L-R Mission Island Health Director Sharon Daley, RN and Clinical Director and Family Nurse Practitioner Jennifer “Jen” Desmond
ABOARD THE ‘SUNBEAM V’ — Clinical Director and Family Nurse Practitioner Jennifer “Jen” Desmond flew out to Matinicus from Vinalhaven’s Islands Community Medical Services, Inc. to meet up with the Sunbeam V and the Mission’s Island Health Director Sharon Daley, RN and see some people in person. Family Nurse Practitioner Assists Mission Island Health Director on Matinicus Island
Jen was able to take care of things that would have required an expensive trip off island for some patients. Cold and windy day but Penobscot Island Air always provides great service.
So thanks to all in helping make this happen, including those who loaned us trucks for getting around. (Jennifer and I are pictured here at the Matinicus Island International Air-Strip.)
DETOP Volunteers Dave and Aaron (Photo courtesy Jillian)
CHERRYFIELD, ME — Maine Seacoast Mission’s Table of Plenty (DETOP) takes place in the Weald Bethel Community Center, Downeast Campus, Sundays from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm. People from every segment of the community attend this community meal. There is music, conversation, laughter, no hunger, and no loneliness.
When not taking care of business as Steward aboard the Mission’s ‘Sunbeam V,’ Jillian is a valued presence at the Downeast Campus for all food programs and services — including the Downeast Table of Plenty. Jillian is also a good photographer. She sends this photo of “volunteers Aaron and Dave making quick work of supper dishes,” at last Sunday’s DETOP.
Dave and Aaron are shown in the Weald Bethel Community Center’s new kitchen, given its grand opening in June 2018.
CHERRYFIELD, ME — As Downeast Campus Director of Service Programs Wendy Harrington tells the story, there was a moment last year when the Downeast Campus crew saw the Campus indoor and outdoor faciliites as an opportunity to offer community families winter fun activities on Saturdays, when the Campus was usually quiet. So, the EdGE Family Celebration of Winter Fun Days were born offering local families the ice skating rink, woods trails, scavenger hunts, and plenty more indoor/outdoor activities.
The Fun Days were such a hit last year, they have returned in 2019 as EdGE Family Winter Fun days. Saturdays, from January 12 through February 15th, the EdGE Building will be open from 10 am to 2 pm. Depending on the weather, families will be able to enjoy the Maine winter outdoors, come inside to warm themselves and grab a bite to eat, and then head back out.
Find directions to the Mission’s Downeast Campus and EdGE Building here.
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.
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.
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.”
