Building a state where everyone belongs.

The Washington Belonging Table (WBT) is a cross-sector network of practitioners, organizers, government partners, and community leaders working to make belonging a reality across Washington state.

Our table acts as the connective tissue for a growing ecosystem of leaders in health, education, housing, and philanthropy. We do not duplicate existing work; instead, we weave together efforts, build a shared language, and develop a collective strategy for lasting change.

For more information, media inquiries and other requests please contact info@civic-commons.org

Our Goal: Felt and Materialized Belonging

We believe belonging is more than a feeling; it is a material reality. Our goal is for every Washingtonian to experience a full sense of belonging without othering. This means every person has their basic needs met, possesses a voice in the decisions that affect them, and feels connected in the places they live, work, and gather.

The Othering & Belonging Institute (OBI) framework guides our work. We act as bridgers who embrace complexity, recognize power dynamics, and practice vulnerability. We make decisions through consensus and hold ourselves accountable to the communities we serve.

Our Approach

Movement Building: We create narrative strategies to make belonging accessible and actionable. Through education and storytelling, we shift how Washingtonians understand and practice belonging.
Practitioner Network: We recruit and support leaders already advancing belonging. Our "belonging onboarding" experience ensures members have the tools to contribute to a statewide strategy.
Measuring Progress: We develop shared frameworks to track where belonging exists—and where it does not. This data guides our strategy and tells the story of our impact.

Our Three Focus Areas

Get in Touch

At Civic Commons, belonging is the foundation of everything we do. The first, essential step in our unique approach to solving seemingly intractable social problems is to build belonging. We do this through our We Belong Here programs and utilize the relational muscle built through this work to create powerful, relational networks that lead to lasting change. We are honored to be the convener of The Washington Belonging Table.

North Sound Accountable Community of Health (North Sound ACH) is a regional nonprofit building a community health system that can carry what people need to be healthy and thrive. We serve more than 1.3 million people across Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island and San Juan counties — and sit on the traditional homelands of eight Tribal Nations, whose sovereignty and partnership shape how we do this work. YES

Belonging and vital conditions for wellbeing are frameworks that guide how we work. 80% of health is shaped by factors outside of traditional health care: by housing, food, transportation, and connection. Yet systems are fragmented and the communities most impacted are often excluded from decisions.

North Sound ACH connects partners, aligns funding, and coordinates care through our Community Hub and partner networks. We share power and influence, working to improve outcomes and amplify voices, especially for those not consistently seen or served. We center community knowledge, lived experience, and measurable impact in everything we do.

Thriving Together NCW is a regional nonprofit that advances health and wellbeing by bringing people, organizations, and communities together to address complex social and health challenges. Serving North Central Washington, we act as a connector, convener, and catalyst for collective action across sectors and geographies. We believe that thriving communities are built on belonging—the experience of being valued, connected, and able to contribute. Belonging is both a goal and a strategy in our work, shaping how we engage residents, strengthen partnerships, and support community-led solutions. By fostering relationships, trust, and shared purpose, we help create conditions where all people and places can thrive—no exceptions.

The Washington State Office of Equity advances a Washington for all so everyone has access to the opportunities, resources, and power they need to reach their goals and the life they seek. We work to de-silo government, support state government in developing tailored policies and processes to meet the unique needs across Washington, bringing accountability to state government, and developing data and evaluation processes towards outcomes to understand whether state government is making a positive impact.

Belonging is central to our mission and the highest expression of our shared humanity. Grounded in ubuntu “I am because we are” we know our well-being is interconnected. Inspired by advocate john a. powell, we continually ask: Who is missing, and what will it take to ensure they have a voice? By proactively removing barriers, expanding participation, and strengthening relationships, we create the conditions for belonging to flourish, ensuring state government truly reflects and serves every community in Washington.

With foundational support from:

The Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley advances groundbreaking approaches to transforming structural marginalization and inequality. We are scholars, organizers, communicators, researchers, artists, and policymakers committed to building a world where all people belong.