The Island Institute

The Island Institute cultivates uncommon conversations about the nature of vital communities—the web of human relationships and responsibilities, and our connections to the greater natural world. We use the literary arts as a means of inquiry into the core values of community, and promote collaborative leadership as an avenue to deepen democratic principles of civic engagement. We are committed to fostering insight and inquiry that contribute to local, regional, and global efforts to shape sustainable human communities and cultures.

Since its founding in 1984, the Island Institute’s programs have included

• the nationally-recognized Sitka Symposium on writing about story, place, and community (1984-2009)
• a residency program for writers (1989 to present)
• publication of Connotations, a literary journal (1993 to present)
• community sustainability inititatives (1996 to present)
• collaborative leadership initiatives to strengthen the civic community (1998 to present)

We encourage you to visit our website for to get a fuller sense of our work.