Network Learning: 2025
2025 ushers in a new set of learning opportunities! These bi-monthly presentations and panels explore topics grounded in equity and the vital conditions shaping...
Belonging and Civic Muscle
2023 Advocacy & Learning Series
Featured Collections
August 2023 Partner Convening: Building Bridges For Collective Action
This collection features recordings, presentation slides and resources that were shared at the 2023 August partner convening.
Reunión de socios de agosto de 2023: Tender puentes para la acción colectiva
Esta colección contiene grabaciones, diapositivas y recursos compartidos en la reunión de socios de 2023 celebrada en agosto.
Tribal Wellness Series
North Sound ACH is proud to be in partnership with Children of the Setting Sun Productions for the 2022 film series, Tribal Approaches to Wellness. We share com...
Network Learning: 2022
The North Sound Collaborative Action Network presents a learning and advocacy interactive webinar series for 2022, Advancing a Just and Inclusive Culture. Each ...
Avanzar en una cultura justa e inclusiva: serie de aprendizaje y promoción
La Red de Acción Colaborativa de North Sound presenta una serie de seminarios web interactivos de aprendizaje y defensa para 2022, Promover una cultura justa e...
Putting Belonging and Civic Muscle Into Practice
How is our region fostering belonging and civic muscle? What contributes to Belonging & Civic Muscle? What stands in the way?
Poner en práctica la pertenencia y el músculo cívico
¿Cómo fomenta nuestra región la pertenencia y el músculo cívico? ¿Qué contribuye a la pertenencia y al músculo cívico? ¿Qué se interpone en el camino...
Introduction to Belonging & Civic Muscle
What is belonging & civic muscle and why is it the central vital condition for well-being?
Introducción a la pertenencia y al músculo cívico
¿Qué es la pertenencia y el músculo cívico y por qué es la condición vital central para el bienestar?
Featured Resources
Understanding Disability in the LGBTQ+ Community
Societal norms pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as norms around ability, often work to deny LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilit...
Disability Language Style Guide (The National Center on Disability and Journalism)
As language, perceptions and social norms change rapidly, it is becoming increasingly difficult for journalists and other communicators to figure out how to ref...
The Links Between Disability, Incarceration, and Social Exclusion
Disabled people are disproportionately incarcerated and segregated from society through a variety of institutions. This report advances the understanding of dis...
Black Disability Justice Syllabus
Gathered by Sins Invalid, this resource covers essential history, health, activism, law, politics, and the arts.
10 Principles of Disability Justice
In 2005, disabled activists of color Patty Berne, Mia Mingus, and Stacey Milbern launched the framework of disability justice. They did this to expand upon the ...
The 504 Protests and the Black Panther Party
This article, from Disability Social History Project, discusses the importance of the Black Panthers to the disability rights movement. The largest and longest ...
Mental Health Conditions in the Workplace and the ADA
Psychiatric disabilities have a unique dynamic in the workplace because they are both very common and very misunderstood. The purpose of this brief is to info...
Prison Policy Initiative: Disability
People with disabilities are overrepresented at all stages of the criminal justice system, from jail and prison to probation and parole. This article presents ...
Indigeneity and Disability: The Teaching of Our Ancestors and Being in Relation Towards Harmonious Outcomes
Diné (Navajo) ancestral teachings of disability are a relational concept that embodies a sophisticated value system of care. The concept of k’é refers to ...
Disability Justice: Centering Intersectionality and Liberation with Patty Berne
A video discussion sponsored by the University of Washington’s Office of Public Lectures, featuring Patty Berne, Cofounder, Executive, and Artistic Direct...
How Green Groups Became So White and What to Do About It
If environmental organizations want to become racially diverse, says sociologist Dorceta Taylor, they need to change the way they perceive people of color. In a...
Indigenous Youth and Women Shaping Environmental Futures
This article, from Indian Country Today, highlights the Indigenous women in leadership positions in environmental justice movements as well as the role of young...
Advancing Health Equity for Intersex Individuals
A report by the US Department of Health and Human Services (January 2025), the result of an historic series of listening sessions with intersex individuals, adv...
Get the Facts on Gender-Affirming Care
An FAQ published by Human Rights Campaign on terminology and evidence-based practices to support gender-expansive indlviduals.
Washington State LGBTQ+ Survey Report 2025
This survey, published by the Washington STate LGBTQ Commission, was conducted to gain a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics and experiences of L...
Joy is Healthcare: Advancing Health Equity for Gender Expansive People
This article discusses how the Transgender Health and Wellness Center of Washington (Trans-Wa) is advancing “joy equity” as a foundational component...
Climate Action for Vulnerable Communities | 2025 Network Learning Session | [Recording]
Here you will find a recording of the September 17, 2025, learning session sponsored by North Sound ACH on “Climate Action for Vulnerable Communities, fea...
Potluck Project Toolkit
This resource is a link to the Potluck Project page of Paths to Understanding, with an option to download the Potluck Project toolkit. The resource is a low thr...
Closing & Next Steps
We hear reflections from ACH staff and partners about the day’s activities and next steps for the community campus discussion.
Partner Spotlights: Joyce L. Sobel FRC, DentALL, Millenia Ministries
Part three of our partner organization spotlights, featuring Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center, DentALL, and Millenia Ministries.
Community Campus – Ideas and Discussion
At this convening, we asked our partners to brainstorm together around the idea of a space that we collectively use – a physical space, a resource hub, an...
Moment of Reflection
We take a movement break and moment of reflection with Spring Cheng of the Resonance Path Institute.
Setting the Stage
North Sound ACH staff explain our main activity for this convening – discussing a community campus – and ground us in what led us to this possibilit...
Partner Spotlights: Peach Pit, Ideal Options, Bellingham Queer Collective
Part one of our partner organization spotlights, with Peach Pit, Ideal Options, and Bellingham Queer Collective
Transgender, Nonbinary, Intersex, and Gender Nonconforming Health and Well-Being | 2025 Learning Session | [Recording]
A recording of our live webinar on July 16, 2025, on advocacy and support for transgender, nonbinary, intersex, and gender nonconforming health and well-being, ...
Transgender, Nonbinary, Intersex, and Gender Nonconforming Health and Well-Being | 2025 Network Learning Session | [Slides]
These slides accompanied the July 16, 2025, Learning Session on Transgender, Nonbinary, Intersex, and Gender Nonconforming Health and Well-being
Power of Words Handbook: A Guide to Language about Japanese Americans in World War II
“Language is the archive of history” – Ralph Waldo Emerson. This resource, prepared by the National JACL Power of Words II Committee, explains...
Loma Linda University Health: Community Health Needs Assessment 2025
This resource outlines the health status, social conditions, and priorities of the region through data, community input, and strategic goals to guide health equ...
A Black Gaze
In A Black Gaze, Tina Campt examines Black contemporary artists who are shifting the very nature of our interactions with the visual through their creation and...
Setting Sun Institute: Digital Heritage Library [Recording]
In this session, we heard from Setting Sun Institute about their multi-faceted work to foster an Indigenous-led think tank with four interwoven branches: educat...
NAACP launches climate storytelling initiative to highlight communities of color
This article, from Spectrum News 1, discusses how to redefine climate advocacy through the lens of communities of color.
Why knowing your neighbors can be an important climate solution
This article, from NPR, focuses on a community in North Carolina that centers collaboration and community solutions to respond to climate-driven changes in thei...
How Miss Navi Ho uses the power of drag to educate about Two Spirit identity
This article, from The Advocate (June 2, 2025), discusses Nádleehi (Two Spirit) identity within the Navajo, or Diné, community. Historically, Two Spirit peopl...
Attacks on Gender-Affirming and Transgender Health Care
This article, from the American College of Physicians, addresses the impact of bans on gender-affirming care for the transgender community.
Japanese American Who Fought for Prison Camp Survivors Now Fighting for Reparations for Black Community
This article discusses the impact of the Civil Rights Movement for the Japanese-American community and the connections between the redress movement for Japanese...
Densho [Website]
Densho documents the testimonies of Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during World War II before their memories are extinguished. We offer these...
Refugee & Immigrant Services Northwest | RISNW [Website]
This is the website for Refugee & Immigrant Services Northwest (RISNW). For more than 40 years, Refugee & Immigrant Services Northwest has been helping ...
Turning Towards Each Other – Becky Payne
As Rippel’s President and CEO, Becky Payne leads the foundation’s efforts to shape a future in which all people and communities can thrive—no exceptions. ...
House of Wisdom
We heard from many of our partners about their work, at the January 2025 Partner Convening, and its only a small percentage of the amazing work being done in ou...
Targeted Universalism Explained
In this explainer video featuring Ashlin Malouf-Gashaw, you’ll learn about the T.U. framework, its strengths and benefits, its five stages, and how can stren...
Paths to Understanding
We heard from many of our partners about their work, at the January 2025 Partner Convening, and its only a small percentage of the amazing work being done in ou...
How the Arts Prepare Communities For the Future – Michael Greer
Michael Greer is the President & CEO of ArtsFund. His leadership experience spans both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, including executive and managem...
Bridging to Belonging – john a. powell
john a. powell (who spells his name in lowercase in the belief that we should be “part of the universe, not over it, as capitals signify”) is an internation...
Becky Payne ‘Turning Towards Each Other’ slide deck
Review the slide deck from Becky Payne’s presentation, Turning Towards Each Other, at the January 2025 Partner Convening.
Partner Spotlights – Slides
Review all the slides from the partner and ACH spotlights, shared at the January 2025 Partner Convening, including: Targeted Universalism community of practice,...
Micheal Greer ‘How the Arts Prepare Communities for the Future’ slide deck
Review the slides from Michael Greer’s presentation, How the Arts Prepare Communities for the Future, at the Janaury 2025 Convening.
john a. powell ‘Bridging to Belonging’ slide deck
Review the slides that john used during his Bridging to Belonging presentation at the January 2025 Partner Convening.
Setting Sun Institute Digital Heritage Library
This resource preserves and shares Indigenous media to inspire cultural understanding and drive meaningful action.
North Sound Well-Being Survey Launch
This resource aims to gather diverse community perspectives to shape the future of regional well-being, encouraging participation to ensure inclusive representa...
North Sound Oral Health: Local Impact Newsletter October 2023 – Issue 5
This resource highlights ongoing efforts to improve oral health equity in the North Sound region, focusing on community water fluoridation in Lynden and its pot...
Closing and Reflections
North Sound ACH CEO Liz Baxter leads convening participants in a reflection of the day.
Building a Thriving Region Together
We asked participants to imagine creating a new community campus, as an exercise in collaboration.
Movement Break
A shared movement break to nourish our bodies.
Keynote Milenko Matanovic
Milenko Matanovic has become an internationally recognized leader in collaboration. He is an artist and community builder focusing on turning people’s differe...
Connect and Collaborate
Giving the folks a chance to introduce themselves to each other and then start the day with a fun activity that gets folks in the mindset of collaboration.
Welcoming – From Partnership to Collaboration
Welcoming our attendees to the August 2024 Partner Convening, with North Sound ACH CEO Liz Baxter, Tribal and Community Liaison Michaela Vendiola, and a film by...
Arts Projects in the Network | Recording | January 2024 Partner Convening
Liz Baxter shares about an upcoming partner project, youth filmmakers and the importance of diversity in front of and behind the camera with Remy Styrkowicz, as...
Celebrating Artists | Recording | January 2024 Partner Convening
Our theme for the January 2024 Convening was the HeART of Transformation – bringing forth the importance of art in our life, and its often overlooked conn...
Language Access Workforce | Recording | January 2024 Partner Convening
The recording of our partner presentation about a Network project, Skagit Valley College: Language Access Workforce, with Brittney Maruska, Director of Business...
Potluck for Democracy
Potluck for Democracy is a toolkit that helps neighbors from different backgrounds come together across differences to recognize each other’s humanity and...
Embracing an Ecosystem of Complexity
North Sound ACH staff created this poster for the Othering & Belonging Conference, held in Oakland, CA from April 11-13, 2024. The poster visualizes a commu...
Distressed Communities Index
The Distressed Communities Index (DCI) brings attention to the deep disparities in economic well-being that separate U.S. communities. Using the latest Census d...
They Asked for PPE and Got Body Bags Instead
A Vogue magazine article from 2021 about Abigail Echo-Hawk (Pawnee) and her colleagues at the Seattle Indian Health Board receiving body bags instead of PPE, an...
Triumph Fashion Show
Video from the Fashion Show fundraiser, for the Triumph Teen Life Center in Mount Vernon, WA.
Artistic Dialogues: Healing Communities, Inspiring Activism [recording]
This session, from July 17, 2024, features panelists and group discussion on art as healing and as activism – recognizing art as a tool for self-care and ...
Video: Mount Vernon school district sees Mariachi music investment pay off
This is a video of a King 5 Seattle news article highlighting the investments of Skagit County in their high school music programs, showcasing MV Mariachi and i...
Triumph Teen Life Center
This center provides a range of services aimed at empowering teens and fostering community well-being through various supportive programs.
The Belonging Barometer: The State Of Belonging In America
“Belonging is a fundamental human need, and one that is linked to many of the most complex challenges of our time. The Center for Inclusion and Belonging ...
Podcast | Shelterforce: Essential Reporting on Affordable Housing
“For effective and inclusive community planning, it’s important that community development groups and local governments work closely with residents who ...
Voter Participation Is a Path to Health Equity: How Health Departments Can Promote a Healthy, Inclusive Democracy
This journal article discusses how public health agencies can use their resources and relationships to foster communities in which voting is accessible, easily ...
Why and How Should Public Health Promote Voting?
This article discusses why public health has a responsibility to promote civic and voter participation in order to advance health equity.
Slide Deck: Poetry – A Tool for Healing and Liberation | January 2024 Partner Convening
Slides from the session: Poetry – A Tool for Healing and Liberation | January 2024 Partner Convening
Our Community, Our Story: Community Health Workers Making an Impact Across Virginia
This video captures Community Health Workers (CHWs) for a Healthy VA’s impact in Norfolk/Portsmouth, Richmond/Petersburg, Danville/Pittsylvania, and Mount...
THE CASE FOR EVERYDAY DEMOCRACY | Excerpts | Milenko Matanovič
Here you will find principles developed by Milenko Matanovič for any community to utilize to promote “Everyday Democracy”.
September Network Learning Session (Slides): Incarcerated and Justice Involved Equitable Solutions
Slides – Network Learning Session – Incarcerated and Justice Involved Equitable Solutions
Grace Program – Whatcom County
“The Whatcom Ground-Level Response and Coordinated Engagement (GRACE) program is a community-based effort to find solutions for individuals who are high u...
LEAD Program Evaluation: Recidivism Report
“This report describes findings from a quantitative analysis comparing outcomes for LEAD participants versus “system-as-usual” control participants on...
Guidelines for Successful Transition of People with Mental or Substance Use Disorders from Jail and Prison: Implementation Guide
The purpose of Guidelines for Successful Transition of People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders from Jail and Prison: Implementation Guide is to provide b...
Coast Salish Youth Coalition – Lopez Island Family Resource Center – Partner Presentation Slides
Lopez Island Family Resource Center’s Coast Salish Youth Coalition project, partner presentation slides. Sam Barr, Madrona Institute | Coast Salish Yout...
MDPI: Promotoras de Salud in a Father-Focused Nutrition and Physical Activity Program for Border Communities: Approaches and Lessons Learned from Collaboration
This manuscript’s purpose is to describe how to engage and collaborate with promotoras in a father-focused, family-centered program for Latino families living...
CDC: CHW State Law Fact Sheet
A Summary of State Community Health Worker Laws
CDC: Policy Evidence Assessment Report
The Policy Evidence Assessment Reports summarize the evidence bases for components of chronic disease policy. In these reports 14 CHW policy components to ass...
CHW Networks in the North Sound Region
Whatcom Community Health Worker’s Network page, with resources on meetings and opportunities to connect with fellow CHWs.
Recording: Community Health Workers – Promoting Health and Strengthening Communities
This is a recording of the July 2023 Network Learning Session entitled “Community Health Workers – Promoting Health and Strengthening Communities”
Sample 501(C)(3) Organizational Policy for Election Season
The article provides a sample policy for 501(c)(3) organizations to comply with IRS rules on political campaign intervention. It covers prohibited activities an...
Nonprofit VOTE
This webpage provides nonprofits with nonpartisan tools and resources to help the communities they serve participate in voting and democracy.
Coalition Checklist
This resource is designed to guide organizations through the process of forming and working in coalition. It includes information about common forms of coalitio...
Washington Voter Registration
This guide outlines Washington state voter registration law, including deadlines, photo ID requirements, and voter registration drives.
How do we live together when we profoundly disagree? A conversation with john powell
For john, the most important of those things is bridging, connecting with other people in a way that helps them feel like they belong and helps you feel like yo...
Organizing Around Vital Conditions Moves The Social Determinants Agenda Into Wider Action
Dozens of federal departments, agencies, and institutes published a whole-of-government plan to enhance well-being and justice across the United States – The ...
Inclusive Language Guide
Our language must continually evolve with our understanding and acceptance of diverse groups of people. This booklet aims to guide us… in the quest to com...
The Science of Silence: Intentional Silence as a Moderation Technique
Keeping quiet is a powerful moderation technique for user interviews, usability testing, and workshop facilitation. Well-timed, deliberate periods of silence el...
Cancel Culture Is Real, But adrienne maree brown Says We Should Be Careful About Throwing People Away
adrienne maree brown talks to Shondaland about her book, “We Will Not Cancel Us: And Other Dreams of Transformative Justice.”
Advancing Holistic Well-Being Measures
NLC and Oxford embarked on a dual effort aimed at a pilot in metropolitan Atlanta, while also considering a broader set of emerging models spurred by cities and...
BIPOC Provider Perspectives
This video collection of stories shares Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) health practitioner perspectives. This collection was created by Mónica ...
BIPOC Patient Perspectives
This video collection of stories shares Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOD) patient perspectives. This collection was created by Mónica Koller, MS O...
The Purple Stethoscope
The Purple Stethoscope podcast is hosted by Devyn Nixon, ARNP. The purpose of the podcast is to promote health literacy and healthcare for the culture.
What’s Different When the Community Collects the Data?
This story discusses nine Massachusetts communities where residents were recruited to conduct an annual study that examines community change and health and how ...
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