Alyson Mayo and Lauren Simmons have been hired by the Island Institute to assist in a collaboration to revitalize Great Cranberry Island, working with other island, municipal and regional organizations. The collaboration involves the Island Institute, Great Cranberry citizens and community organizations, and will focus on sustainability questions including transportation, broadband connectivity, employment and the availability of affordable housing.
Mayo was an Island Fellow with Islesboro Affordable Properties from 2004 to 2006. Her fellowship culminated in an Island Affordable Housing Symposium attended by over 100 participants and the compilation of an Island Affordable Housing Resource Manual containing information about each island’s housing resources and needs. Mayo is returning to the Island Institute after working at the Upper Valley Housing Trust in White River Junction, VT.
Lauren Simmons is a graduate of Colby College and has been living on Great Cranberry for the past two years while working for the Mount Desert Islander newspaper. She will be working on the project on a part-time basis, assisting Mayo with project implementation.
“We are excited to really get to know the community and understand its current needs and future hopes,” said Simmons.
Mayo and Simmons will be living on Great Cranberry as they work with the Great Cranberry community and the Town of Cranberry Isles on community revitalization efforts. Bill McGuinness, the Island Institute’s policy specialist who is a resident of Islesford (the village on Little Cranberry Island) will supervise Mayo and Simmons and said, “I am very exited to be working with such thoughtful, intelligent and capable people.” q
— Cyrus Moulton