Jessica Young has always focused on community, and working within one to create better outcomes, whether it was throwing together camping weekends with friends and family, or inviting guests over for meals.

Young spent eight years obtaining a master’s degree in Theological Studies from Portland Seminary, and if anything, the idea of community further cemented in her heart and mind. “One of the biggest things I took away from it was how all of the people I met were from different backgrounds, histories and ethnicities – and we weren’t all from one denomination, and so we sometimes didn’t agree, and that was OK,” she said.

She found that just because people disagree, that did not have to divide them from knowing and even appreciating each other.

That knowledge sparked an idea that has become what Young calls, “Red House Chronicles.” Named for the house she and her husband built on 5 acres near Poulsbo in 2003, Young hosts gatherings, including a book club. Subscribers join for seven meetings featuring a locally sourced meal with customized drinks and three or four courses. They also discuss six books read throughout the year. For now, the groups are women only, but Young plans to open up to all sometime soon.

“I wanted to offer something to bring people together, so they could just show up,” Young said. “I pick the books, and we send them or drop them off to the participants, and they’re all different topics, different writers. The idea is to have a number of different points of view throughout the year and topics that all of us may not necessarily agree on, and to foster that idea that we can all come together in community and respect and that it’s OK if we can learn from each other in that way.”

There’s also a monthly gathering called “Banned Books.” “We’ve had people that say, ‘Well, maybe certain books should be banned or shouldn’t,’ and it’s just a safe space where people can come and feel like they can say their opinion without judgment or accusation,” Young said. “I think when we sit and actually talk with one another, and don’t draw conclusions about what we think something means, and listen, we can learn to respect someone for their point of view.”

Young said that one thing at seminary she liked was round table collaboration. “It kept coming up for me—this idea of sitting around a round table with people who are very different, and tossing out ideas to discuss and learn and grow within ourselves,” she said. “That isn’t determined by whether we agree with the people at the round table. It’s about that exploration.”

Each gathering is limited to nine spots, Young makes the 10th. Subscribers pay a membership fee of $75 for each of the seven meetings. The fee includes dinner and a copy of the book being discussed. The banned book package is $325 for the year. Most of her subscribers come from Kitsap County, but she has some from Seattle and one who travels from Boise, ID. Eventually, Young wants to create a “storyteller’s retreat,” where attendees have periods of reading, writing and discussion.

“My personal goal in embarking on this yearlong reading and writing journey with Jessica was to read books that I would never pick up at my local bookstore,” said Gayl Teneyck, who joined this year. “Yet, all of the books have resonated with me. I have gained relationships with women that have truly enriched my life.”

Megan Greenlaw’s experience was similar. “Jessica’s love of research, reading and community blend together to create an environment that fosters not only learning, but engagement,” she said. “Over beautifully crafted meals, women open up about controversial topics, experiencing a new and kind way to discuss controversial issues.”

Attendee Paulene Hedgpeth said: “I decided to go to my first event because I am kind of new to the area, and I was looking to connect with people in the community. I was immediately introduced to women of all ages and backgrounds, all eager to experience the same thing I was seeking— connecting with others over a shared experience.”

Red House Chronicles also features a “Freedom Dinner,” a one-time event where fees are donated to Atlas Free, an organization that is working to end human trafficking and sexual exploitation. “It’s just another way that we can come together and find common ground, and common respect for one another even though we’re all so very different,” Young said. “It’s in line with what I want to do, and what I want Red House to be.”

For details go to www.redhousechronicles.com