Lucy:<\/strong> Lucy Meeker from Shepherdstown, West Virginia. I am a sophomore working towards a double major in History and Art and Visual Culture. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mya:<\/strong> Mya Vincent from Auburn, Maine. I am a junior majoring in studio art and psychology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chris: <\/strong> Chris Pottle. I am a junior from Winthrop, Maine, and I am a Biology major.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What drew you to the Community Work-Study Fellowship, and what were you hoping to learn or experience this summer?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lucy:<\/strong> I am from West Virginia, and I am an Appalachian through and through. In that identity is a culture of remembrance and care. Appalachians believe that where you come from matters; roots run deep. But Appalachia is also a region that has experienced long periods of declining industry and poverty that continue to be ignored. From my cultural history, I know how important it is to be a part of your community and to never lose sight of the people around you. This summer I wanted to get involved and connected to my new community here in Lewiston. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mya:<\/strong> What drew me in was the opportunity to work within my own hometown community while working with public art and people who also love the arts. Growing up, I had no idea what a strong presence public art had in Lewiston\/Auburn, so I was expected to gain exposure to these sites and learn how the community interacts with and appreciates art and artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chris:<\/strong> I did not have any particular plans in mind for what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to learn new things and have an entirely new experience that would get me out of my comfort zone. I found out about this opportunity through Mohamed Awil, the college’s Associate Director of Volunteer Programs and Community Partnerships, and he thought I would be a good fit for this particular program. I was excited to learn as much as I could during the seemingly short summer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tell us about the community organization or project you worked with. What did your work look like day to day?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lucy:<\/strong> I worked with Gather to Grow, an organization directed by Bates alumna Kirsten Walter whose mission is to create a thriving community by building a just food system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Every day looked a little different for me, but most of the time I was working with the garden coordinator, Bridget Bartlett, working in the large gathering garden at the main building in downtown Lewiston, maintaining the kitchen garden beds that housed herbs and vegetables for staff lunches as well as community gardens. We would also go out to the many community gardens across Lewiston-Auburn and do maintenance work in the garden or bring supplies to community gardeners who had their own plots in those gardens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mya:<\/strong> I worked with LA Arts, the community arts agency for Lewiston and Auburn, where the mission is to use arts and culture to build a vibrant community. I gained exposure to many different areas of both the art world and community engagement. Every day looked different; some days I spent working in the gallery on Lisbon Street in downtown Lewiston, interacting with individuals interested in the newest exhibition, while I spent other days learning how to curate or transport a show. I also enjoyed working on Art Walk evenings, where I got to meet so many awesome people and artists and learn so much about the Lewiston community in such a fun way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Chris:<\/strong> I worked for the Maine MILL, short for the Maine Museum of Innovation, Learning, and Labor, whose executive director is Bates alumna Rachel Ferrante. When I first started my work, they had just finished moving into their new location and were preparing for the official opening of the new space. The museum focuses on the history of Lewiston and Auburn, and the things such as resources, jobs, and new opportunities that attracted people to settle and make their lives here. It offers a glimpse of some of the major industries like shoemaking, brickmaking, and textiles that thrived in the surrounding area, and it highlights the experiences of the people who helped build this community and are continuing to do that today. My day-to-day work consisted of various tasks as we were learning the ins and outs of the new museum space, along with doing admissions and giving guided tours of the museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"](\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/harward\/files\/2026\/09\/garden.webp\")
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