Thriving Communities

10/14/2026

What helps a community recover when things get difficult? It’s less about individual toughness and more about neighbors who know each other and are willing to act for the common good. 🌱🤝

Our latest film follows South Whidbey Prepares on Whidbey Island, Washington—a community working together to prepare for emergencies.

Read more: https://wix.to/0URoDhm

10/08/2026

Communities can do so much when people work together: Research shows social ties predict survival after disasters more than wealth or aid. On South Whidbey, South Whidbey Prepares is turning that insight into action: neighborhood champions bring people together to map needs, share resources, and coordinate before disaster hits. Watch our short film "The Regenerative Power of Community" and learn practical first steps for your block: https://wix.to/OBdHwE6 🌲🤝🗺️

09/02/2026

Three days in Langley — and neighbors staying long after the credits to talk about the housing, food, and care work happening right here on the island.

Thank you to Cassandra Diamond and the South Whidbey Record for spending time with us, to the organizations who trusted us with their stories, and to everyone who filled those seats.

Read on: https://www.southwhidbeyrecord.com/2026/08/21/thrivingfest-celebrates-community-through-film/

08/17/2026

What an incredible three days on Whidbey, but none of it would have been possible without extraordinary volunteers like ! Roux captured the event in images, video and words in a way that beautifully shared the spirit of community and care that makes Whidbey, the people, and the organizations here so special.

In Roux’s own words, “Thank you to all the kind souls who helped put ThrivingFest together. Even though I was there to volunteer and take pictures, I actually learned a lot and it’s motivated me to help the community in more ways than I thought were possible and help myself. Thank you everyone again!” - Roux Stark.

THANK YOU, Roux from all of us—you are amazing! 💜🙏🤩💯

08/16/2026

wonderful to partner with you as always! 💜

We are thrilled to be a small part of this amazing event by Thriving Communities! Thank you for featuring Mother Mentors alongside so many community members and organizations that pour so much care into our neighbors!

If you’re able, come join us at 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM Whidbey Island Center for the Arts as we explore Supporting Our Community​.

“Featuring films about Mother Mentors of Whidbey, Friends of Friends, Island Senior Resources, Whidbey Veterans Resource Center, and Healing Circles Langley — each organization will share how their work has grown and evolved since filming.

The screenings will be followed by a panel and community conversation bringing together these and other organizations working at the intersection of care, healing, and community support. How do we sustain the health and well-being of all of our community members through each stage of life?”

08/16/2026

And… cut! 🎬 That's a wrap on three unforgettable days — films, real conversations, and the neighbors who keep showing up for each other. From all of us: thank you, Whidbey. Every volunteer, filmmaker, sponsor, and friend who pulled up a chair made this happen. The films thrive on at thrivingcommunities.org!

08/16/2026

At Healing Circles, our volunteers worked hard to set up beautiful tables of food to serve our community. Over lunch conversation focused on how we can show up for Whidbey Island and ways each of us can support our neighbors with the resources we have as individuals. Back at WICA, we spent time honoring Nancy Nordhoff. Her wife Lynn spoke with us about Nancy’s legacy, her vision for community, and the humor , compassion, and kindness Nancy modeled throughout he life and more than fifty years as an island resident.
Our afternoon session ended with discussion of what we each envision for the coming decades of our community. You can participate at home by answering the following questions:

* I envision Whidbey as a community where…
* This vision matters to me because…
* What meaningful action can we make today?

It was an incredible weekend, made possible by the entire Thriving Communities team. Thank you to Eden, Amy, Diane, Maggie, Kate, Bill, Jerry, and all of our volunteers and donors who came together with a vision of a community filled with love and connection. And thank you to each of you who attended an amazing festival that will create ripples of change in our community for years to come.

Goosefoot Community Fund
Whidbey Community Foundation
WICA
Healing Circles Global

communities

Photos by: Charlize G. Stark

08/16/2026

This morning’s panel focused on the health and wellbeing of our community members. As we settled into WICA, Eden led us in a song written by Faya Ora Rose Toure, the first black female judge in Alabama. Our four films of the morning were sponsored by Healing Circles Langley, Mother mentors, Friends of Friends Medical Support Fund, Whidbey Veteran’s Resource Center, and Island seniors resources. After which we were treated to a panel conversation featuring influential women from our own community who shared with us about their organizations and how they are working to change the future of our island.Once again our morning session was followed by a picnic lunch hosted by Healing Circles.

Thank you to everyone who joined us!

WICA
Friends of Friends
Island Senior Resources
Healing Circles Global
Mother Mentors of Whidbey Island

Free to Attend * Donations Welcome * RSVP appreciated



Photos by: Charlize G. Stark