“The South Whidbey Commons”
A place for people of all ages to gather, learn and grow.
Nonprofits collaborate to feed and empower youth
A partnership between Whidbey Island Nourishes (WIN) and the South Whidbey Commons feeds young people and empowers them to support themselves through job training. For nearly five years, hungry youth and adults have benefitted from free meals...
The Harvest Gala
Our first ever dinner-auction exceeded everyone’s expectations. Love for each other, our community, and the Commons was palpable in the room the evening of October 29, and those in attendance put legs on that love. The event raised more...
From vacationers to volunteers
“You need community, even when you’re on vacation,” says Haley Herrin. Although she and her family live in Seattle, Haley, her twin sister Hanna, and their mother Julie have found community by serving as volunteer baristas at the South...
The Third Place
In his book, The Great Good Place, urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg observed that, in addition to their home and workplace, human beings need a “third place,” a public place where people of all ages and interests can enjoy one another’s company. Examples of third places include coffee houses, cafés, and bookstores. Oldenburg writes, “. . . when the good citizens of a community find places to spend pleasurable hours with one another for no specific or obvious purpose, there is purpose to such association. Further, the most important of the purposes or functions served by informal public gathering places cannot be supplied by any other agencies in the society.”
The mission of the South Whidbey Commons is to provide an intentional third place for the community to gather. The space, programs, volunteer- and job training opportunities are designed to build community and create connections. It’s a place to meet friends and make new ones.
The history of the South Whidbey Commons
The South Whidbey Commons grew out of a 1998 county-wide Family and Youth Summit at which participants came together to create a shared vision and plan toward an increasingly healthy and connected South Whidbey community.
At a three-day conference in 2001, 65 community members identified the need to create new opportunities for people of all ages to gather and connect. After the conference, these community members continued working on the project. Initially, they envisioned a building in the Bayview area, where a number of agencies would find a home. As doors closed there and new windows opened elsewhere, the South Whidbey Commons evolved to its current location in Langley, where it fulfills its original mission: to strengthen our community by creating opportunities for people of all ages to gather, learn, and grow.
The South Whidbey Commons became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 2002. In October 2008, the South Whidbey Commons purchased the Langley property that is home to the flagship program, the South Whidbey Commons Coffeehouse Bookstore.
Testimonials
“I’m thankful for the Commons because of the community it gave me. It really helped me to blossom into the person I wanted to be. For the first time, I felt like I belonged somewhere, and I’ll always treasure those memories. It gave me a haven from a bad home life, so that I never wanted to leave! I’m thankful for the healthy environment of The Commons. Although I never totally confided about it, the Commons changed my life.”
A volunteer barista
“I am grateful for the incredible staff and the drive towards ultimate teamwork at the Commons Coffeehouse, and the friendly environment that the Commons provides.”
A volunteer barista and Friday Night Live performer
“I am thankful for the opportunity to get to know so many new and wonderful people through my work with the SWC. I’ve met inspirational and talented teens, 20-somethings, many in the middle, and 80-year-olds I can’t keep up with! I am truly blessed.”
A member of the South Whidbey Commons board of directors