Educator Joins Seacoast Mission Staff to Develop New Scholarship Programs
BAR HARBOR, ME — Christina Griffith has joined the Maine Seacoast Mission, based in Bar Harbor, as Program Director for New Education Initiatives, where she will develop new college preparation and scholarship programs for students in Washington and Hancock counties.
“Christina has real expertise in programs that help students prepare for and succeed in college,” says Scott Planting, president of the Maine Seacoast Mission. “She has designed and launched successful programs in New Mexico, collaborating on similar programs in other states, and we’re fortunate to have her here in Maine now.”
Ms. Griffith has a strong background in education. She has served as a high school principal and a consultant working with schools to ensure college access and success for historically marginalized students.
From 2010 to 2016, she worked with the New Mexico Simon Scholars program to design a college preparation and transition curriculum and support structures that serve students who are low income and first-generation college bound.
From 2016 until her recent move to Maine, Ms. Griffith collaborated with the Native American Community Academy Network to facilitate strategic post-secondary planning and professional development on behalf of schools that serve Native American students in New Mexico. She has degrees from Bard College and the Harvard Divinity School.
“I am deeply grateful to join an organization that daily demonstrates its commitment to honoring, learning from and contributing to rural communities in ways that matter and last,” Griffith says. “I am excited about the hopeful work ahead and the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues on behalf of the wonderful students, families, schools and communities the Seacoast Mission serves.”
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Portland Press Herald
Feb. 20, 2019
NEW HIRES
Christina Griffith joined Maine Seacoast Mission in Bar Harbor as program director for new education initiatives. Griffith brings a strong background in education including experience as a high school principal and a consultant. From 2010 to 2016, she worked with the New Mexico Simon Scholars program. Most recently, she collaborated with the Native American Community Academy Network.
Keeping the ‘Sunbeam’ Upright at Matinicus Island
BAR HARBOR, ME — Matinicus Island high-to-low tides vary about 10-feet. Here’s the Sunbeam resting on mud at low tide. When the Sunbeam arrives in Matinicus harbor one of the crew’s first moves is tying the boat to the dock. At low tide, this prevents the Sunbeam from tipping on its side.
(Photo by Island Health Director Sharon Daley)
Mission Hosts Lerner Foundation ‘Aspirations’ Grantee Meeting
CHERRYFIELD, ME — In April 2017, Portland-based Lerner Foundation chose the Mission’s EdGE program to partner with the Foundation in its $7M Aspirations Incubator Program (AIP).
In November 2018, the Mission hosted Learner Foundation’s AIP meeting with Incubator grantees. Learn more in Lerner Foundation’s blog post.
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https://www.lernerfoundation.com
Convening 3 in Cherryfield: What We Learned, and What We’re Counting On
On a cold morning in November, we met with our Aspirations Incubator grantees, including program managers and senior staff from their organizations. Maine Seacoast Mission hosted our gathering, including a sleepover at their community center for some of the participants, and we’re grateful for their hospitality.
This was the third convening of grantees we’ve held since 2017. Don Carpenter, our senior program officer, says, “What excited me was the general sense of commitment to our collective efforts that we’re all making toward loving young people growing up in Maine and helping to raise their aspirations. The power of relationships was on full display, and the programmatic ideas being introduced and discussed was really inspiring.”
Maine Seacoast Mission Catches Kiauni’s Eye
BAR HARBOR, ME — Kiauni Rianne Martinez, a Millennial photographer, self-described “old soul,” lives in Hollywood, CA. “Kiauni means ‘Gods Gracious Gift’ in Hawaiian,” Ms. Rianne writes on her web site.
Maine Seacoast Mission sends a big THANK YOU to Kiauni. In the “Philanthropy” section of her web site, Kiauni shares the Mission name and link as “an organization that catch[es] my interest [that] I want to share with you.”