Breaking New Ground
Photo by Thomas Arthur
In a time of multiple crises, the future of retreat centers is often unclear. So when partners in our collaboration break ground for new construction, it’s a cause for celebration!
The Whidbey Institute is a home for transformational learning within a 106-acre conservation forest campus on South Whidbey Island in coastal Washington state, featuring integrated gardens and a four-mile trail network. The Whidbey Institute is located on the territory of the Lower Skagit, Swinomish, Suqamish, and Snohomish tribes—the island Tscha-kole-chy, named Whidbey Island by colonial settlers.
On January 29, team members from the Whidbey Institute, Jade Craftsman Builders, and Taproot Architects plus guests from Commonweal met for a brief Groundbreaking Ceremony at the future site of the Commons—a flexible, multi-purpose space for hosting transformative work in the years and decades ahead. Despite the disruption of COVID-19, this project offers a glimpse of a future in which we will gather again—sitting in circle, deep in the conversations that will move us toward a more just and equitable collective future.
Starting Commons construction is a milestone that the Whidbey Institute could not have reached without a great deal of thoughtful partnership and generous support. They thank the many donors who made this project possible, including 45 donors who pledged three years of support and over 100 more who gave to this project; the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust; volunteer Project Manager Tucker Stevens, who stepped up to this role during his board service; designer Matthew Swett; builder Dan Neumeyer; site work contractors J & D Wallace; staff and board members who've given tirelessly to all aspects of this project; and Senior Fellow Sharon Daloz Parks for her decades-long tending of this vision.
The Whidbey Institute anticipates hosting small groups in this new space beginning in Autumn 2021 and providing space for larger groups, breakout sessions, and other uses for generations to come.
These photos are notable as they depict several generations, including Chinook/Whidbey Institute octogenarian founder Fritz Hull (second from left, top photo) as well as the young children of Project Manager Tucker Stevens.
Photo by Thomas Arthur