Spokesman recognizes eight women for contributions to community

 

The Fig Tree editor Mary Stamp was among eight women The Spokesman-Review chose as Inland Northwest Women of the Year for 2024.

The Spokesman has partnered each year since 2019 with Bank of America to honor women in business, the arts, education, social services, politics, philanthropy or activism who make their communities better in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

Along with Mary, those honored in 2024 were Brooke Wood with Lake City Playhouse in Coeur d'Alene; Susan McDonald Osborn, founder and executive director of Spokane Helpers Network; Marlene Murphy Sullivan, a retired veteran who volunteers at the veterans hospital regularly; Margo Hill-Ferguson, a member of the Spokane Tribe of Indians and professor at Eastern Washington University (EWU); Barbara Miller, founder of the Silver Valley Community Resource Center; April Eberhardt, a career counselor at Shadle Park High School and interim editor of The Black Lens, and Amy Knapton-Vega, executive director of Vanessa Behan, a center for vulnerable children and families.

The women were honored at a reception at the Spokesman-Review. At that gathering, editor Rob Curley shared that The Spokesman-Review values the opportunity to honor women and gave a few comments about the women's contributions.

Describing Mary, he told how she conceived of and launched The Fig Tree 40 years ago.

"This monthly paper shares stories about the good work being undertaken in the region by faith communities and by nonprofit organizations," he said. "The Fig Tree lifts up those who are continuously working for the common good by featuring their efforts. It unites communities of faith through an unbiased approach that is inclusive. It introduces the wider community to lesser-known faith communities by featuring their work and focus."

He described Mary as "a passionate and dedicated reporter whose reporting comes from a 'solutions based' perspective. This means that Mary, other staff and volunteers report on stories of people making a positive difference in the Inland Northwest."

Brooke rebuilt and reopened Lake City Playhouse, raising money and in-kind donations to do major repairs to reopen the playhouse in summer 2024. After it shut down in the pandemic, a flood destroyed much of the building and the costumes.

"Brooke didn't give up. She sought people who shared her passion to get the playhouse running again," said Rob, describing her effort as a "labor of love."

"Brooke's passion seeps into the lives of those she comes in contact with," he said, noting that her passion and love of theatre has "fueled a community to support Lake City Playhouse."

Susan started the volunteer Spokane Helpers Network to help people in the community temporarily experiencing food and personal care insecurity, unable to access other resources because of their disabilities, lack of transportation, temporary job loss or hard times.

"Susan organizes her volunteers to deliver food items, hygiene packages, bus passes, financial assistance with rent or utilities and so much more. Where there is a need, she aims to fulfill it," Rob said.

Marlene volunteers several days a week at the Veterans Hospital, where social service assistant Rich Baker says, "she has a magic about her" and simply serves "the person in front of her." He told of her visiting a vet who needed surgery and whose wife was inconsolable—concerned about him and her own well-being while he was in the hospital. Marlene listened to the wife who didn't qualify for any services, found resources for her and stayed in touch to be sure she was okay.

Marlene retired from her massage therapy practice when she learned she had advanced breast cancer. It returned as Stage 4 a few years ago and she was given three months to live, Rob said.

"She applied the best practices she knew, doubled down on her commitment to living to serve her mother and others, and now there is no evidence of cancer in her body," he quoted from Bonnie Barnard who nominated her.

"Margo is a woman whose leadership, dedication and tireless commitment to the Inland Northwest and Native communities sets her apart as a truly inspiring figure," said Rob, describing her as a scholar, environmentalist, lawyer, judge and educator.

"She was influential in renaming Fort George Wright Dr. to Whistalks Way. She serves as a professor of urban and regional planning and the director of EWU's American Indian Education Program," he said. "Her influence spans many fields, from policy and planning to advocacy and education, with her work focused on improving life for others, especially Native/Tribal communities.

"In just one weekend earlier this spring, Margo participated in a powwow at the Pauline Flett Middle School, attended and served at the opening ceremony of the Expo '74 50th Anniversary Celebration and returned to EWU to host an impactful Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) program," he said.

Since the mid-1980s, Barbara has been "an unrelenting advocate for her Silver Valley community in cleaning up mining pollution—notably the toxic metal and lead—and protecting the children who live there," said Rob.

Barbara grew up at the Cataldo Mission, Idaho's oldest building, where her father was caretaker.

Since founding the Silver Valley Community Resource Center, Barbara has brought medical experts together to help with health issues and education in the Silver Valley.

"Through her tireless and dedicated investment with Children Run Better Unleaded, the community has rallied around the health of the children in the Bunker Hill Superfund site.

"It is holding polluters accountable and being steadfast in thinking of the next generation," Rob pointed out. "She has unapologetically advocated for clean air, soil and water to protect the welfare of hundreds of thousands of Silver Valley residents over her career."

At Shadle Park High School, April "often mentors and supports students of color in their ambitions and dreams," said Rob.

She also supports students as the chair of the NAACP Spokane's Education Committee.

April is also interim editor of The Black Lens, "where she shares her amazing writing and editing skills with the world," said Rob, adding that when she arrived at a North Spokane Starbucks for an interview with Spokesman reporter Elena Perry, April put the interview on pause when a student called her saying she and some others were just called racist insults while waiting at a nearby bus stop. April left to make sure they were okay and get them to a community center to report the incident. A half-hour later, she returned to her interview.

"A Black educator in a city where they're a stark racial minority, April feels compelled to stand up for her kids when they need a champion," Rob said.

For more than 28 years, Amy has been "a champion of Spokane's most vulnerable children" through Vanessa Behan, which serves not only children, but also mothers, recognizing that keeping children safe begins at home.

Amy's journey at Vanessa Behan began as a graveyard-shift house parent. She rose through the ranks, eventually becoming program director and leading Vanessa Behan's program services for emergency respite care of children from stressed and struggling families, he said.

She has been executive director for 18 years.

"There is no job too small nor too large for Amy at Vanessa Behan. If there's a baby within her vicinity or a mom who has walked in seeking help in some way, she will stop and engage with them. If a pipe has burst and no one is around, Amy will attempt to fix it," Rob described.

For information and to read the full stories, visit spokesman.com/honors/women-of-the-year/2024.