On the southern end of Whidbey Island, tucked inside 106 acres of moss-lined trails and cathedral-quiet forest, sits a place that’s been quietly shaping hearts and ideas for fifty years.
It’s called The Whidbey Institute, and it’s where leaders, artists, scientists, and seekers gather to ask the kind of questions that don’t always have tidy answers — questions about belonging, purpose, resilience, and what it means to care for both people and the planet.
At the heart of this work is Rose Woods, the Institute’s Co-Executive Director and self-proclaimed “Welcomer.” Rose’s story winds from California theatre stages to Whidbey’s forested classrooms — a journey that began when she came to care for her mother and stayed to nurture something much larger: a living experiment in community, leadership, and land-based learning.
In this episode, we talk about what drew Rose here, how the Institute grew from a bold 1970s vision into a national model for generative leadership, and why transformation often begins with something as simple — and sacred — as an open door and a warm hello.
I know you will enjoy meeting Rose.
Join Magsy for her local Whidbey Island Podcast, as she explores Whidbey Islands vibrant stories of the people in this community, from Audacious Islanders™, innovative minds and of course, inspiring individuals making a difference.