What we’re about
What is this?
The School of Us is a small, community-rooted learning club for people who like getting curious and experimenting together.
At a moment when many of our political and social systems no longer feel up to the task, we’re interested in what new forms of learning, coordination, and care might emerge when people come together on purpose.
We host short, participatory gatherings—usually 2-3 hours—in coffee shops and other community spaces around Snohomish County. These are not lectures or panels. They’re hands-on social experiments in listening, storytelling, and collective sensemaking that channel our individual skills and knowlegde into a shared genius and creativity that's bigger than all of us.
What we do
Events may include...
*Story Swaps – paired storytelling experiences that encourage deep listening across difference
*Pub Sings – group singing as a low-stakes way to build trust and joy
*Open Space / Unconferences – participant-led conversations about what actually matters to the people in the room
*Salons, skill Shares, local field trips, and other pop-up experiments in co-creation and social connection
Everything is designed to be welcoming to first-timers, and shaped by the people who show up.
Why “Free Radicals”?
In chemistry, free radicals are reactive—not because they’re reckless, but because they’re unbound. When brought together with care, they don’t just break things apart; they form new compounds. We use the term the same way: we're curious, independent thinkers who want to find new ways to organize with others.
What we believe (loosely):
*Everyone has something worth teaching and learning
*Communities get better at solving problems when more people (and more kinds of people) participate
*Good questions matter more than perfect answers
*Learning can be playful, imperfect, and a little weird
Who's this for?
You might enjoy this if you...
*Like meeting people outside your usual bubble
*Are curious about community, culture, or civic life—but allergic to bureaucracy
*Miss spaces that feel alive, experimental, and human-scaled
*Want to practice being together in new ways
You don’t need to be an activist, academic, or extrovert.
Just open, curious, and willing to try something to find out what happens.
Upcoming events
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Story Swap @ Rodeo Lounge (Marysville)
Rodeo Lounge, 2437 172nd St NE Suite 101, Marysville, WA, USWhat if we told you that every single person you pass on the street has an incredible story that's really worth hearing? ...What if we told you that *you* were one of those people? In this unique hands-on workshop for writers, neighbors, artists, organizers, and community builders, you'll discover your hidden storytelling chops and connect with our local community in a cool new way.
Space is limited so please officially RSVP (for free) using this Partiful event link to secure your spot.
What to Expect:
Step 1: We'll guide you and the group through a series of fun and creative exercises to help you rediscover and share meaningful memories from your own life.
Step 2: You'll pair off with a partner, and practice telling *each other's* stories in your own words, as if they happened to you. (This part's the secret sauce; it's pure feedback about how your story's landing that we'll use to help you tell it with even more confidence and impact. Better yet, this act of deep listening often creates a neat experience of connection between strangers.)
Step 3: At the end of our time together, you'll have the opportunity (if you like!) to practice what you've learned by telling a story out loud in a mini "Story Slam."
Pay it Forward (FREE/pay what you can, but donations warmly accepted):
Right now we’re providing this workshop free of charge, to help make some new local connections and amplify our community's stories. An optional donation of $15 helps us cover materials, Meetup dues, and other expenses so we can do this again—and is deeply appreciated! You can also thank us by spreading the word to local leaders and community groups who might help us bring this experiences to more people. Finally, please support our wonderful hosts at Rodeo Lounge by trying their fantastic coffee and treats!
About Your Instructor:
Kristen Clark has crafted audio and video stories for outlets like National Geographic, Radiolab, and NPR. Lately, she's been teaching the tools of storycraft and journalism in local communities, so that more of us can harness the power of our own narratives for community organizing, peacebuilding, placemaking, and collective agency. Connect with her at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristeneliseclark2 attendees
Past events
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Group links
Organizers
Members
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