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November 2025

Teacher begins to advocate because of preschoolers unready for school

Kizuri owner tells of impact of tariffs on the producers and prices
Three speakers sum up 50 years of PJALS history for anniversary
PJALS trains supporters and community about protesters' rights, risks
Melissa Mace plans to build NAACP Spokane as staffed operation
Nurse Practitioner event celebrates memoir of first nurse practitioner
Volunteers are key to Second Harvest's Zilch—zero waste—program
Healing arts collaborative blends culture awareness, massage therapy
Hospice of North Idaho's director affirms that 'hospice is about life'
The someone who has to do something about many issues is us
'Called and Compelled to Love' is diocesan theme; some letters
Pope Leo XIV and Lutheran bishops in America call for people to speak, welcome, engage

October 2025

Pastor helps seminaries prepare effective clergy so churches thrive

Pastor in Thailand uses fair trade to intervene to end sex trafficking, serve orphans
Transitions director uplifts the power of stories to bring changes in lives of women
The 36th Jubilee Fair Trade Marketplace has a new coordinator to organize the event
Practitioners find that centering prayer radiates through their whole lives
St. Michael's Mission marks 140 years, notes ministries, looks to future
Retired pastor finds ways to have fun doing positive things in CdA
World Relief Spokane continues its efforts to serve refugees who live here
Four Reardan churches find ways to continue to feed people, serve town
Democracy requires that skilled, active citizens work together
Water protector calls for all to participate in effort to keep water in river
Church holds vigil, letter to the editor, editor adds words

September 2025

Laurel Fish believes combined efforts of groups has power to influence
Kootenai County Task Force honors Ray and Jeanne Givens posthumously
Veterans For Peace urges ongoing opposition to nuclear weapons
Whitworth is the new home for two sculptures by Harold Balazs
World Refugee Day in Spokane drew more than 600 for activities
Art/English teacher facilitates 'Facing Immigration' workshops
American Indian Community Center seeks forever home to serve everyone
Child of a refugee writes book to give insights on the  lives of refugees
Kerra Bower fulfills dream as she opens Raze Early Learning Center
Frustration, energy of millions of isolated people can be turned into action
Lord's prayer is about everyone having daily bread, and forgiving
Everyone's one little thing can add up to a lot of momentum for justice

June, July, August 2025

Caj Matheson explains intricacies of Lake Coeur d'Alene's contamination
Retired life and spiritual coach takes readers on her travel memoir trek
Seven groups collaborate to strengthen local support for refugees
Interim director applies myriad of his skills for programs at Ross Point Camp
Volunteer helpers are a major asset for pre-camp maintenance and clean-up
Lutherhaven celebrates 80th year of faith-filled summer camp fun, inspiration
'Called and Compelled by Love' is the theme for Camp Cross this summer
Camp Spalding attendance has grown to record levels since the pandemic
Camps' community building activities create lifelong friendships for campers
Camp Gifford draws youth who generally don't have opportunity to go to camp
I AM Alliance runs six-week of day camps to help build children basic values
Two United Methodist camps find day camps are popular for local children
Camp manager is third generation of family in leadership at Camp Sanders
Millwood Impact turns a church outreach into neighborhood program for kids
Children release baby salmon they saw grow from eggs into Hangman Creek
Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners shares impact of funding cuts on them
Northwest Fair Housing seeks action to restore funds it receives from HUD
As the new Pope, Leo XIV fosters a spirit of bridgebuilding, dialogue, justice
The question remains how to organize individuals who are isolated, outraged
Spokane Riverkeeper reflects on the need for trash cleanup along river's banks
Episcopal bishop comments on the impact of words to both hurt and heal

May 2025

Raging Grannies have hundreds of Groups across U.S. and Canada
Gonzaga's new Informatics Institute connects people and technology
Geoffrey Mwangi provides medical care at a clinic at West Central Community Center
Catholic Charities permanent supportive housing for homeless has 94 % success rate
 Partners Inland Northwest celebrates 75 years of serving needy people in the Spokane Valley
The Gathering House organizes a Global Food and Art Market in its parking lot
Riverview Retirement chaplain engages residents to accept challenges that are part of aging
Background of working with a variety of people has served food bank director well
Crosswalk opens new shelter designed by youth for youth in summer, honors Bridget Cannon
The Arc of Spokane offers myriad of programs, supported by two thrift stores
World loses the kind of prophetic leader it most needs in these times, Pope Francis
Self-government only works if people organize to take larger action to assure rule of, by and for people
Sounding Board: Stories and storytelling can be tools for ministry
Behind the signs carried in recent rallies are many stories, perspectives and challenges for today

April 2025

Jennifer Compau says that art gives voice to life
NATIVE Project dedicates its new youth center
Toni Lodge's life is about activism, change, persistence and children
David Gortner says The Fig Tree touches and transforms lives
Columnist has found people who want to do good through reading The Fig Tree
Kassahun Kebede reported that Fig Tree story bore fruit in building library
Kristine Hoover is grateful for The Fig Tree making the world a better place
Pingala Dhital said Fig Tree editor reminds her of the value of elders in her culture
Raymond Reyes makes compelling appeal for supporting The Fig Tree media
Cathedral celebrates centennial of its construction over the next four years
The Lands Council summarizes the shifting emphases over its 40 years
Plastic pollution in ocean motivates leader of Spokane Zero Waste
In the crisis and chaos, it's now time to be the love, justice and peace we seek
Democracy is the best means to reach freedom, equality, justice, peace
Comments address getting older, politics like sports, a full multi-faith calendar

March 2025

Facing impact from executive orders, area refugee, immigrant groups act
Panel of tribal leaders present overview of issues impacting their communities
Marketing director finds ways to 'bring good' into lives of seniors in community
Youth panel discuss what 'being prophetic' means for their lives, communities
Habitat recruits  for a Faith Action Committee to connect with congregations
Country Homes Christian Church sells 2.5 acres for 100 units of senior housing
St. Ann's and Career Path form Dignified Workday to serve homeless
Speakers at Resident's Day Rally voice concerns to counter the onslaught of executive orders
Editorial: Columnist calls for recreating government of, by and for the people
Yakima bishop names challenges, Fair Housing leader reports funding freeze, more. . .

February 2025

The Black Lens editor finds power in building community through newspaper
FAN's new executive director always concerned about oppressed people
Spokane church will build low-income apartments as part of post-fire rebuilding
Ron Large invites GU students to ponder what it looks like to be a just society
Westminster UCC invites medically fragile homeless into its upper rooms
Second Harvest Inland Northwest seeks donations of shelf-stable foods to meet needs
Lisa Gardner activates NAACP Spokane chapter with new energy, activates members
Haitians share the community and caring they know in their culture
Caring for natural world includes keeping track of the numbers of birds
Editorial: We need to realize that America does not exist without refugees
Cameron Conner: Seeing community organizing globally gives us lessons for today
Sounding Board: King charged us to love each other: How can I love you better?

January 2025

Lay parish leader has encouraged St. Aloysius parish in its work for social justice
Cup of Cool Water outreach welcomes and teaches youth of values in word and deed
Spokesman-Review recognizes eight women of the year for contributions to community
Book and film assure that Holocaust survivor's presentations can continue in the future
Role of all the staff is to engage with and bond with the residents in retirement center
Member does research to help inform church of context of its founding story
Monthly cultural calendar preparer retires and passes on role to The Fig Tree
Tia Moua empowers Spokane's Asian-American people and herself
What if forgiving as an act of faith can have an impact on society?