History
The South Whidbey Commons (SWC) grew out of a 1998 Family/Youth Summit at which participants came together to create a shared vision and plan toward an increasingly healthy, connected South Whidbey community. Next came a three-day conference in 2001, where 65 community members identified the need to create new opportunities for community members to learn, connect and engage. After the Conference, these community members continued working on the project, which grew into the South Whidbey Commons, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization incorporated in 2002. In October 2008, SWC purchased the Langley property which is home to our flagship program, The South Whidbey Commons. The South Whidbey Commons Coffeehouse Bookstore was formerly known as Island Coffeehouse and Books.
Specialties
The South Whidbey Commons strengthens our community by creating opportunities for people of all ages to gather, learn and grow. The Coffeehouse Bookstore is at the heart of these endeavors. It is run largely by volunteers, and all the used books that are for sale have been donated by members of the community. Both the front and back rooms in the Coffeehouse serve as areas where members of the community can gather formally and informally.