Readying for a new year

We are a few weeks since the winter solstice, marking the time when, for our part of the planet, the sun is furthest south. In other words, the closer one is to the north pole, the shorter the hours of daylight. Now we are on the other side of the solstice, and we’re already feeling  the earth’s cycle shifting again. 

Imagine living without clocks and other timepieces to know ‘what time it is.’ People used the path of the sun and moon to measure seasons for planting, harvesting and storing food, work patterns, and sacred celebrations. There is something miraculous about the solstice, knowing that the path of the earth and its space in the universe is something that all people around the world hold in common, reminding me always of Maya Angelou’s poem Human Family: “we are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” (You can hear her beautiful voice at this link – Human Family)

For North Sound ACH, the new year has us planning for the January Partner Convening, where partners will be in space together, getting (re)introduced to our grounding frameworks, and hearing about successes and opportunities. We are honored to be joined by hundreds of partners, and attendees will hear from john a. powell (Othering and Belonging Institute), Michael Greer (ArtsFund), Becky Payne (Rippel Foundation), and Barbara Juarez (Northwest Washington Indian Health Board). Space is limited at the location, so register as soon as you can, and let us know if your plans change as we know there will be a waiting list that emerges. 

And, if you’ve read the recent newsletters, you know that we are actively searching for the next CEO for North Sound ACH. We hope to have final candidates by early spring, and I have been excited to hear from many of you about how you want to be involved in the search. We have such gratitude for your interest and support. You can see the posting at this link. Please share it with your colleagues and across your networks!

As 2025 brings a new year, we have you all in our thoughts and wish you the very best in this new year. 

Be well, and we look forward to seeing you on January 22-23 in Everett at the Convening.