Joseph Knox

I have a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Maine, where I graduated with Cum Laude honors and a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor fraternities. Currently, I am continuing my education with the ultimate goal of obtaining Secondary Social Studies teaching certification. I spent over two years as a reporter for WQCB-FM in Brewer, Maine where I was part of an award winning news team. The Maine Association of Broadcasters recognized me for spot news and feature reporting, and the Maine Associated Press also presented me with an award for spot news reporting.

In 2003, I turned my long love of the Maine woods into a Professional Maine Guide's license. The rigorous training required me to demonstrate knowledge of map and compass reading techniques, wilderness first aid, and basic survival skills. I've hiked over 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail in Maine and New Hampshire, several miles of Acadia National Park, and nearly every corner of Baxter State Park featuring the incomparable Mt. Katahdin. On the water, I've taken many multiple-night kayak trips down some of Maine's most beautiful and remote rivers. I've shared my knowledge of canoes and kayaks with the kids at Camp Jordan in Maine, the oldest YMCA camp in the east.

After leaving radio, I spent many years working at a psychiatric and substance abuse treatment facility in Bangor, Maine. There, I helped patients and their families navigate the myriad services available to them, and saw first-hand many of the challenges they faced on the road to recovery, and dealt with many who found themselves at the lowest point of their lives.

I am now involved with the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine, where I serve on the Education Committee. I have contributed numerous articles to their newsletter (www.peacectr.org), written opinion pieces for the Bangor Daily News (www.bangornews.com), and helped plan events such as public rallies and educational film series. I also created and maintain the Center's group page on MySpace.