The Island Fellows Program is one of the signature programs of the Island Institute, a nonprofit committed to sustaining the islands and remote coastal communities of the Gulf of Maine. Since 1999, the Island Fellows Program has placed over 70 recent undergraduate and master's degree graduates in coastal and year-round island communities for one to two-year assignments addressing community-identified projects. The Fellowships provide a unique opportunity for recent graduates to use their skills and experience to help build sustainability within communities whose way of life and identity face many challenges.

Over the years, Island Fellows have assisted communities in meeting the following needs: comprehensive planning, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping, sustainable agriculture, affordable housing, economic development,technology support,curriculum development, historical preservation,library sciences, public health outreach,fire safety, nonprofit management, volunteer recruitment and management, and, theater and arts programming.

The Island Fellows Program is currently accepting applications from year-round island and remote coastal communities for Island Fellow placements that will begin in September, 2011. Host Site applications must be received by Friday, April 8, 2011. Applications will be reviewed and placements determined by mid-April, 2011.

The Island Fellows Program is also accepting applications for Island Fellow awards. Applications must be received by Friday, May 27, 2011. However, applications will be reviewed as they arrive, and interviews and selections will be made on a rolling basis, so applicants are encouraged to apply early. Preliminary interviews are conducted in person in Maine (some phone interviews are possible). Top candidates are then interviewed in the island or coastal host communities by key contacts who will be working with the Fellow. On-island/coastal interviews are required. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and eligible for at least one full-time AmeriCorps education award.

Please click here for further host site and Fellow application requirements or contact Christine Wolff, the Island Institute's Community ServiceDirector, at (207) 712-8551 or via e-mail (cwolff@islandinstitute.org). Chris is available to meet with community representatives to help with the host site application process and to provide further information.

Funded in part by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Maine Commission for Community Service.