Fall Gatherings on the Land and Online

A sunny autumn afternoon on the land, and the joy of gathering outdoors with beloved old and new friends as Covid-safely as possible: what a genuine dose of goodness for nearly 75 people who met on the land for our free Gratitude & Hope community event last September. In lieu of an annual fundraising Gala dinner, friends of all ages explored outdoors for a few hours to experience warm community connections, updates on Whidbey Institute programming and projects, and a glimpse of the new Caretaker Cabin and Commons. Above all we reveled in the opportunity to simply be together on the land again. Our brief program shared updates on the hard work underway to ensure that the Whidbey Institute emerges from the pandemic era whole and inspired to serve the dramatically apparent needs of this time. Our afternoon was capped off by a spectacular take-home dessert: flavorful frosted cupcakes lovingly made by Chef Christyn Johnson. In October 2021, our Storytelling & Sensemaking program brought over 60 people together on Zoom from near and far. We shared favorite memories from the first 50 years of Chinook and the Whidbey Institute, and heard from program leaders who represent the inspired, relevant, and change-making programs returning to the land in 2022 and beyond. These two events kicked off our Fall 2021 fundraising season, an extended effort that was a rousing success. From September to December 2021 our generous donors contributed over $176,000 to the Whidbey Institute—providing much-needed support for Commons completion, staffing for land care and program operations, and Community-Supported Restoration & Renewal Retreats so that those most in need of the land’s nourishment and healing can experience a retreat. Thank you donors; thank you supporters everywhere!

Pictured, Marnie Jackson speaks during our September 2021 Gratitude & Hope event on the land. For a video of Marnie’s remarks, visit www.vimeo.com//619166698. Photo by Liam Adadow.