The Jefferson County Connectivity Summit converged upon Chimacum Junior/Senior High School from March 7-9.
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The Jefferson County Connectivity Summit converged upon Chimacum Junior/Senior High School from March 7-9.
Sponsored by Jefferson County, with planning and coordination by The Production Alliance nonprofit, the summit combined two previously separate events — the Connectivity Fair, and the Job and Trades Fair — into a single community-building weekend.
The event’s “Youth Opportunities Fair” on Friday, March 7, connected more than 600 East Jefferson County high school students with more than 80 local organizations offering jobs, internships, education paths, recreation and support services.
The “Unfiltered: Young Voices, Real Experiences” symposium featured a film screening and group conversations between young adults, sharing their experiences growing up in Jefferson County.
Students also participated in “Engage JC” planning workshops, influencing policies to shape the region’s future, including by providing input on the county’s climate change planning initiatives.
The “Connectivity Tabling Fair” on Saturday, March 8, featured networking sessions, collaborative projects and “Ignite Talks,” during which local leaders made five-minute presentations on community projects. Topics included affordable housing designs, the Jefferson Timber Cooperative, school-based health centers and AI applications in government services. The day concluded with “Open Space Sessions,” on topics chosen by participants, followed by the “Long Story Short” storytelling party at Finnriver, which was packed to capacity.
Sunday, March 9, reviewed Jefferson County’s climate future, with a talk by Chemakum Elder Rosalee Walz, followed by presentations from Kate Dean, deputy director of policy for the Department of Natural Resources, and Josh Peters, director of Jefferson County Community Development.
That day’s workshop leaders addressed community preparedness for extreme heat and wildfire smoke, food sovereignty, environmental restoration and climate justice.
The weekend concluded with “The Big Feed,” a free community meal featuring Northwest Chowder, prepared by Chef Arran Stark and sponsored by Jefferson Healthcare.
The Production Alliance estimated that more than 1,500 community members participated throughout the weekend.
