While talking with a friend about what they agreed was a community (if not world-wide) problem, Judith Alexander’s friend suggested that she meet with local filmmaker Rose Madrone.

“Rose spent 10 years making this beautiful three-part movie called, The Connectivity Project,” Alexander recalled.

Madrone and Alexander set about forming a group to find solutions to the problem of connecting communities and non-profits.

Starting from scratch, the group didn’t know what form their invention might take but they were in agreement that the project to reconnect their community was timely if not overdue.

The first Connectivity Festival in 2023 was a smash hit but exhausting for Alexander. By the time of the 2023 festival, Alexander’s team had commitments from dozens of non-profits.

“By dedicating our collective efforts toward the support of our non-profits we convened an event that brought together the heart and the soul of our community,” she said. Representatives filled the gymnasium, their tables divided into like-categories.

“So people who had their heart set on helping with the housing crisis, we could tell them right where to go - and there were several organizations representing housing.”

The collection of housing non-profits proved a boon of its own. With 13 different housing organizations sitting in a circle, they introduced themselves to each other and discussed what they were good at and what they needed help with, while fair attendees watched and listened.

“Habitat was running short of volunteers and reached out to another organization who had volunteers.”

After that roundtable, the talks between the organizations became a regular occurrence.

“Those meetings have continued all year, to talk to each other and to support each other.” It was heartening, Alexander said, to see walls crumble.

This year’s fair will showcase nine presentations with at least five involving panel discussions. Also new for this year’s festival, preparing for resilience.

“Emergency preparedness, the Red Cross, 9-1-1 and the airport will talk about transportation for food in the event of an emergency. We’ve also invited the government agencies to come this year to connect with people who have decision-making power.”

“It doesn’t take a hundred people to make a change, there’s a ripple effect,” she said, echoing the theme of Madrone’s film.

“I think people are going to have a hard time choosing which seminars to go to,” she said.

The Connectivity Fair is Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Chimacum High School. Everyone is welcome and admission is free. Food trucks and free childcare will be available.