AUGUSTA, ME — James Fagan’s year of service as a Maine Service Fellow was recognized at the December 20, 2024, Volunteer Maine Board of Commissioners meeting. John Portela, President of the Maine Volunteer Foundation, presented Fagan with a $5,349 education award for his service to community climate action and resiliency efforts in Dover-Foxcroft.
The Maine Service Fellows program offers recent college graduates the opportunity to serve in rural communities, tackling critical needs such as climate action, economic development, and public health.
Fagan, who has lived in the area most of his life, served as an Energy Collaborative Climate Fellow, where he worked with the Commons Energy Collaborative, the Climate Action Advisory Committee, and Maine Highlands Window Dressers. His work included planning policy for heating and cooling centers, presenting to the town select board, recruiting volunteers, and hosting workshops on community resilience.
Lesley Fernow served as Fagan’s site supervisor. Fernow is a retired geriatrics internist and hospice physician who serves on the Climate Action Advisory Committee (CAAC). The group’s goal is to bring climate change awareness to the local selectboard and to the county decision-making process.
Fagan exceeded expectations by addressing emerging needs, such as enhancing local policies for climate adaptation.
One of the lessons Fagan learned from his year in service is that working with, and not solely for, youth in the community needs to be an intentional effort. He reflected, “Youth and young adults are frequently excluded from leadership positions and decision-making processes. The Maine Service Fellows program, and programs like it, are a vital way to include frequently unrecognized groups.”
A graduate of the University of Southern Maine with a degree in Social Work, Fagan’s prior work experience included event planning and community engagement, skills he gained while serving as an intern at the Disability Services Center in Gorham and as an Events Assistant at Central Hall Commons in Dover-Foxcroft.
Maryalice Crofton, Executive Director of Volunteer Maine, highlighted the broader importance of the program. “James’s service exemplifies how Maine Service Fellows can drive tangible change in rural communities while developing their own skills and perspectives. We need more individuals like him to help us build resilient, engaged communities across Maine.”
Program participants are provided with a living allowance, health coverage, and an education award upon completion. Open positions are currently available statewide for individuals interested in making a lasting impact while exploring public service careers. For more information, visit the program webpageson the Volunteer Maine website.
The Maine Service Fellows program is funded as a public-private partnership. The Maine Volunteer Foundation, a nonprofit partner of Volunteer Maine, supports the program through private fundraising efforts.