Welcome, Emily Shanahan

Please join us in welcoming Emily Shanahan to the Healthy Acadia team! 

Emily Shanahan joins us as AmeriCorps/Hunger Free America VISTA Food Security Coordinator in Hancock County. Emily will work to improve access to healthy food for people experiencing food insecurity in Hancock County by building partnerships between local farms and food pantries; increasing participation in community gardens and nutrition benefit programs at farmers markets and farm stands; organizing county-wide food drives and fundraising events; and recruiting volunteers.

Originally from Hillsboro, Ohio, Emily holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business Management, Minors in Sustainability, Energy, and the Environment, Human Rights Studies from University of Dayton, and worked with the Food & Growing team at the Hanley Sustainability Institute. She served a previous AmeriCorps term as Nutrition and Food Access VISTA at Together, Inc., , in Omaha, Nebraska, before moving to Bar Harbor to assist Healthy Acadia’s food security team in Hancock County.

Emily, what prompted you to join the Healthy Acadia team?

I'm really excited about the Healthy Food For All programs and opportunity to work on community-based, systems-focused initiatives to build a more just and sustainable local food system.

What inspires you most about Healthy Acadia's work?

The breadth of Healthy Acadia's work! The recognition of the many intersecting aspects of health and the holistic approach to building healthy communities.

What inspires you on a personal level?

Community, storytelling, beautiful people and places.

What is your favorite thing to do, or place to be, in Maine, and why?

I'm new to the area, so I'm taking suggestions! Less than a year ago I was living on an island on the Pacific Coast and experiencing the most incredible sunsets over the water. Now I'm taking in as many Atlantic sunrises as I can.

Contact Emily by email at emily.shanahan@healthyacadia.org.