ORONO — The Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the University of Maine will host a talk titled “Who Do You Choose to Be? Service, Collaboration, and Resilience” on Monday, Sept. 15, at 3 p.m. 

"Building community resilience isn’t only about projects or plans — it’s about how people work together," said the Mitchell Center. "Grounded in experiences from Maine’s rural islands and small towns — places rich in social capital but often limited in capacity — Gabe McPhail explores how shared principles, authentic collaboration and a spirit of service can deepen our relationships with one another and with the ecosystems we are part of." 

McPhail is a facilitator and planner with over two decades of experience advancing resilience, equity and sustainability in Maine. As founder of Resilient Communities, they help towns plan for a more resilient future, secure funding and design practical strategies that address community needs and the challenges they face. Their work is grounded in empathy, inclusion and respect for local knowledge, according to the Mitchell Center. 

All talks in the Mitchell Center’s Sustainability Talk series are free and are offered both remotely via Zoom and in person at 107 Norman Smith Hall. 

Registration is required to attend remotely; to register and receive connection information, see the event webpage.

To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Ruth Hallsworth, 207.581.3196 or hallsworth@maine.edu.

About the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions

The Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the University of Maine aspires to be a leader and valued partner in understanding and solving problems related to the growing challenge of improving human well-being while protecting the environment. We collaborate with diverse stakeholders and bring together faculty and students from many different fields. By connecting knowledge with action, we seek to create a brighter environmental, social and economic future in and beyond Maine.

About the University of Maine

As Maine’s only public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, the University of Maine advances learning and discovery through excellence and innovation. Founded in 1865 in Orono, UMaine is the state’s land, sea and space grant university with a regional campus at the University of Maine at Machias. Our students come from all over the world and work with faculty conducting fieldwork around the globe — from the North Atlantic to the Antarctic. Located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation with UMaine Machias located in the homeland of the Passamaquoddy Nation, UMaine’s statewide mission is to foster an environment that creates tomorrow’s leaders. As the state’s flagship institution, UMaine offers nearly 200 degree programs through which students can earn bachelor’s, master’s, professional master’s and doctoral degrees as well as graduate certificates. For more information about UMaine and UMaine Machias, visit umaine.edu/about/quick-facts/ and machias.edu/about-umm/umm-facts/.