November 2025

The fourth quarter of each year has followed a similar pattern for me: cooler days with shorter windows of sunlight; watching the garden change color and enter hibernation, flu season, budget preparation for the coming year, and staff annual reviews. 

This quarter brought all of those things, plus more: impending changes in eligibility and documentation for services such as Medicaid and SNAP; a government shutdown that left families in limbo about benefits they were eligible for; and open enrollment for health insurance with uncertainty about premium assistance; and growing skepticism about the validity of long-trusted vaccine research. 

Many community members are confused by conflicting news updates, feeling isolated and wondering who can help them navigate through what they are hearing in the media and government officials. We know that our team, along with your teams, can be of great help – but the challenge can be connecting community members to you, and resources, at the right time. 

That’s where the North Sound Community Hub can be a resource. Anyone can refer to the Community Hub, which is set up to help community members navigate resources when they need them; check out a short video here. North Sound ACH, and the eight ACHs across the state, are supporting community-based workers (CBWs) to assist with this work locally. Clinical and community providers can make referrals, and community members can refer themselves using an online referral form. There is a toll free number, and you can reach us directly. Check out this map of the organizations who we partnered with that have CBW’s ready to help!

A big part of this fourth quarter is planning for the January Convening. We’re asking that you hold these dates for now – January 28-29! We will solidify the calendar hold in the coming two weeks and send a ‘Save the Date’ notice out. 

This year’s focus is Food Security – a huge topic that hit us all after the passage of H.R.1 and the government shutdown. The Convening will emphasize the action part of the Collaborative Action Network. Our Resource Library already has links to where community members can turn when they need food but, what was made clear to us is, a food bank, food pantries, community food programs, mutual aid groups, etc. can vary across communities. Knowing what is available every day, once a week, periodically, or seasonally will help us paint a clearer picture of what is available when, and help us steer individuals and families to the right resources.

 
Over the past two months, I’ve learned a lot from food banks about what it takes to maintain access to food, especially culturally appropriate food.  We hope that you’ll consider joining us to create a regional map of available resources and mark where the gaps are so that we can better meet the needs of folks across the North Sound region. 

As we complete the budget that will serve us in 2026, North Sound ACH is planning to expand targeted investments in food security. The past year has amplified its importance, and the fragility of the food security network we have today.

Let us work together to make sure that community members are fed. 

Thinking of nourishment of a different kind, this year marked the second gathering of Netse Mot, an in-person event at the Paramount Theater in Seattle. As Children of the Setting Sun stated in its recent update:

“At Children of the Setting Sun, our hearts are still full after a beautiful evening on Tuesday. We were delighted to host nearly 2,500 friends and relatives from Coast Salish territories and across Indian Country. Together, we fulfilled the purpose of Netse Mot – uniting as one heart and one mind. The night featured a powerful blend of comedy, storytelling, music, dance, film, ceremony, and recognition. Whether you were unable to attend, or you were, but you want to re-live the evening, you can watch the full show on the Children of the Setting Sun YouTube channel. ”

There are times when our hearts are heavy and need nourishment, and Netse Mot was such a time for us. We are always grateful to learn, laugh and cry together with our CSSP colleagues. 

Finally, reminiscing on Jane Goodall’s passing in October and revisiting her interviews about working in nature reminds us that we are not separate from the world around us: “I truly believe that only when head and heart work in harmony can we attain our true human potential.”

We hope you can join us in January for the Convening. We have a lot of work to do, and you astound us with your passion and commitment to helping the people of this region!

Thanks for all you do –