A group of 26 islanders representing 10 Maine islands met on January 20 for three days of intensive training at Point Lookout Resort in Northport, Maine. The diverse group of islanders – a selectman, a motel owner, a potter, a sternman, a farm manager, an assisted living facility director, a lunch lady, a few teachers, a jewelry maker, a bus driver, a rock band singer, a community center director and a dozen others all joined forces with one common goal in mind: to enhance life on the islands where they live. The cohort of islanders came together to attend the first Island Sustainability through Leadership and Entrepreneurship (ISLE) training program offered by the Island Institute.
Partnering with Leadership for Local Change (LLC), the Institute offered island residents the opportunity to learn leadership and entrepreneurial skills through a year-long training program that started in January. Shey Conover, the Institute’s vice-president of operations, said, “The important roles that leaders play in small communities, and the need to nurture new leaders, were reflected in the direction community members gave to the Island Institute as we formulated our current strategic plan. They identified leadership training and support as one of the top three priorities they wanted the Institute to address. The ISLE program was developed in partnership with Leadership for Local Change to address that need through training that supports individuals working within their own communities, and also broadens the network of leaders working together across Maine’s island communities.”
Participants for the ISLE program were recruited through community meetings, personal outreach, the Working Waterfront newspaper, the Maine Islands Coalition and the Island Institute website. Interested applicants were required to complete an application providing basic information as well as describing their interests, past leadership experience, and community involvement. Participants were selected based upon demonstrated commitment to their community. The Island Institute is funding the program, paying for all expenses including LLC’s training program, lodging, meals and transportation. Participants are asked to make the commitment of their time and a willingness to fully engage in the ISLE program.
Leadership for Local Change is one of a handful of training programs providing local community leadership and entrepreneurial training, and has presented its program in more than 38 countries. Ann Marie Almeida, creator and director of Leadership for Local Change, assembled a team of four trainers; Ry Hills, Eric Vines, Imbie Mpunga, and Susan Mpunga. Two members of the Island Institute staff, Shey Conover and Mary Terry, joined Almeida’s team. “The connections that are built between individuals during the training are at least as important as the specific skills learned from the training itself,” said Almeida. By the end of the three days, participants agreed with that. Islanders Maura Michael, the director of Islesboro’s Boardman Cottage, an assisted living facility, stated, “We are lucky to be able to get together, and fortunate to be given the opportunity to create a network, share successes, and learn what works and what does not work on islands.”
The cohort of islanders arrived at the first training session, January 20–22, prepared to deliver a presentation to the group about their islands and the reality of the issues in their communities. In addition, each person was asked to identify a project that they would like to work on over the course of the program. Allan McCormick, a sternman, EMT and firefighter from Islesford, shared his dream of opening and running a store on his island. Currently, there is no fully functioning store on Islesford. At the end of the three-day training, McCormick said, “I feel more focused.” About starting a store, he said, “I am going to do it and I will succeed.” McCormick and others went from the first day of the ISLE program where they introduced their project ideas to the third day believing that their ideas would become a reality. Maura Michael said, “I know from personal experience that I become stale or reach a dead end, and it is like recharging your battery when you get to go to one of these work sessions and get the creative juices flowing again.“
The LLC team members shared their knowledge and expertise, leading the group through exercises, presentations, homework and interactive activities, and building a safe environment and support system for the group of islanders to share their visions. LLC staff worked with the group to carefully craft purpose, mission and vision statements. By the end of the weekend, participants had the knowledge necessary to complete the steps needed to research, prepare and write an effective business plan. When the group reconvenes in March, islanders are expected to arrive back in Northport with a draft version of their plans. Some of the business plans will be for projects revolving around issues such as eldercare services, town government projects, for- profit businesses, sustainable food sources and assisted living facilities.
During the ISLE training, participants were given the opportunity to network with others who were working on similar projects. Two islanders want to create assisted living facilities in their communities—Colleen Hyland of Swan’s Island is one of them. “ISLE training provided me with an opportunity to share with other islanders the daily issues and needs of surviving on an island. I went to the program with three ideas and finalized my decision after meeting people there who are doing what I would like to see accomplished on Swan’s Island: assisted living. Through the training, I was able to gather the information needed to take the next step,” Hyland said. “Knowing that all businesses are cyclical, I am on the exiting end of the lodging business I have run since 1999, and am ready to take on the challenges of the first assisted living facility on Swan’s Island. Assisted living is something I have considered for years, but never took the step. Now I have the camaraderie of other islanders and the ISLE team as well as the experts they bring in for mentorship through the program.”