Welcome

Callie Veelenturf is an award-winning marine conservation biologist whose work lies at the intersection of field science and national and international policy. She founded and leads the nonprofit research and conservation organization, The Leatherback Project, where she works for the conservation of leatherback turtles and other threatened marine species and their habitat.

Speaker:
Callie Veelenturf, the Leatherback Project

Location: Bay Point Ballroom

Scientists point to the Gulf of Maine as one of the fastest-warming bodies of water on the planet, with significant implications for marine life, coastal communities, and livelihoods. Maine’s robust lobster industry is grappling with regulations to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale, the potential impact of proposed wind turbines, and fierce storms exacerbated by sea-level rise and warming ocean temperatures. The already-depleted right whale population is threatened by fishing gear entanglements, ship strikes, and shifting food sources due to the warming gulf. What are the lessons from Maine about how to bridge divides to prepare our communities and ecosystems for climate-driven impacts, including the potential cultural and economic transformations that might be necessary for our collective survival?

Speaker:
Luke Holden, Luke’s Lobster

Moderator:
Daniel Hildreth, Seal Bay Fund

Location: Bay Point Ballroom

Much of the nation’s work to confront the climate and biodiversity crises is happening in real time in communities across the country, including here in Maine. In fact, Mainers from every corner of the state are taking action to emit less carbon, produce energy from renewable sources, and protect natural resources, communities, and people from the effects of climate change.

But you might be surprised to learn about the important role of private philanthropy in realizing the state’s ambitious plan for achieving a carbon neutral economy by 2045. What is the role of private funding in centering equity and supporting pilot projects, communications, and state capacity? How are philanthropic dollars directly funding Maine’s Climate Council? Gabriela Alcalde, Executive Director of the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, and Hannah Pingree, Director of the State of Maine Governor’s Office on Policy Innovation and the Future, will discuss the public-private partnership that is inspiring climate action in Maine—for all people. What could philanthropy accomplish in partnership with communities and state governments elsewhere?

Speakers:
Hannah Pingree, Maine Office of Policy Innovation & Future
Gabriela Alcalde, Executive Director of the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation

Moderator:
Andrea Keller Helsel, William & Flora Hewlett Foundation

Location: Bay Point Ballroom

In today's rapidly changing world, communities face unprecedented challenges that threaten their natural resources, cultural heritage, and economic vitality. This panel session explores integrated strategies for building resilient communities that harmonize conservation efforts, cultural preservation, and sustainable economic development across diverse environments – from marine ecosystems to terrestrial landscapes and biodiversity hotspots.

Panelists will share insights, case studies, and best practices on how to create synergies between these seemingly disparate domains, fostering a holistic approach that recognizes their intrinsic interconnectedness. Discussions will delve into innovative models for community engagement, cross-sector collaborations, and policy frameworks that promote the coexistence of thriving ecosystems, vibrant cultural traditions, and prosperous local economies.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics at play and learn from real-world examples of communities that have successfully navigated the delicate balance between environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and economic growth. By attending this session, attendees will be equipped with practical strategies and actionable steps to drive positive change and create truly resilient communities capable of withstanding future challenges.

Speakers:
AlexAnna Salmon, President of Igiugig Village Council
Carletta Davis, President of We Matter 8Mile Community Association
Dr. Katy De La Garza, Forever Costa Rica
Dr. Moenieba Isaacs, University of Western Cape, South Africa

Moderator:
Renu Mittal, Walton Family Foundation

Informal table discussions:
Rights of Nature

Location: Bay Point Ballroom

Riverscape restoration and ocean remediation are nature based solutions that pay multiple benefits: water quality and nutrient remediation, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. The speakers will share perspectives from a bird’s eye view to the mud, mire and ocean floors. Riverscapes and oceans are central to healthy ecosystem functions and community vitality and resilience. At this session, we bring together system thinkers with on-the-ground success stories, from both large landscape projects to looking at measurement reporting and policy recommendations. Somewhere amid the discussion, there could be beavers and river otters, cows eating seaweed, and birds and invertebrates.

Speakers:
Brock Dolman, Occidental Arts and Ecology Center
Dr. Nicole Price, Bigelow Labs, Senior Research Scientist, Center for Seafood Solutions Director
Dr Joe Wheaton, USU Riverscape Restoration

Moderator:
Sam Tucker, Director of Colorado River Sustainability Campaign

Location: Bay Point Ballroom

In a conversation with longtime rural funder Erin Borla of the Roundhouse Foundation, linguistic anthropologist Elizabeth Marino, PhD, will discuss language barriers that exist between urban and rural communities and between different users of our lands and waters, and how those barriers and subsequent misunderstandings impact our work as philanthropists. Learn from research about language that instead brings communities together. Dr. Marino leads the Laboratory for The American Conversation at Oregon State University-Cascades.

Speaker:
Elizabeth Marino, PhD, Laboratory for The American Conversation at Oregon State University-Cascades

Moderator:
Erin Borla of the Roundhouse Foundation

Informal table discussions:
Climate Smart-Old Growth Forests

Location: Bay Point Ballroom

As most of the world's democracies are holding elections this year, widespread disinformation, misinformation, and scarcity of local independent journalism are making it harder for people to find reliable news, accurately reported. Here in the United States and around the world, layoffs and prosecution of journalists, and shuttering of news media outlets, combined with increasing concerns among voters about the state of democracy are troubling. There is much at stake for how this is impacting coverage of climate and conservation, and whether these cascading crisis will impact how voters show up (or don’t) and how philanthropy and nonprofits in intersectional movements rise above the gaps in coverage, the noise and disinformation. This plenary will dive into solutions on how philanthropy, nonprofits, and journalists are co-creating new ways to preserve institutions fundamental to a democratic society, educating the public about environmental and social issues, and the role of funders.

Speakers:
Aparna Muhajee, Society of Environmental Journalists

Moderator:
Rachel Leon, The Park Foundation

Location: Bay Point Ballroom

Sixty percent of the world’s freshwater flows across a national border, and 153 countries have at least one transboundary river, lake or aquifer. The US and Canada share a 5,525-mile border, the longest between any two countries in the world, and forty percent of the US-Canada boundary is water! Rivers, fish, wildlife and Indigenous Nations don't necessarily recognize the US-Canada boundary, and the border creates challenges for natural resource management and conservation. We will review the current management of these watersheds by the International Joint Commission (IJC) that was created by the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909, and explore some of the historical challenges to taking bilateral action, very recent precedents for the trilateral action (US, Canada and the transboundary Ktunaxa Nation), as well as the possibilities for Indigenous communities to establish international watershed boards to influence the future governance of freshwater across national borders.

Speakers:
Robert Sisson, U.S. Commissioner, International Joint Commission
Erin Sexton, Senior Scientist, Flathead Lake Biological Station

Moderator:
John Daly, Wilburforce Foundation

Project Puffin—a Birding Exploration by sea:
Project Puffin began as an effort to restore Atlantic Puffins to their historical nesting range on Eastern Egg Rock. Today, National Audubon Society's Seabird Institute manages seabird research efforts on seven seabird islands in the Gulf of Maine. After a 30 minute drive to Port Clyde, we’ll board one of Monhegan Boat Line’s sturdy vessels to explore Eastern Egg Rock from the water- home to the world’s first restored seabird colony. Participants can expect to be on the water for 2.5 hours.

The nexus of Sustainable Agriculture and Conservation:
There is no better way to understand the interplay of soil health, pollinators, climate resilience, and biodiversity, than by seeing this complex web in action. Our visit to the Maine Organic Farm and Gardeners Association’s headquarters in Unity will showcase these themes and more—including the challenges facing many farms as they address the impact of contaminants commonly known as PFAS. This trip will include a 1 hour (scenic) drive each way plus 2 hours of flat walking (with breaks) at the farm, woodlot, and orchard.

Private Lands, Conservation, and Recreation– Hike the Round the Mountain Trail in the Ragged Mountain Preserve:
Managed by the Coastal Mountains Land Trust, this 2400 acre Preserve protects open space and critical wildlife habitat, while also securing pure drinking water and outdoor recreation for Mainers and visitors alike. The 1300' tall mountain, with mature oak trees throughout the preserve and talus slope and cliffs on the summit’s slopes, is ringed by the 5.5-mile long Round the Mountain Trail. Guided by a naturalist, we’ll embark from the trailhead in nearby Hope (25 min drive from Samoset), tackling the moderate in difficulty, 6 ft-wide gravel trail.

Exploring Sustainable Aquaculture in Penobscot Bay:
Join the Island Institute and the Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership for an exploration of sustainable aquaculture efforts in the area. We will embark from the nearby Rockland harbor for a short scenic boat ride across Penobscot Bay to Hurricane Island. Along the way, we’ll stop by a local seaweed farm and a scallop lantern net operation– two emerging economic opportunities that have the promise to complement the lobster industry. Once ashore, we’ll learn about the experiential education programming that the Hurricane Island Center in service of their mission to inspire individuals to become impassioned change leaders and informed citizens in confronting current and future environmental challenges. Limited to 16 people; registration is first-come, first-served.

Special viewing with former White House climate advisor Molly Kawahata, who will join us as we view this hour-long film about her expedition to the Alaska Range while working to create a new climate narrative that centers on her favorite question–”What can I do to help?”--with a surprising answer.

Location: Bay Point Ballroom

Addressing the interconnected climate and biodiversity crises requires a multi-faceted strategy. What is the role of youth leadership in mobilizing frontline, grassroots organizations and advancing climate and environmental policy for durable and just outcomes for ALL communities?

Amara Ifeji is an internationally awarded non-profit leader in climate and environmental justice. She contributes to and advances legislative and policy solutions focused on systemic transformation to ensure equitable access to the outdoors and climate justice education for all youth. In high school, her barriers to access to environmental learning compelled her to lead community science learning efforts for students of color like herself. Today, as the Director of Policy with the Maine Environmental Education Association, Amara mobilizes youth-led, grassroots movements to advance state and federal environmental education policies. She served as the lead coordinator for Maine’s first Climate Education Summit, mobilized a youth-led movement that spearheaded Maine's $2+ million climate education program, and serves on the Maine Climate Council as the governor-appointed Youth Representative. In recognition of her work, she was named a National Geographic Young Explorer and Brower Youth Awardee.

Speaker:
Amara Ifeji, Maine Environmental Education Association -
Representative of Maine Youth on Governor’s Climate Council and National Geographic Youth Explorer

Moderator:
Andrea Keller Helsel, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

Relationship-based approaches have been instrumental in expanding the scope and impact of land return efforts for Indigenous peoples. We will explore relationship-based frameworks and strategies that have shaped the long road to land return efforts in Maine. This panel explores both the successes and obstacles in weaving indigenous knowledge into collaborative stewardship models through case studies and stories.

Moderator:
Kaylena Bray, Tamalpais Trust

Location: Bay Point Ballroom

Alpinist, strategist, and climate activist Molly Kawahata, the subject of the film The Scale of Hope, will share a final inspirational message on building hope and bridging divides.

Introduced by:
Parwana Ayub, Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation

Location: Bay Point Ballroom

Speakers:
John Daly and Andrea Keller Helsel, Annual Meeting Co-Chairs
Judy Hatcher, Biodiversity Funders Group