Tune in on Dec 12, 2025, for a pre-recorded episode of FolkU with author Ruth Ozeki, who sits down with the Cortes Island Academy for a deep, generous conversation about her book A Tale for the Time Being. Ruth shares how the novel emerged from Zen teachings, natural disasters, and we chat about the mysterious voices that spark creative work.
Continue reading Folk U: Ruth Ozeki Talks About ‘A Tale for the Time Being’On this Folk U, the students of the Cortes Island Academy took over the radio waves to answer this question: If you were to send a message in a bottle that drifts through time and space to another “time being”: another person, species, or world, what would it sound like?
Continue reading Cortes Island Academy: Message in a bottle
A lot has happened in the five months since Tommaso Biasiolo became the Outreach and Admin Coordinator for ‘the Nook’ in Cortes Island’s Village Commons. The Grand Opening was on June 27, 2025, but there are still small projects to complete. Two special small rooms need to soundproofed; the Nook’s kitchen has not been installed. The original vision was to create a space where nonprofits can work and hold their meetings, but these spaces are now available for individuals as well.
Continue reading First Days At The Nook; Final TouchesBy Dancing Wolf
Last Thursday, Jan 24, many of us were witness to some great visionary ideas and concepts regarding our near future in 2040.
I was deeply moved and inspired by this remarkable presentation created by the Students of the Cortes Island Academy and wonderfully supported by their Teachers.
So much so that I wrote a short poem to express my gratitude.
Continue reading Teenage Breakthrough: A Poetic Response To The Cortes Island Academy Year End Presentation
There is a community meal somewhere on Cortes Island every week.
“A warm bowl of soup, or a stew, that’s at the heart of it. Then there’s always some sort of fresh veggies or a fresh veggie platter cut up. Folks are getting that kind of food in them. Then bread and butter, because that’s just the basics for everybody and usually a dessert, some sort of cookies or brownies and the whole meal includes gluten free and vegetarian options,” explained Yasmina Cartland.
“There’s nothing you have to do to come to lunch. Everyone can come. You don’t have to prove that you need it. It’s completely inclusive. It’s meant to be a warm social time and it’s meant to actually nourish people with some warm nourishing food.”
Continue reading Cortes Island’s Community Meal Program
