{"id":34933,"date":"2025-07-18T14:18:37","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T18:18:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/?page_id=34933"},"modified":"2025-11-19T09:52:45","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T14:52:45","slug":"our-community","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/our-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Mitchell Center faculty and students are deeply committed to addressing the needs and concerns of diverse partners. Our research teams strive to promote open communication, mutual respect and trust because we believe they increase the potential for solving problems where multiple values and goals are often present. We have also demonstrated a unique ability to bring together diverse constituencies, listen to all sides, find common ground, and conduct credible, non-partisan analyses to assist in the development of effective policies and practices.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id34933_658821-21 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id34933_658821-21 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id34933_658821-21 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kb-row-layout-id34933_658821-21 > .kt-row-column-wrap > div:not(.added-for-specificity){grid-column:initial;}.kb-row-layout-id34933_658821-21 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(5, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-id34933_658821-21 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id34933_658821-21 > .kt-row-column-wrap > div:not(.added-for-specificity){grid-column:initial;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id34933_658821-21 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:repeat(5, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id34933_658821-21 > .kt-row-column-wrap > div:not(.added-for-specificity){grid-column:initial;}.kb-row-layout-id34933_658821-21 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id34933_658821-21 alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-5-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column34933_97835b-2e > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column34933_97835b-2e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column34933_97835b-2e > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column34933_97835b-2e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column34933_97835b-2e > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column34933_97835b-2e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column34933_97835b-2e{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column34933_97835b-2e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column34933_97835b-2e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column34933_97835b-2e\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/people\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/04\/Schattman-blueberry-fields-sm-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Rachel Schattman\" class=\"wp-image-34603\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/04\/Schattman-blueberry-fields-sm-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/04\/Schattman-blueberry-fields-sm-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/04\/Schattman-blueberry-fields-sm-93x140.jpg 93w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/04\/Schattman-blueberry-fields-sm-317x476.jpg 317w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/04\/Schattman-blueberry-fields-sm-423x635.jpg 423w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/04\/Schattman-blueberry-fields-sm-634x951.jpg 634w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/04\/Schattman-blueberry-fields-sm.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,683px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/people\/\">Faculty &amp; Staff<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column34933_4c6c46-98 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column34933_4c6c46-98 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column34933_4c6c46-98 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column34933_4c6c46-98 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column34933_4c6c46-98 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column34933_4c6c46-98 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column34933_4c6c46-98{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column34933_4c6c46-98 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column34933_4c6c46-98 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column34933_4c6c46-98\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/current-students\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1064\" height=\"1595\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2023\/11\/Kate-Flynn-cutting-ribbon.jpg\" alt=\"Student Kate Flynn cuts the ribbon for the Black Bear Community Fridge\" class=\"wp-image-30721\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2023\/11\/Kate-Flynn-cutting-ribbon.jpg 1064w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2023\/11\/Kate-Flynn-cutting-ribbon-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2023\/11\/Kate-Flynn-cutting-ribbon-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2023\/11\/Kate-Flynn-cutting-ribbon-768x1151.jpg 768w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2023\/11\/Kate-Flynn-cutting-ribbon-1025x1536.jpg 1025w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2023\/11\/Kate-Flynn-cutting-ribbon-93x140.jpg 93w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2023\/11\/Kate-Flynn-cutting-ribbon-317x475.jpg 317w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2023\/11\/Kate-Flynn-cutting-ribbon-423x634.jpg 423w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2023\/11\/Kate-Flynn-cutting-ribbon-634x950.jpg 634w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2023\/11\/Kate-Flynn-cutting-ribbon-846x1268.jpg 846w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2023\/11\/Kate-Flynn-cutting-ribbon-951x1426.jpg 951w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,1064px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/current-students\/\">Student Researchers<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column34933_087cb1-96 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column34933_087cb1-96 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column34933_087cb1-96 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column34933_087cb1-96 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column34933_087cb1-96 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column34933_087cb1-96 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column34933_087cb1-96{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column34933_087cb1-96 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column34933_087cb1-96 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column34933_087cb1-96\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/alumni-spotlight\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"798\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/Stevens-Hall-fall-crop.jpg\" alt=\"Stevens Hall, UMaine\" class=\"wp-image-35476\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/Stevens-Hall-fall-crop.jpg 800w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/Stevens-Hall-fall-crop-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/Stevens-Hall-fall-crop-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/Stevens-Hall-fall-crop-768x766.jpg 768w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/Stevens-Hall-fall-crop-105x105.jpg 105w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/Stevens-Hall-fall-crop-317x316.jpg 317w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/Stevens-Hall-fall-crop-423x422.jpg 423w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/Stevens-Hall-fall-crop-634x632.jpg 634w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/Stevens-Hall-fall-crop-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/Stevens-Hall-fall-crop-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/11\/Stevens-Hall-fall-crop-32x32.jpg 32w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,800px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/alumni-spotlight\/\">Alumni Spotlight<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column34933_922ea6-68 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column34933_922ea6-68 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column34933_922ea6-68 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column34933_922ea6-68 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column34933_922ea6-68 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column34933_922ea6-68 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column34933_922ea6-68{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column34933_922ea6-68 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column34933_922ea6-68 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column34933_922ea6-68\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/leadership-council\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"625\" height=\"938\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/05\/Ranco_Darren_5-1-25-crop.jpg\" alt=\"Darren Ranco\" class=\"wp-image-34682\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/05\/Ranco_Darren_5-1-25-crop.jpg 625w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/05\/Ranco_Darren_5-1-25-crop-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/05\/Ranco_Darren_5-1-25-crop-93x140.jpg 93w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/05\/Ranco_Darren_5-1-25-crop-317x476.jpg 317w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2025\/05\/Ranco_Darren_5-1-25-crop-423x635.jpg 423w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,625px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/leadership-council\/\">Leadership Council<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column34933_ddc8c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column34933_ddc8c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column34933_ddc8c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column34933_ddc8c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column34933_ddc8c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column34933_ddc8c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column34933_ddc8c7-91{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column34933_ddc8c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column34933_ddc8c7-91 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column34933_ddc8c7-91\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/advisory-board\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"598\" src=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2020\/08\/conference-room_crop-727881-pxhere.jpg\" alt=\"Conference Table\" class=\"wp-image-20424\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2020\/08\/conference-room_crop-727881-pxhere.jpg 600w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2020\/08\/conference-room_crop-727881-pxhere-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2020\/08\/conference-room_crop-727881-pxhere-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2020\/08\/conference-room_crop-727881-pxhere-105x105.jpg 105w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2020\/08\/conference-room_crop-727881-pxhere-317x316.jpg 317w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2020\/08\/conference-room_crop-727881-pxhere-423x422.jpg 423w, https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/293\/2020\/08\/conference-room_crop-727881-pxhere-32x32.jpg 32w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/advisory-board\/\">Advisory Board<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mitchell Center faculty and students are deeply committed to addressing the needs and concerns of diverse partners. Our research teams strive to promote open communication, mutual respect and trust because we believe they increase the potential for solving problems where multiple values and goals are often present. We have also demonstrated a unique ability to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":957,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-34933","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"taxonomy_info":[],"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"mitchellcenter","author_link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/author\/mitchellcenter\/"},"comment_info":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/34933","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/957"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34933"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/34933\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35490,"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/34933\/revisions\/35490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/mitchellcenter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34933"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}