The poem and song I am listening to this month unintentionally aligned to bring me to hold this question about the remainder of our year and how we all waited so long to return to this environment of social events, work, family and friend connections. What? So What? Now What?

It seems we are all so busy trying to get something done. It appears that the something is often just putting one foot in front of the other. In your work world - what was learned from these past four years to change how you show up and work with others to have a greater impact? What are you doing differently? What needs to be done differently to support connecting in a stronger way with the reason you do your job and your why? 

Was there something you did in pandemic times that you have let go of because you are far too busy now? Walking, baking, knitting, taking road trips or connecting in a meaningful way with those around you? As our monthly poem accounts, when was the last time that you dared “To race up to the world as if I were a puppy, adoring and unjaded, stumbling on my own exuberance. To feel the shock of indifference, of anger, of cruelty, of fear, and stay open. To love as if it matters, as if the world depends on it.”?

Through CommonUnity, I do strengths work to help you or your teams show up and be their best. We have small peer groups to broaden your perspective of the world. There is a women’s retreat in November, and I work with those leading in systems to increase your potential in a world that makes that task difficult. Add board work to the list, and we are here for you.

Let me know what you are doing for you. What you are doing for your vocational impact. 

How do you want to finish this year? What does support look like? Share your success so we can tell the community stories of those creating common unity for the common good! Share your challenges too. 

With Gratitude and Summer Sunshine, Kathy

Fall Peer Groups are Filling Up, and We’ve Added a Remote Option!

I am so happy to bring peers together to support one another through CommonUnity Peer Support Groups.

We have space in our Fundraiser group. There is limited space in our Nonprofit Leader group, but we’ve added an online group and are excited about connecting leaders across the country. 

📆 CommonUnity Events

Community Gathering at Petrikor | August 24, 4:30 - 6:00 | 2816 Rucker Ave.

To me, community is everything, and it has been quite some time since I last saw you. I would love it if you could come and visit with me. It will be an informal gathering with delightful snacks and a lot of positivity. Additionally, you can explore the fantastic Petrikor - The Modern General. I am looking forward to seeing you soon! 💕

Connect, Create and Transform - A Gathering for Women | November 3-5 | Camp Killoqua

Together with Mari Shibuya, I am co-hosting an event focused on transformative practices, self-care, and fostering positive relationships with oneself and others. As part of the festivities, I am devising an activity centered around my passion for weaving. 

We have priced the retreat to remove financial barriers and even have the option to put a deposit down to save your spot. I do hope you will join us. Space is limited, so click here to learn more and register. 

Street Wisdom and World Wide Wander

I'm exploring the concept of Street Wisdom and the benefits of taking a wandering walk to gain a fresh perspective. I'm interested in organizing the World Wide Wander event in Everett on September 29th, so pencil that in on your calendar.

Check out these great podcast episodes to learn about Street Wisdom.

Join or Die Screening

I’m looking to bring a screening event for a film about the importance of community connections. Learn more about Join or Die here.

🎶 What I’m Listening To

I'm currently listening to "Don't Give Up" by Southern Avenue, which was released in 2017. They also have newer songs available. The lyrics are empowering, reminding listeners to believe in themselves and to return to love.

💭 A Poem I'm Thinking About

Because by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

So I can’t save the world—
can’t save even myself,
can’t wrap my arms around
every frightened child

Read the rest here

📚 What I'm Reading

On my nightstand is At Work in the Ruins: Finding Our Place in the Time of Science, Climate Change, Pandemics and All the Other Emergencies.

“One of the most perceptive and thought-provoking books yet written about the multiple intersecting crises that are now upending our once-familiar world. . . Essential reading for these turbulent times.” Amitav Ghosh, author of The Great Derangement

You can support local booksellers by purchasing this book from the CommonUnity Bookshop, and Uppercase Bookshop in Snohomish benefits from your purchase.

🗓️ Community Events I’m Looking Forward To

National Night Out, August 1, Everett Events, Snohomish, Mill Creek, Snohomish County.

Everett Food Truck Festival, Upper Left Beer Fest and Makers Market August 11 - 12.

Schack Art Center’s Fresh Paint August 19 - 20.

💕 Thoughts on Community

Have you heard about Farmer Frog? Their motto is “Sprouting Simple Change,” but I believe it should be “Sprouting Massive Community Impact.” 

Zsofia Pasztor is the Founder and Executive Co-Director and one of the hardest-working individuals I have ever met. And she does it all while coming from love and the most amazing of intentions. 

Farmer Frog educates students on cultivating food and provides meals to those in need. In the year 2021 alone, they provided 6.75 million meals in Washington State and 84 million meals nationwide. Aside from agriculture, they have camps and STUDIOS (STEAM, Transformation, Unique, Design, Inspiration, Outreach, Sites) to accompany their mission around education, distribution and building sustainable communities. 

They just moved to BearGrass Farm in Snohomish, and their livestock guardian dogs, Sirius and Fergus, love visitors. Learn more about Farmer Frog here.

Some still are wondering - what is it that Kathy is doing at CommonUnity? It falls under three explained areas on our website. 

Convene | Facilitate | Consult. 

We are building community and looking at systems, operations, mattering, fairness, transition management, collective governance and community-centric solutions (yes, that was mentioned first AND last). Things are difficult now in the workplace for all sectors. 

If what you’re doing isn’t working, we can help evaluate, dismantle and rebuild your system so you can successfully move forward. If what your doing is working, we can build on that foundation to grow your work and strategically plan next steps.