Are We Ready to Bridge the Gap Between Intent and Action?Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ Νβ€Œ 
CommonUnity

Greetings Subscriber First Name, 

I do love the cathartic process of a new year coming my way. Reflection is a daily process for me, and to end a year is a filter to see if I am being true to myself. Does how I use my time reflect what I value? Does the allocation of my money align with what I believe? Does what I put in and on my body match how I want to eat and show up physically in the world?

This year was a big one for me, with the first full year of CommonUnity and juggling two knee replacements with the day-to-day responsibilities. It was a gift to have an impact civically, locally, systemically, personally and professionally. And in turn, I was impacted. I obtained my Human Systems Dynamics Certification through a five-month intensive to support the work I am already doing. I have defined that I am a Community Weaver, and that is my foundational intention. I am part of two international groups that support community weaving. How do we and can we come together? I realize that while the group is based at the Aspen Institute out of Colorado, the states are definitely underrepresented in presence. Beloved community, being seen, heard, valued or loved, and regenerative leadership is not the go-to mode in our busy, production-oriented and fast-paced world. I want to be a part of that change.

2023 was a year many companies and people simply got through. No one ever showed us how to heal and return after a collective trauma. I work with companies that want to do things differently, yet incremental change does not yield fast results. So much is broken that it seems we need to see a grand process, rather than the small steps it takes to truly create lasting change. 

What do you see? What keeps you up at night? How can CommonUnity or I support you? It all starts with a conversation. Being relational rather than transactional. I very much look forward to that conversation. 

I wish for you a 2024 that is filled with the things that fill you up. And strong health for you and your place of work. Strong teams. Strong outcomes. Strong partnerships. Strong collaborations and relationships. 

With Gratitude, Grace and Anticipation, Kathy
 

Peer Support Groups

There are spots left in the Fundraising Cohort that begins on January 10! This is such an important group because fundraising is hard right now and it is such a vital role in our non-profit community. Send me a quick message if you are interested and I’ll get you registered.

 

πŸ—“οΈ CommonUnity Events

We’ve got some exciting things planned for the first part of 2024!

Lunch and Learns

Lunch and Learns are back and better than ever with special guests!

Mark your calendars for noon on the 3rd Thursday of each month, and connect with me on LinkedIn because we will be broadcasting LIVE!

On January 18, I will share about Caring for Self in Chaotic World, and if you would prefer a Zoom link, please register here.

Executive Coach Adrienne Wagner will join me on Burnout for Intersectional Identities in February. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell, Ph.D. of Co3 Consulting, will share about the Spring Equinox | The Ultimate Dose of Inspiration and Rejuvenation.

Mini-gatherings for Women

We received your feedback last autumn that you would like to gather earlier than our scheduled March retreat. We had a delightful get-together in November at Artisans Books & Coffee in downtown Everett, and we have two more events planned. These events aim to catch up with one another or get to know each other better. It’s been such a long time since we regularly gathered. Please let us know if you plan to attend so we can arrange some snacks. Both events are free, and you can find the registration links below.

CREATE | Mini-gathering for Women
January 26 | 4:30 - 6:00 PM
Brigid’s Bottle Shop
188 Sunset Ave South, Edmonds, WA 98020
Register here.

TRANSFORM | Mini-gathering for Women
February 8 | 4:30 - 6:00 PM
Blanc & Rouge
801 First St, Unit 203, Snohomish, WA  98290
Register here.


Women’s Retreat

CONNECT, CREATE and TRANSFORM | A Gathering for Women
March 1-3, 2024 | Camp Killoquoa

Embark on a transformative journey at our upcoming women's retreat, where connection, creation, and transformation converge to empower and inspire. This retreat is a sacred space designed for women of all generations to come together, fostering meaningful connections and embracing the power of collective energy. 

Take time to reflect, walk in nature, and immerse yourself in somatic movement, guided meditation, art, storytelling, journaling, and music.

Tickets are limited, so don't miss this opportunity to create lasting memories, forge deep connections, and embark on a journey toward personal and collective transformation. Register now and embark on a transformative weekend that will leave you inspired, empowered, and connected.
 Register for Connect, Create and Transform 
 

🎢 What I’m Listening To

Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield

While I found this song long after it was written in 2004, the words still shape my level of positivity, self-perspective and sense of potential. A new year and a new day are unwritten. Coloring outside the lines is permission-worthy, as is permitting yourself to author your minutes, days, and years. Your life. 


πŸ’­ A Poem I'm Thinking About

Prescription For The Disillusioned by Rebecca Del Rio

As we embark on a new year, let us all cast off that which limits our vision, empathy and compassion. Could this be the year we truly embrace a willingness to know and see one another? To truly be curious when we note judgment arising within us?

πŸ“š What I'm Reading

I will start the year with the admission that I am catching up on my own reading and following Carrie Morehouse's idea for the pile of non-fiction at my desk of reading 10 pages a day. I am picking up Eric Liu's book again this January - You're More Powerful Than You Think - A Citizen's Guide to Making Change Happen. In a time with low voter turnout, lack of connection, record apathy and lonliness, I see so many that want to simply be seen and heard. To belong. Politics is often a place people show up to be a part of.

This book centers purpose and doing something. Understanding and changing the game, story and equation. Talk to us about this book. About what support looks like. Let's start the year by defining what civic engagement and citizenship mean personally and collectively.

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

πŸ—“οΈ Community Events I’m Looking Forward To

Engage Everett’s 18th Birthday Party @ Game On PNW January 10

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Inspirational Breakfast @ AOTWA January 12

100th Anniversary Open House @ Hodges Building January 18

Snoho Art Walk @ Downtown Snohomish January 25
 

πŸ’• Thoughts on Community

Planting Seeds of Change: How Jason Cockburn’s Second Chance Foundation is Making a Difference

Addiction and homelessness continue to have a serious impact on our community, and Leadership Snohomish County grad Jason Cockburn is doing something about it. With 25 years of homelessness experience, starting when he was a child, he knows a thing or two about living on the streets. He is using his experience and voice to help others. 

In 2016, along with Kyle Von Stroberg, he founded the Second Chance Foundation, which now stands as a beacon of hope and transformation for those seeking a fresh start. At the heart of the Second Chance Foundation's mission is a commitment to bringing hope and support to individuals and their loved ones battling addiction. They're on a mission to make a difference in the lives of formerly incarcerated and homeless individuals ready to take a new path in life.

Thriving is the objective, and Second Chance provides scholarships to carefully screened applicants and works to craft a plan that may include treatment, mentorship and education to kickstart members to reach their goals.

Second Chance is committed to serving the community in various ways. For instance, the organization opens its doors to provide a cooling shelter for those in need. Second Chance also advocates for the unhoused community by speaking up against government decisions they believe negatively impact the population, such as the no-sit, no-lie policy and the 30-day mandatory minimum rule. They also work well collaborating with Volunteers of America Western Washington, Snohomish County Mutual Aid, Victim Support Services, and Fallen Brothers for Mutual Aid, just to name a few.

Funded with individual donations and a pandemic grant from Snohomish County, Second Chance impacted the lives of 26,400 people last year in a real way. On Christmas Day alone, 129 people went through their hall, and 214 were reached on the street to get food, sleeping bags and warm weather gear. With Mr. and Mrs. Claus at hand, they drove to impact 76 families at Christmas.

Jason was recently appointed to the Partnership to End Homelessness with the  Snohomish County Human Services team to represent persons with lived experience around homelessness. 

We recently saw a meme wondering how much worse the world will get this year. Someone replied they knew there would be flowers. Why? Because they were planting seeds. Let’s all help Jason plant seeds in 2024. Planting seeds can be as simple as sharing this information with others. Or if you are able, donations are always very welcome. Learn more about the Second Chance Foundation here.
 

Creating a bird-friendly environment in your backyard can be a great way to support the avian community in our area during the winter months. One simple way to achieve this is by installing a birdhouse. Birdhouses can provide shelter for birds during harsh weather and offer a great opportunity for you to enjoy the presence of birds in your backyard. And with spring just around the corner, you'll be ready to welcome nesting families, too.

Check out the colorful birdhouse options CommonUnity has to offer.
 CommonUnity Birdhouses - Order Today 
 


Some still wonder 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 you’re doing is working, we can build on that foundation to grow your work and strategically plan the next steps. 
 
 Schedule a free Let’s Connect Meeting 
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CommonUnity

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