FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Beaver Island, MI — The 2025 Great Lakes Islands Summit concluded on September 24 on Beaver Island, drawing island leaders, residents, and partners from across the Great Lakes and beyond. Organized by the Great Lakes Islands Alliance (GLIA), the four-day gathering showcased the power of collaboration, community-driven solutions, and shared learning among island communities.
This year’s theme, “Collaboration,” was woven throughout the program. The Summit opened with a community welcome and networking session, setting the tone for breakout discussions on education, housing, arts and culture, environment, and economies, all from the perspective of islands. Participants toured Beaver Island’s new housing units, explored historic museums, and visited the Central Michigan University Biological Station, reinforcing the importance of hands-on learning and peer exchange. A keynote address by Jennifer Valiulis, Territorial Chief of Wildlife for the U.S. Virgin Islands Division of Fish and Wildlife, highlighted the global context of island stewardship and the role of community partnerships in protecting cultural and natural resources.
The agenda balanced structured workshops with informal gatherings, including evening cultural performances, shared meals, and networking opportunities. “The summit was solution-focused rather than problem-focused,” said Renee Fultz of Put-In-Bay, underscoring the practical approach that defined the sessions. For Angel Welke of Beaver Island, the emphasis on collective energy was key: “It’s not just about sharing challenges. It’s about sharing the small solutions that can grow into something bigger. The excitement here is real, and I hope it turns into lasting momentum.”
Breakouts on healthcare, emergency services, housing, and environmental protection sparked interest. Matt Preisser, GLIA Coordinator, emphasized that the summit is not about copying and pasting solutions, but being inspired and maybe adapting ideas from one community to suit another: “The question is always: what can your island try? What works in one place may not necessarily work everywhere, but we want to help expose islanders to real-world examples so they may see what is possible. Often solutions appear too difficult or even impossible, until you see another community doing it.”
For many, the chance to connect across borders was just as meaningful. Laurie Cook of Manitoulin Island reflected, “The opportunity to interact with our American neighbors reminded us that we islanders share the same challenges, the same goals, and have more commonalities than differences.”
The Summit wrapped up with a forward-looking discussion on GLIA’s next steps, a participant survey, and a group photo to mark the occasion. As attendees departed Beaver Island, many carried with them new ideas, partnerships, and renewed energy to strengthen their communities. “Any amazing thing that happens on an island comes from a person with passion, energy, and willpower,” said Bob Anderson of Beaver Island. “When you surround that spark with support, that’s when things really grow.”
Support for the 2025 Islands Summit came from an array of individuals and organizations, with notable foundational support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation; Bob and Alana Anderson; the Charlevoix County Community Foundation; the Mackinac Island Community Foundation; Chadams Glass; Ottawa County Improvement Corporation; Island Airways, and GLIA’s primary institutional partners, the Stewardship Network and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
A final Summit report will be available later this fall on the GLIA website, glialliance.org.
About GLIA
Great Lakes Islands Alliance (GLIA) is a voluntary, multinational, collaborative network that brings together individuals from year-round island communities across the Great Lakes. GLIA fosters cross-island collaboration to address shared challenges such as housing, transportation, climate resilience, and economic prosperity. With members representing island communities in the U.S. and Canada, GLIA serves as a grassroots-driven network promoting stewardship, sustainability, and cultural exchange.
Media Contact:
Philip Rice, Communications Specialist
price@stewardshipnetwork.org