The Vineyard Preservation Trust invites Islanders to gather this January for Community in Conversation at the Carnegie, an early evening speaker series that brings the community together around timely topics rooted in Martha’s Vineyard life. 

“Community in Conversation is about creating space for Islanders to come together — especially in the quieter winter months — to listen, learn, and reflect on the forces shaping our shared experience,” said Sissy Biggers, community engagement director for the Vineyard Preservation Trust. “These programs connect local expertise with universal questions, and the Carnegie is the perfect setting for that exchange.”

 

Wednesday, Jan. 21

“The Doctor Is in: Winter Medicine on Martha’s Vineyard”

Dr. Gerry Yukevich, Martha’s Vineyard Medical

Dr. Gerry Yukevich draws on 27 years of emergency and hospice care on Martha’s Vineyard, and will share stories of winter medicine and the lessons they hold for all of us. An actor, author, and gifted storyteller, Yukevich weaves together the history of healthcare on the Island with firsthand accounts from emergency rooms, offering practical insight on what to heed — and what to avoid — during the cold season.

 

Wednesday, Jan. 28

“Reimagining Higher Education: Learning, Work, and Community”

Ana Keilson and Justin Reynolds, co-cirectors, Gull Island Institute

What should higher education look like today, and what role should it play in local, national, and global communities? Ana Keilson and Justin Reynolds will lead a conversation about the mission and work of the Gull Island Institute, a Falmouth-based education nonprofit that reimagines liberal arts education through academics, physical labor, and student self-governance. The institute will bring a small cohort of undergraduates from across the country to Martha’s Vineyard for a monthlong program in May and June 2026. 

 

Community in Conversation at the Carnegie programs are open to the public. Seating is limited.

For more information, visit vineyardtrust.org or call 774-549-9107. Carnegie Heritage Center, 58 North Water St., Edgartown.