The Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA) is excited to announce its co-hosting of a community event titled “Gentrification, Access and You.” The event will take place on August 15th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Bowdoin College’s Schiller Coastal Studies Center on Orr’s Island. Optional self-guided tours of the center will be available at 4:30 pm.
The event is part of the ongoing Conversation series, “Living and Working in a Waterfront Community,” which is a collaborative effort initiated in 2021 by MCFA, the Cundy’s Harbor Library, Harpswell Anchor, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, and the Holbrook Community Foundation. This event marks the fifth installment in the Harpswell series, with previous topics including "Fishing Through the Seasons," "Conversations from the Fishing Community," "Access for the Fishing Community," and "Etiquette on the Water."
The Conversation series aims to promote communication between various individuals and groups residing and working on the waterfront in communities along the coast. In addition to Harpswell, other presentations have been held in Brunswick, Freeport, and Kennebunkport, with another planned for this fall in Belfast.
The upcoming event, “Gentrification, Access and You,” will explore the meanings of gentrification and access from different perspectives within the community. It will also delve into the challenges and potential solutions for Harpswell and other coastal communities. The conversation will be moderated by Monique Coombs, an Orr’s Island resident and Director of Community Programs for the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association.
Panelists include representatives from Bowdoin College, Manomet, Archipelago Law, Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, and commercial fishermen.
As part of the event, attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy samples of the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association’s signature Maine Coast Monkfish Stew, produced by Hurricane’s Premium Soups & Chowders in Greene. Proceeds from this product will support MCFA’s fish donation program, Fishermen Feeding Mainers.
The event is free of charge and accessible both in person and via Zoom, but registration is required.
Further reading about gentrification & changing communities:
Lawsuit seeks to force sale of working waterfront site on Orr’s Island
Everything you need to know about the affordable housing debate
The Math Problem Stymieing Small Businesses in Rural America
New Jersey couple seeking right to keep people off their section of Popham Beach
State planners grappling with short-term rentals consider new regulations
