Working Waterfront

Deer Isle’s bounty impresses this Iowan

Reflections is written by Island Institute Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in coastal communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. For me, the magic of Maine lies in the food—everything we fish, forage, and farm to feed each other.… SEE MORE

An aerial view of North Haven, looking west. PHOTO: WILLIAM TREVASKIS

Working Waterfront

The spider web that is town government

Reflections is written by Island Institute Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in coastal communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. In a town the size of North Haven, all projects, tasks, functions, and dilemmas are interconnected. A select board… SEE MORE

The 2022 Island Institute Island Fellows.

Working Waterfront

Island Institute Fellows have front-row seats

Over the 24 years of Island Institute’s Fellows program, we have learned a lot about what it means to be a part of a community. Island Institute Fellows navigate a complex space where work and life often blend together because their job requires building deep relationships in their community. They… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Clam ‘garden’ sows sustainable future

Reflections is written by Island Institute Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in coastal communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. My alarm clock rings, I turn over and look at the time—it’s 4:48 a.m., still dark, very breezy, and… SEE MORE

A view of the harbor on Swan's Island. FILE PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

Hearing stories of love and loss

Reflections is written by Island Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in coastal communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. Being a “person from away” is not a new experience for me. I was born in the Southeast where my… SEE MORE

Grindle Point Lighthouse in the fog. FILE PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

Holding history: Archiving Islesboro past

Reflections is written by Island Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in coastal communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. By Olivia Lenfestey Mostly, my days on Islesboro are filled with the kind of intangible busyness distinctive to life on… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Ferry hurdles don’t stop island competitors

Reflections is written by Island Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in coastal communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. Over the course of three months, I worked with nine elementary/middle school students to build and program a LEGO robot… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Transitions and transformation on MDI

When neighbors talk to neighbors, focused on solutions, we build momentum by connecting based on what we value. SEE MORE

Boats at their moorings in a cove off Long Island. FILE PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

Island balances character with change

There is so much good work happening and so much good work to come. SEE MORE

The view from Little Deer Isle. FILE PHOTO: TOM GROENING

Working Waterfront

Recognizing an island’s landmarks

Reflections is written by Island Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in coastal communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. As an Iowa native, I didn’t know there were islands off the coast of Maine before applying to be an… SEE MORE