The Martha’s Vineyard Vision Fellowship seeks to encourage a healthy and vibrant Vineyard future by investing in promising individuals who demonstrate a commitment to the Island and to the ideals of sustainability.

In 1987, the World Council on Environment and Development defined sustainable development as that which “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” In the context of Martha’s Vineyard, we believe that a sustainable future is one in which we have achieved a balance between the demands that we place on the Island’s resources, both human and environmental, and our capacity to protect and nourish these resources so that they not only survive but thrive for generations to come. The Martha’s Vineyard Vision Fellowship aims to support individuals who share this commitment to the Island’s future.

The Vision Fellowship was established in 2006 and currently supports 10 Fellows as well as an active community of alumni and mentors.

Areas of focus

In 2012, we are most interested in supporting individuals working:
• To pursue environmentally sustainable methods for dealing with water and waste, including composting, sewering and waste water nitrogen management, or
• to encourage the development and adaptation of renewable energy technologies and energy efficient systems, including retrofits to our existing building stock, or
• to encourage and support Aging in Place for elderly Island residents who wish to remain in their homes and active in their communities, considering issues including transportation, housing, healthcare, food and nutrition, professional and household services and access to social networks, or
• to encourage and increase the use and safety of alternative modes of transportation, such as bicycles and public transportation, to relieve congestion, promote healthy living and reduce the negative impact of automobiles on the Island's environment, or
• to protect open space, biodiversity, and a culture of stewardship, or
• to increase the availability of affordable housing that is both ecologically and socially responsible.

In addition to the above priority areas, we are especially interested in potential mentors and fellows with an aptitude in or a desire to acquire skills in the following functional areas:

• engineering
• community organizing
• marketing and fundraising
• media and journalism
• planning and zoning