Since 2015, Western Washington University’s Community Engagement Fellows program has brought people together across organizations to expand the learning capacities of our communities. It has created joyful and practical learning for a wide variety of people, and new ways of living and working together.
Community Engagement Fellows recasts higher education as a systems convener – creating possibilities for transformative partnerships that lead to more equitable and just communities. The program is a conscientious departure from traditional modes of community engagement such as service-learning coordination or partnership-brokering. We believe the demands of the present require new approaches that focus on deep listening, relationship-building, equitable and genuine collaboration, and openness to reorientation and transformation. CE Fellows is our ongoing experiment to discover how we can best serve the dynamic and diverse communities that WWU seeks to contribute to positively, including yours.
Join us November 18-21, 2025 for Community Engagement Fellows: State-of-the-Art, an opportunity to learn how you might expand your organization’s role as a systems convener. We’re eager to share what we’ve learned through convening local cohorts, community forums, place-based retreats, international online cohorts, interactive tours, and working with others to establish their own adaptations of the program.
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We welcome participation from those working in higher education as well as other community organizations such as libraries, non-profits, tribal and non-tribal governments, etc. We’re keen to gather people from a variety of places and organizations, to enhance the learning possibilities for all.
Community Engagement Fellows: State-of-the-Art will be an interactive, place-based workshop that demonstrates and allows you to practice the social learning techniques at the core of CE Fellows, and to learn how our practices have evolved as we learn.
Our primary workshop site will be WWU's Shannon Point Marine Center in Anacortes, Washington. The workshop cost will be $400, which includes snacks and lunches each day.
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Dr. Travis Tennessen, originator and lead convener of Community Engagement Fellows, will serve as the primary workshop facilitator.
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The Bellair Airporter Shuttle provides service multiple times daily between Bellingham and Seattle Tacoma airport, plus many other destinations including eastern Washington.
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FlixBus offers intercity bus connections to Vancouver BC, Everett, Seattle, SeaTac airport, Tacoma, Olympia, Portland, Eugene and more.
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Public transit, Greyhound and Amtrak can be used with a transfer to Link Light Rail in Seattle. The Link light rail travels to Sea-Tac airport.
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UBER and LYFT service the Bellingham Airport.
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Whatcom Transit Authority is an easy way to navigate the city.
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Whatcom County offers serveral taxi services including, 24 Hour Taxi, Red Cab Taxi, and Bellingham Taxi.
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FlixBus offers intercity bus connections to Vancouver BC.
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Quick Shuttle Bus travels from YVR to Bellingham Airport
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Travel
Lodging
We are excited to host the retreat in Anacortes, WA! For local accommodations, we recommend exploring hotel options on TripAdvisor.
A limited number of dorm-style housing options are available at the event site. If you're interested, please email laurel.hammond@wwu.edu for more details.
Information, Health, and Safety
Check Anacortes Tourism website page for up-to-date information and links to other handy resources.
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International Requirements
Traveling into Canada or the U.S.? Find the latest information and border crossing requirements for both Canadian and American travelers.
Previous Retreats
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May 10-12, 2023: State of the Art System Convener (Lakewood Center Bellingham (Xwotqwem), WA)
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February 19-21, 2020: State of the Art (Bellingham (Xwotqwem), WA)
Co-hosted with Eastern Washington University, University of Puget Sound, and Whiteswan Environmental
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August 1-3, 2018: Community Engagement Fellows Retreat (Bellingham (Xwotqwem), WA)
Co-hosted with Whatcom Community College and Whiteswan Environmental