At Chinook, the first breath of spring arrives in February. Before the crocuses and daffodils arise from their wintery beds—before the robins return in force to prowl for worms in the awakening meadows, and long before the calendar approaches equinox—there is a stirring. The garden beds, rich and loamy, are turned over in preparation for planting. Days lengthen. Dawns brighten. Newts and salamanders begin to make their explorations once again—and the sun, when it shines, feels warmer. Our calendar is full of life-serving work and our halls and homes are loud with generative dialogue as we, like the wild creatures, awaken to the promise of the season ahead.
Thanking the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust
We were recently honored with a capacity-building grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust to establish a robust development office. This award provides the opportunity to grow our team, including hiring a full-time Development Manager to help steward our next stage of growth and organizational maturity.
In this season in our evolution the Murdock Trust award is particularly meaningful. Our new staff member will help us align resources with our needs and mission as we sustain our 100 acre campus, bring Storyhouse and its youth and social artistry work more fully into our embrace, expand our facilities and lodging to enable long-term financial sustainability and lower physical and financial barriers to participation, steward a networked community of program leaders, increase our reach and impact, and direct more time and energy to our commitment to equity and inclusion. We are deeply grateful, not only to the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust for investing in our potential, but also to all our donors and participants who continue to support us in the fulfillment of our purpose.
Click here to view the full issue and read on. This issue contains news of a capacity-building grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, plus upcoming programs, an interview with Board President Kate Snider, a note from Executive Director Heather Johnson, Westgarden news, and a story of a slug encounter!