Hi Friends, Ten years ago, I’d guess that few people reading this newsletter would have known what Narcan is. Today, many know it’s a drug that can reverse an opioid overdose. Parents of teens have been urged to keep it on hand — advice as terrifying as it is practical. People — family, friends, neighbors, children —...
Hi Friends, If I were a betting woman, I’d bet that every single person in Whatcom County has benefited from the work of at least one of our nonprofit organizations — they’re so integral to our lives we risk taking them for granted. That’s a problem. Because with the erosion of this committed and hardworking “third...
Hello neighbors! Today we’re looking at housing in Whatcom County, and how to crack the serious lack of places to live affordably for anyone who makes less than $150,000 a year. Both locally and statewide, there are many smart and compassionate people across the public, private and nonprofit sectors focused on improving housing infrastructure. They are...
Hello neighbors! What a stunning summer it’s been, especially considering the extreme heat experienced virtually everywhere else in the country. But our community has not wholly escaped the consequences of hot dry conditions– as I write, the Sourdough fire is not expected to be contained until October; I just spoke with partners about relief funding for...
Happy Summer, Neighbors! In keeping with the spirit of optimism that maximum daylight brings, we’re continuing our focus on economic opportunity in Whatcom County with a spotlight on employee ownership. As an option for business owners that brings a variety of both individual and collective benefits, employee ownership offers a lot of upsides. Read on for...
Hello Community Builders! How is it almost Memorial Day already? Time flies when you're breaking ground on our county's first community benefit project! More on that in a later issue. For now it's neighbor time: backyard BBQs, front porch visiting, summer concerts, farmers markets and all the other ways we get outside and get to know the...
Hi Neighbors - We’re focusing this and the next two issues of THRIVE on economic opportunity in Whatcom County. With such a big topic, it’s good to start at the beginning — so let’s talk about babies! After that, we’ll look at the many benefits of employee ownership and then conclude with the Millworks, a community...
Greetings Friends - It’s been a slow start to the growing season, but here’s to the berries and beans that are finally on their way — and the full bounty of summer just around the corner. Most of us want everyone in our community to enjoy abundance at the table. Sadly, we’re far from that reality;...
Friends - As part of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re spotlighting the state of youth mental health in Whatcom County. Tragically, as many of you have seen in the news, a young person in our community died by suicide earlier this week. So here we are, living the statistics outlined below. We wrestled with whether...
Welcome to Thrive 2022 Hello Friends - We’re taking a new approach to sharing the Community Foundation's work this year, focusing each bimonthly issue on a key community challenge. We’re hoping this provides helpful insight as we work together to make this beautiful county of ours a place where everyone has what they need to thrive. Mauri Ingram, President...
