Climate & Community 5/8/25: Mount Desert Island High School Ecoteam (Part 1)

Host: Wilson Haims

Description: Climate and Community speaks with science teacher, Ruth Poland, and senior Ecoteam member, Lucian Avila-Gatz from Mount Desert Island High School about what inspired their involvement in climate and sustainability work. We learn about the formation of the Ecoteam eight years ago and how the group is continuing to evolve alongside climate action initiatives in the state of Maine.

Wilson Haims is from Portland, Maine and earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Wellesley College in 2023. Upon graduating, Wilson contributed to climate and conservation-related field work, policy and community engagement work in New England and the Pacific Northwest. Now, Wilson is the Manager of Community Engagement and Resilience at A Climate to Thrive and spends her time hiking, running, making art and cooking on Mount Desert Island.

 

Johannah, Beth, Wilson, Gus, Alison and Angie are the team at A Climate to Thrive, a nonprofit working to build a model of community-driven, solutions-focused climate action. Since its origins around a potluck table as concerned neighbors gathered to take action on climate change, A Climate to Thrive, or ACTT, has been supporting solutions on Mount Desert Island and beyond since 2016. Learn more at www.aclimatetothrive.org.