As a youth climate activist in Midcoast Maine, Riley Stevenson became acutely aware of those not being represented in climate conversations, especially her peers who spent their time working on the water, and were therefore experiencing the climate crisis far more intimately than most activists. Riley started the film series 'Changing Seas: Reflections on the Future of the Fishing Industry' during her time as a Maine Environmental Changemakers Fellow as a way to highlight those voices, and partnered with local student and filmmaker Matilda Allen from Mount Desert Island to create an informative and visually stunning short film series. Together, the two interviewed four young people, including two young lobstermen and a lobsterwoman –– only one of whom intended to continue lobstering full-time in the midst of the changing conditions in the Gulf of Maine and the need to pursue other, more sustainable endeavors. They also interviewed an oyster farmer considering her future farm placement and the longevity of aquaculture in Maine.

All told, these four experiences make up an important subset of young people being forced to make life decisions based on the environment around them, an environment they are incredibly protective of, making them uniquely positioned and successful stewards of these waterways. They represent a perspective that must be considered in crafting comprehensive climate legislation and determining how Maine will move forward –– environmentally, economically, and culturally.

Join us as we watch the films together and hear from Riley Stevenson about the series.

I hope to see you Friday,

Kathleen