Media Mentions

ThrivingFest celebrates community through film

Friday, August 21, 2026, South Whidbey Record

Films spotlighting local organizations making a difference in affordable housing, food access and community health took center stage at Whidbey Island’s first-ever ThrivingFest.

The film festival took place from Aug. 13-15 in Langley and was organized by Thriving Communities, a Whidbey-based group that has produced over 60 short films documenting individuals and organizations committed to providing for the common good.

ThrivingFest spotlights Whidbey changemakers

Friday, August 7, 2026, South Whidbey Record

Whidbey Island-based organization Thriving Communities will host ThrivingFest, a three-day film festival and community celebration, Aug. 13-15. The event features films, panel discussions and shared meals celebrating local leaders and community organizations, according to a press release.

Storytelling for Thriving Communities: A Spiritual Biography with Podcast Host Michael Lerner of Commonweal
September 2024

Commonweal president and MacArthur Fellow Michael Lerner interviews Jerry Millhon, former Executive Director of the Whidbey Institute (2010-2015) and founder of Thriving Communities. In this intimate dialogue, Millhon shares his life's work of documenting and connecting local changemakers, revealing how sharing stories of community resilience can inspire grassroots action across neighborhoods. Learn more.

Gus Newport and Jane Fonda in Alabama in 2019.

"Gus Newport: In It For the Long Haul -- The former mayor of Berkeley, California, continues to serve as a citizen of the nation and the world." By Micky Duxbury, February 25, 2020, The Progressive Magazine.