A Message from Our CEO
Fall is here, y’all! I’m looking forward to the changing seasons, cooler days, and, of course, sweater weather.
As we move into fall, I’ve also been reflecting on the amazing life of Dolly Parton and the generous spirit she has shared throughout her career. Her commitment to giving back, creating opportunities, and bringing a little more joy into the world feels especially meaningful as we think about the kind of community we want to build together.
This past month, we’ve been leaning into that same spirit of generosity and showing up for our community. We are jazzed to be supporting Red Thread Collective and their upcoming events to support connection and community (check out their September 19th event in the CPIN Client Events & Activities section of this newsletter). CPIN was proud to sponsor the Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities’ Backyard Benefit this past weekend, and we’re looking forward to supporting Hilltop Artists at their Better Futures Luncheonand celebrating local artists through the upcoming Tacoma Light Trail.
And speaking of good things, we have another exciting chapter ahead. The Purpose Fund is becoming its very own nonprofit organization. What started as a way to provide flexible, community-centered support is growing into something even bigger, and we are excited about what comes next. We’ll share much more about this transition in our October newsletter.
As the seasons change, we’re carrying this spirit of generosity, connection, creativity, and care with us into fall. There is a lot of good happening around us, and we’re grateful to be part of it. I hope you will join us in celebrating community and the collective impact we make together.
Dr. Angela Silva
CPIN Staff in ACTION!
Local On Purpose August Event Recap
It was so amazing to see the community show up to support Artist & Craftsman Supply, The Rusty Goat, and Structure Cellars at our most recent Local On Purpose event, thank you to everyone who attended! In case you missed it, we featured three businesses for our Local On Purpose August Highlight, all on or near St. Helens Ave and Opera Alley. Thank you to the business owners who collaborated with us and each other to make it happen!
We are very excited to continue to inspire the gathering of the community through our next Local On Purpose event on September 23rd at the Rusty Goat, which you can read more about on our Eventbrite page or our events section below.
Attend Our Next Local On Purpose Event!
Community Engagement Coordinator in Action!
From our Community Engagement Coordinator, Karisa Guess: “Loving my time with Rotary 8. We recently hosted Paws for Purple Hearts as guests, held a Rotary meeting right in our own space, and hit up the zoo for after hours fun (shoutout to the 23 year old macaw who stole the show). CPIN and Rotary both live by Service Above Self, and it shows every time we get together.”
CPIN Events!
CPIN’s Monthly Open House - Visit us on the Third Friday of Each Month
Join us on Friday September 18th from 1pm to 3pm for our next community resource day. We offer free fresh and shelf stable food, hygiene items, and clothing. Connect with us at info@thecpin.comto set up your appointment. Do you need to visit us on a different day? Reach out to us to schedule this day and time.
Doing some tidying? We accept donations of gently used toys and household items, as well as food, diapers, wipes, hygiene items, and medical supplies such as blood pressure cuffs, glucose meters, reading glasses, etc. Keep an eye on our social media for updates on what we need to what we have in stock for our outreach days.
Free Food and Clothes Available at the Family Resource Center at Franklin Pierce
CPIN is Collaborating with the Family Resource Center at Franklin Pierce to provide free clothes and food on October 7th! Contact Blanca Sagastizado by calling or texting 253-278-3349, or email bsagastizado@fpschools.org for more info and to schedule your appointment.
Join #TeamCPIN for our Local on Purpose Event: Magic The Gathering Game Night at The Rusty Goat
September 23rd, 5pm - 8pm
The magic is in the gathering and we want local game nerds to gather at Rusty Goat for this month's Local On Purpose event! Grab your decks, your dice, or just yourself and come hang out! Magic: The Gathering, board games, tabletop, whatever you're into, bring it or borrow one of ours. RSVP through the link below ✨ 🔗
🃏 Play any format you want 🍺 $7 beers 🍪 Yummy snacks🥤 Non-alcoholic beverages available too 👥 All gamers welcome, this is an inclusive space
Come for the games, stay for the good company. See you there! 💖
Our #LocalOnPurpose events are designed to celebrate and uplift businesses that help make Pierce County vibrant, creative, and connected. By showing up, sharing their work, and spending locally, we can help strengthen our local economy and build stronger community relationships.
People Supported Agriculture - Farm Share Boxes are Returning!
Buy a bag of Farm Fresh Produce for $25, Or sponsor a box for a neighbor! The first two pick ups will be at our office on October 6th and 20th, between 4pm and 6pm.
People Supported Agriculture (PSA) is a community-based food system model that connects you directly with local farmers. This initiative is proudly supported by the Purpose Fund.
Office Events with Queer Stability
Queer Stability partners with members of the community to offer these amazing events! Want to learn how to weld, need sewing advice or want to start a wellness practice. How about a cruise around Foss Harbor? We got these events and more on the Queer Stability Events calendar.
CPIN Client Events and Activities
Eat, Drink, and Shop for a Good Cause! Red Thread Collective Clothing Pop-Up at the Huckleberry Club!
September 19th 6pm - 9pm
Red Thread is a Tacoma based, mission driven clothing brand that donates 100% of profits to its sister nonprofit, with the goal of improving mental health in our communities. Browse their clothing collection and support a good cause this Saturday at the Huckleberry Club! You can learn more about The Read Thread Collective on their website or their social media linked below.
A Legacy of Presence: Celebrating a Community that Shows Up for Kids with Communities In Schools of Lakewood
September 29 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
$35 ticket includes a copy of “Being Present Matters: Jerry Storvick and the Lives He Changed”, which was designed for print by CPIN’s Gracen Livingston.
Join us on Tuesday, September 29 to honor the mentors, volunteers, staff members, family members, and neighbors in our community who share a commitment to showing up for students every day, as well as to celebrate the publication of “Being Present Matters: Jerry Storvick and the Lives He Changed,” written by acclaimed author and Clover Park High School alum Stephen G. Michaud.
CPIN is Proud to Sponsor Hilltop Artists’ 2026 Better Futures Luncheon
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM | Hotel Murano
Join CPIN in supporting Hilltop Artist at their annual Luncheon fundraiser, featuring keynote speaker Leslie Jackson Chihuly and speeches from students who have participated in their arts programs. Hilltop Artists serves over 700 students a year ages 12 – 26 through its programming, providing tuition-free glass instruction, mentorship, and collaborative leadership opportunities.
Community Events and Resources
Tacoma Honk! Fest on October 3rd
Tacoma HONK! Fest is an accessible community music festival driven by the energetic performances of PNW street bands and cultural groups in public spaces. And it’s free of charge!
Instead of formal stages, bands will be performing right in the streets (and alleys). There will be ample space for moving and dancing around. The audience is always welcome to join in!
Autumn Flower Show at the W.W Seymour Conservatory
October 7-November 29, 2026 | 10 am-3 pm
Celebrate the changing season at the W.W. Seymour Conservatory’s Autumn Flower Show. Step inside the historic glass conservatory and enjoy a vibrant display inspired by the colors, textures and quiet beauty of fall.
5th Annual Henry R. Fenbert Challenging History Lecture – How Beer Might Save Democracy
Saturday, September 19, 2026 – 5:00 PM– 8:00 PM
The 5th Annual Fenbert Challenging History Lecture welcomes Professor Michael Goldsby for a timely talk titled How Beer Might Save Democracy.
In this lecture, Professor Goldsby explores how face-to-face conversations over a shared beverage can help people find common ground and connect with one another in more authentic, focused, and empathetic ways. He argues that if democracy depends on people sharing and debating ideas, then finding common ground with one another matters.
