Community Engagement Forums
Thoughtful dialogue and
engaged learning.
These Community Engagement Forums are free and open to the public. Their purpose is to build stronger and more interwoven networks of people working on poignant issues of the present.
Please also browse the topics explored in past Community Forums below, and feel free to send us suggestions for future Forum topics.
2025 Forums
Learning Together Through Climate Upheaval
Our SDG forums are jointly hosted by WWU's Sustainability Engagement Institute and Center for Community Learning, and Bellingham Public Library.
To receive calendar invitations, please complete this simple form:
This spring, we wrapped-up our community forum series focused on the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — a global framework that helps guide local action toward a more just, peaceful, and sustainable future. Each forum created space to explore how these goals show up in our region and how we can respond in more connected, community-centered ways.
The forums built on Learning Together Through Climate Upheaval, a series we began in 2022 to grow our collective ability to learn, adapt, and act in the face of climate challenges.
We’re so grateful for the ideas shared and for the incredible local organizations and community members who participated with curiosity, and intention.
Please join us for the final Sustainable Development Goal:
SDG #17: Partnerships
Tuesday, June 24 | 5:00–6:00 p.m.
Downtown Bellingham Public Library
This last forum will be special. It’s part of the first day of our summer Place-Based Learning in Bellingham workshop, and we’re expecting a great mix of people. From students, faculty, community partners, and anyone who’s been part of the series over the years.
Here are a few reasons we’re especially excited about this one:
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It’s the final event in the series, co-led by me and Lindsey MacDonald. Lindsey is moving to Montana later this summer, so this is also a chance to celebrate her work and say goodbye.
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We’ll be joined by a group of WWU students starting their Climate Leadership Certificate internships with local organizations the next day.
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Our 10 City Sprouts Farm apprentices will be in their first week of summer work and joining us, too.
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We’re inviting staff from several partner organizations—so it should be a lively and meaningful evening.
After the forum, we’ll head over to Brandywine Kitchen or Trackside for a casual happy hour around 6:00. Anyone from the workshop or the wider community is welcome to join. Around 7:00, we’ll gather for a no host dinner somewhere nearby. Feel free to come for just the forum or stay for the whole evening.
Wild Plants of Summer: Celebrating Abundance & Traditional Foodways with Jenny Martin.
Date: Friday, June 6 3:30
Sehome Hill Arboretum
Come connect with plants, people, and place through an afternoon of exploration, good food, and shared stories.
3:30 “Meet your Plant Neighbors”: Hike through Sehome Hill Arboretum
Join us for a guided walk through Sehome Hill Arboretum, led by Jenny Martin (Aniyunwiya - Cherokee Nation Citizen), Healing Spirits Gardener for the Lummi Nation Health Clinic. Learn about the plants that grow around us and their cultural significance.
Those planning to hike should meet at the Outback Outdoor Classroom by 3:20 pm, wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing, bring water, and be ready to hike ~2.5 miles round-trip, including a climb to the Sehome Hill crest.
5:30: “Dinner & Deepening Our Plant Friendships”: Outback Outdoor Classroom
Gather at the Outback Outdoor Classroom for a shared meal and further reflections and teachings with Jenny. Discover how deepening your relationship with local plants can expand your sense of belonging and well-being. Be ready to share your own plant love!
Those who are unable to join the hike will still get to interact with many plant samples, hear stories and see pictures from the hike, do some foraging at the Outback Forest Garden.
Whether you come for the hike, the dinner, or both—you’re warmly welcome.
Dinner Details:
Enjoy vegetarian chili and frybread provided by SeaWolf Surf and Turf, with drinks from the Latine Student Union.
Questions/Accessibility:
For questions or disability accommodations, please contact Terri Kempton at kemptot@wwu.edu.
Co-Hosted by:
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Counseling, Health, and Well-Being
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La Plaza
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The Outback Farm
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Latine Student Union
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City Sprouts Farm
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Center for Community Learning
We look forward to sharing this joyful, grounded experience with you!
—The Organizing Team
Past Forums
May 09, 2025
Resilient Foodscapes: Community Learning Series
(Bellingham Public Library) Hosted by Whatcom Food Network & Community Engagement Fellows as part of the "Resilient Foodscapes: Community Learning Series".
May 17, 2023
"Safe and Clean Water for All": Learning Together Through Climate Upheaval Series
(Marine Park) Co-Sponsored by WWU's Sustainability Engagement Institute, the Center for Community Learning, and Explorations Academy.
April 17th, 2023
Great Spaces for Children Downtown
(First Baptist Church, Bellingham, WA, 110 Flora St, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA) Co-Sponsored by Connect & Learn in Downtown Bellingham events are being jointly hosted by First Baptist Church, Spring Church, Reconciliation Anglican Church, and Center for Community Learning.
April 12th, 2023
" A Planet Where All Genders Thrive: Gender Equality" - Learning Together Through Climate Upheaval
(Explorations Academy) Co-Sponsored by WWU's Sustainability Engagement Institute, the Center for Community Learning, and Explorations Academy.
March 6th, 2023
Engaging Our Senses
(First Baptist Church, Bellingham, WA, 110 Flora St, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA) Co-Sponsored by Connect & Learn in Downtown Bellingham events are being jointly hosted by First Baptist Church, Spring Church, Reconciliation Anglican Church, and Center for Community Learning.
February 27th, 2023
Quality Education- Learning Together Through Climate Upheaval
(Explorations Academy) Co-Sponsored by WWU's Sustainability Engagement Institute, the Center for Community Learning, and Explorations Academy.
February 6th, 2023
"Healthy": Toward a Well World -Learning Together Through Climate Upheaval
(Explorations Academy) Co-Sponsored by WWU's Sustainability Engagement Institute, the Center for Community Learning, and Explorations Academy.
January 30th, 2023
Seeing Each Other Downtown
(First Baptist Church, Bellingham, WA, 110 Flora St, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA) Co-Sponsored by Connect & Learn in Downtown Bellingham events are being jointly hosted by First Baptist Church, Spring Church, Reconciliation Anglican Church, and Center for Community Learning.
November 17th, 2022
Toward a World Without Hunger-Learning Together Through Climate Upheaval
(Explorations Academy) Co-Sponsored by WWU's Sustainability Engagement Institute, the Center for Community Learning, and Explorations Academy.
November 16th, 2022
A Sense of Belonging in Downtown Bellingham
(First Baptist Church, Bellingham, WA, 110 Flora St, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA) Co-Sponsored by Connect & Learn in Downtown Bellingham events are being jointly hosted by First Baptist Church, Spring Church, Reconciliation Anglican Church, and Center for Community Learning.
October 27th, 2022
Enough for Everyone's Needs: Toward a World Without Poverty -Learning Together Through Climate Upheaval
(Explorations Academy) Co-Sponsored by WWU's Sustainability Engagement Institute, the Center for Community Learning, and Explorations Academy.
October 26th, 2022
Enough for Everyone's Needs: Toward a World Without Poverty
(on the WWU Main Campus) Co-Sponsored by WWU's Sustainability Engagement Institute and the Center for Community Learning.
October 4th, 2022
"Connect and Learning Downtown: Gathering Spaces"
Cosponsored with Spring Church, First Baptist Church, WWU Center for Community Learning, Whatcom Love INC and Reconciliation Anglican Church
July 19, 2022
"Connect and Learning Downtown: What makes a vibrant downtown"
Cosponsored with Spring Church, First Baptist Church, WWU Center for Community Learning, Whatcom Love INC and Reconciliation Anglican Church
February 20, 2020
"Learning Together: Putting Values into Action"
cosponsored with Whatcom County Libraries, Whiteswan Environmental, University of Puget Sound, Eastern Washington University, and Community Engagement Fellows.
February 5, 2020
"Learning Together on a Climate Disrupted Planet"
cosponsored with WWU’s Office of Sustainability, Whiteswan Environmental, Sustainability Fellows, Community Engagement Fellows, Curriculum for the Bioregion, and Sustainable Communities Partnership
December 10, 2019
"Learning Together about Place through Food"
cosponsored with Common Threads, East Whatcom Regional Resource Center-Opportunity Council, PeaceHealth, Whatcom County Library System, WWU Community Health Program, WWU Salish Sea Institute, WWU Sustainable Communities Partnership, and York Community Farm.
October 17, 2019
"Learning Together about Community Health: Local & Global Connections"
cosponsored with Community Engagement Fellows, East Whatcom Regional Resource Center-Opportunity Council, Healthy Whatcom, PeaceHealth, Whatcom County Library System, Whatcom Family & Community Network, WWU Community Health Program, and WWU Sustainable Communities Partnership.
April 26th, 2019
"Working Futures in the Salish Sea"
cosponsored with Northwest Indian College
May 16th, 2019
"Neurodivergence Forum"
March 7, 2019
“Digging In: Vulnerability in Social Learning Spaces”
cosponsored with Jenna Bean Veach.
February 28, 2019
“Broadening Employment Opportunities for Neurodivergent, Intellectually Challenged and Non-College Bound Youth”
cosponsored with Whatcom Community College
January 17, 2019
“What is going on? The Challenge of Getting the Word Out. ”
December 7, 2018
"Making Space for Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation"
cosponsored with Northwest Indian College, Whiteswan Environmental, WCC Equity Project, Generations Forward
October 18, 2018
“What would Truth and Reconciliation mean for Washington State?”
Screening of Dawnland
cosponsored with Northwest Indian College, Whiteswan Environmental, WCC Equity Project, Generations Forward
May 31, 2018
"Cultivating a Sense of Place"
cosponsored with Whatcom Community College and Western Washington University
April 18, 2018
"Indigenous People in a Global Context" Lee Maracle
cosponsored with Northwest Indian College
February 27, 2018
"Building an Inclusive Environmentalism for the Next Seven Generations"
cosponsored with Whatcom Community College
January 23, 2018
"Confronting the Opioid Crisis"
July 20, 2017
“A Place to Be: Creating Welcoming Spaces for People Experiencing Homelessness”
cosponsored with Whatcom County Coalition to End Homelessness
June 8, 2017
“Making a House a Home: Creating Sustainable Housing Solutions”
cosponsored with Whatcom County Coalition to End Homelessness
April 26, 2017
“Building Resilience through Skill-Sharing and Volunteering”
cosponsored with Volunteer Center of Whatcom County
February 23, 2017
“Farms, Fields, and Forests: Connecting Campuses and the Countryside”
February 1, 2017
"Linking Campuses and Community Through Public Art"
November 10, 2016
“Funding Campus-Community Collaboration”
October 27, 2017
"Cities and Campuses: Opportunities for Collaborations”
April 29, 2016
"Gaining Institutional Support for Campus-Community Collaboration”
April 8, 2016
“Teaching Empathy through Community Engagement”
February 26, 2016
“Documenting Our Community Engaged Work”
February 5, 2016
“Integrating Your Work”
January 22, 2016
“Forming Lasting Partnerships”
November 13, 2015
“Preparing Students for Community Engagement”
October 23, 2015
"Preparing the Self”