[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 24, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ISLAND INSTITUTE FELLOWS 
                                PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHELLIE PINGREE

                                of maine

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 24, 2024

  Ms. PINGREE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 25th 
anniversary of a critical and innovative program in my state. For the 
past 25 years, the Island Institute Fellows Program has functioned to 
enrich the lives of both its participants, as well as the coastal and 
island communities of Maine by engaging volunteers, providing a hub of 
tools and resources, and fostering community leadership along the Maine 
coast.
  As a proud resident of North Haven, an island off the coast of Maine, 
I know firsthand that our coastal and island communities share a 
distinct and treasured way of life. I've also seen that way of life 
face unique challenges, from a rapidly changing climate and rising seas 
to shrinking populations and a shifting global economy. The Island 
Institute Fellows Program seeks to meet these challenges by pairing 
recent college graduates with local governments and nonprofits in 
coastal communities where the fellows live and work for two years to 
help address community-identified needs. This partnership brings 
together the energy, resources, talent, and capacity that the fellows 
can provide with the spirit, resiliency and creativity of Maine's 
coastal communities, strengthening and enriching the lives of everyone 
involved.
  To date, 148 Island Institute Fellows have brought new perspectives 
and ideas to support local needs such as broadband access, affordable 
housing, clean energy transitions, education initiatives, and community 
resiliency projects. When 75 percent of Maine's coastal communities 
have fewer than 3,500 residents, and 25 percent have fewer than 800 
residents, the addition of one full-time fellow's work and dedication 
can make the difference in a community's ability to write a grant, 
facilitate community planning, preserve historical documents, launch a 
new initiative, or train volunteers and future leaders.
  Over their two-year placements, the fellows truly become a part of 
the community, helping to plan potlucks, coach sports teams, volunteer 
with the town's Emergency Medical Services, and more. This program 
provides these recent graduates firsthand experience in a range of 
projects, providing them unique professional development and valuable 
skills for their future careers. A true testament to the program, at 
the end of their fellowships, half of alumni stay in Maine long-term, 
continuing their commitment to the community long after their placement 
ends and contributing to our state with their knowledge, experience, 
and relationships.
  The Island Institute Fellows Program's 25 years of service, 
dedication, innovation, and community-building makes me very proud to 
represent the Institute, their fellows and alumni, and the state of 
Maine in Congress. I wish the program many more years of success and 
wholeheartedly thank them for their impactful work on behalf of Maine's 
coastal and island communities.

                          ____________________