Early in my career, I trained as a cultural anthropologist, wanting to understand the norms, values, and behaviors that shape us across time and geography. For a variety of reasons, I chose a different path, pursuing foreign policy, global philanthropy, and now, community development here on the coast of Maine.
My curiosity and appreciation for anthropology, however, has remained. It offers tools and frameworks to help understand how we engage and adapt in a changing world.
The fundamental work by the late French anthropologist Marcel Mauss is a great example. I return frequently to his essay entitled “The Gift.” At the risk of diluting his intellectual contributions, here’s the gist: for Mauss, not only are gifts given, but they must also be received and reciprocated, creating a cycle that strengthens social bonds. What I especially love about his theory is that gifts are not just objects. They are inextricably linked to the spirit of the giver, and they carry meaning that continues over time. It’s beautiful. It’s powerful. It goes to the heart of trust-building.
At Island Institute, we consider the invitation to partner closely with communities a unique gift, expressed in so many subtle and extraordinary ways. Given the opportunity, I’d have loved to talk with Mauss about the social bonds that are forged through the gift of these partnerships along the coast.
I’d tell him about the incredible generosity we’ve experienced island after island, peninsula by peninsula. I imagine that we would talk about the passion for place that community leaders share with us, about the offer of a night’s stay and a warm dinner when stormy weather cancels ferry service, about lively community potlucks, coffee and donuts, and the intimacy of a kitchen table. I would mention community celebrations and memorials, the words of kindness and encouragement, and the many offers to learn from those who know our shores and waters best, whether on boats, wharves, in town halls, or in small businesses all along the coast. We’d talk about intangible gifts like precious time and steadfast patience, knowing of the demands that small communities and the people who live in them shoulder every day.
At Island Institute, we receive these gifts with tremendous humility and enduring appreciation. These gifts draw us closer and wrap us in the mantle of kindness and courage that animates the spirit of Maine’s islands and coastal communities.
In turn, we reciprocate. Our values of authentic collaboration, resourcefulness, and clarity of purpose infuse our contributions and underpin our own belief that together we thrive.
I don’t want to diminish the critiques of Mauss, and I’m quite sure I’m taking liberties with his work. Yet, his theory of the circular nature of giving aptly describes the fundamentals of community development that we see every day.
As the year draws to a close, and we begin to tally our impact over the year, we need to tread cautiously when abstracting the complexity of our community partnerships into data points and pie charts. While these measures matter, a true picture of community development must consider the two-way trade in time, resources, and knowledge that builds the most important currency: trust.
To that end, we close this year with enormous gratitude for the communities and people we work with every day. We are honored to share in the experience of giving and receiving the immeasurable gifts of working in and living on the extraordinary coast of Maine.
Kim Hamilton is president of Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. She may be contacted at khamilton@islandinstitute.org.
