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.