1999, the Island Institute Fellows Program has provided a unique opportunity for recent college or grad school graduates to apply their skills and experience to help build sustainability within communities whose way of life and identity face a myriad of challenges. Fellows can often be used as an organizing… SEE MORE

What Works Solution

ILEAD

Island Leadership Exploration and Development (ILEAD) Island Leadership Exploration and Development (ILEAD) is a series of workshops designed to increase local leadership skills, increase the number of willing leaders within communities, and provide a peer network across multiple islands for information and resource sharing going forward. [gallery size="full" ids="20509,20508,20511"] HOW… SEE MORE

What Works Solution

Maine Islands Coalition

The Maine Islands Coalition (MIC) is a collaboration of island communities, facilitated by the leadership team at the Island Institute, that holds meetings to discuss a wide variety of topics. Meetings are held four times a year and combine networking, information sharing, and professional development. As topics of great concern… SEE MORE

What Works Solution

Islesford Boatworks

Committed to “building opportunity, community, and a future for Maine’s working waterfront,” Islesford Boatworks (IB) was started in 2006 by the Ravenhill family as a way to support Little Cranberry Island's waterfront and share their passion for building traditional wooden boats with children living in the Mount Desert region. IB… SEE MORE