Civic Reflection in Maine

Percival Baxter's gift to Maine of Mount Katahdin and 200,000 acres of adjacent land are perhaps the greatest of the many philanthropic acts that have shaped the physical and civic landscape of Maine.

The Maine Humanities Council has been a leader in the emerging field of civic reflection, the practice of reading and discussing short pieces of literature as a means of reflecting on central questions of civic life.

Civic groups, such as nonprofit boards, service clubs, or others engaged in shared public service, can benefit from coming together to reflect on the nature of their common work. Our experience has shown that these shared readings and discussions have value in strengthening the organizations that take the time to do them. Participants report developing a new and deeper understanding of one another and, in many cases, a new sense of shared purpose in their civic work. The Council has observed that groups who explore these questions in light of the larger world of ideas begin to think, talk, and work with each other in more imaginative, effective, and satisfying ways.

The Walker Art Museum at Bowdoin College houses more than 20,000 works of art in a striking Beaux Arts building designed by Charles Follen McKim in 1894. The gift of two sisters, Harriet Sarah and Mary Sophia Walker, the museum is widely regarded as one of the state's architectural treasures.

The Maine Humanities Council offers a number of resources for oganizations contemplating civic reflection. From the programming developed under its NEH-funded Thoughtful Giving initiative to its partnership with the Project on Civic Reflection at Valparaiso University, which maintains an extraordinary database of readings and has spearheaded the publication of The Civically Engaged Reader, an anthology of diverse readings on civic activities. The Council can also offer direct assistance with developing actual civic reflection programs. Please use the menu to the left to explore these resources or to contact a staff member for more information.