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December 2024 Newsbriefs

'What Does It Mean to Be Prophetic?' is EWLC theme

For the 2025 Eastern Washington Legislative Conference (EWLC), speakers and workshops will address the theme, "What Does It Mean to Be Prophetic?" for presentations in person and on Zoom from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, at Spokane Valley United Methodist Church, 115 N. Raymond Rd.

An opening interfaith prayer is being coordinated by Anastasia Wendlinder and Emily Clark of the Religious Studies Department at Gonzaga University with Karen Stromgren of Muslims for Community Action and Support.

A keynote plenary panel will explore the theme related to the generation-to-generation wisdom passed down by Indigenous people of the region working to restore salmon runs, address ecosystem functions, clean up uranium mines, restore language and culture to heal tribal people and all people of the region.

The panelists are Caj Matheson of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe Natural Resources Department, Margo Hill of the Spokane Tribe and Eastern Washington University American Indian Studies and Missing Murdered and Indigenous Women; DR Michel, of Upper Columbia United Tribes, and Bishop Gretchen Rehberg of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane.

Faith Action Network organizer Brianna Dilts will facilitate a panel of youth advocates—Tevita Fakasiieiki of the Pacific Islander Cultural Association, and two others to be confirmed.

Then lobbyists of faith agencies will present their organization's' priorities and issues coming before the state legislature in 2025. They are Kristin Ang of the Faith Action Network (FAN), Jean Welch Hill and Donna Christensen with the Washington State Catholic Conference and AC Churchill of Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light (WAIPL).

During lunch, participants will have time to visit display tables with more information from organizations on issues.

Participants will then attend workshops from a choice six offered in each of two sessions.

1) "Carla the Rescuer," a documentary on Carla Peperzak and on human rights challenges with discussion led by Kristine Hoover of Gonzaga's Leadership Studies;

2) "Racial Equity in Education" with April Eberhardt, chair of the Education Committee of NAACP Spokane;

3) "Refugee and Immigration Issues" with Karen Stromgren of Refugee and Immigrant Coalition of Spokane;

4) "Food Security Issues" with Eric Williams of Second Harvest;

5) "Rent Stabilization and Affordable Housing" with Joe Ader of Family Promise, Ami Manning of the Spokane Low-Income Housing Consortium, and Terri Anderson of the Tenants Union;

6) "Faithful Advocacy: How to Advocate during the State Legislative Session" with AC of Earth Ministry WAIPL, Brianna of FAN and Jean of WSCC.

In the second workshop session, two other workshops will replace 5 and 6.

• "Resident Action Project" with Duaa-Rahemaah Hunter of the Washington Low Income Housing Association.

• The "Washington Recycling and Packaging Act and other Environmental Issues" with AC of Earth Ministry/WAIPL.

Organizers and sponsors include The Fig Tree, Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington, FAN, Earth Ministry/WAIPL, American Civil Liberties Union Washington, Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, NAACP Spokane and Thrive International.

For information, call 535-4112 or email mary@thefigtree.org.

Fig Tree 2025 Benefits are March 8, 12

The Fig Tree's 2025 Benefit Events on March 8 and 12 will be focused the theme, "Sharing Wisdom: Connecting the Generations."

The in-person Benefit Lunch will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, March 8, at Hemmingson Center at Gonzaga University, because it reached capacity in 2024 at Cataldo Hall.

"With it being International Women's Day, it's appropriate to recognize the role women have played in its founding, leadership and production, in the spirit of the Just Community of Women and Men program of the World Council of Churches. It's also fitting recognition of our mission to give voice to women along with men, whose voices predominate in most media," said editor Mary Stamp.

She added the emphasis to uplift the voices of women and men elders in sharing values across the generations.

The Breakfast-Time Benefit will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m., Wednesday, March 12, on Zoom.

The Fig Tree is recruiting hosts for 50 tables for the lunch in Hemmingson, which has more space than the 30-table limit at Cataldo. The suggested donations for those hosting a table of eight is $175 or for hosting a corporate or organizational table is $750. Those interested in hosting may email development@thefigtree.org or call 535-4112.

"Having celebrated our 40th in 2024, we will have just the benefits," said Mary.

For information, call 535-1813.

Directory editor seeks updates for 2025

Recruitment of community partners and advertisers is underway for the 2025-26 Resource Directory, which will go to the printer in June.

Directory editor Malcolm Haworth has the 2024-25 listings online at thefigtree.org and is beginning to do the research to update the listings.

"It's an ongoing process. We receive updates after publishing and through the year. We will be mailing a request for congregations and agencies to send their updated information in late January," he said.

Most of the 25,000 copies printed in July 2024 have been distributed, but there are still copies to fill requests are coming in.

"We anticipate publishing the same number in 2025," Malcolm commented, "but will still be reviewing that."

Congregations and organizations can send their updated information any time by emailing resource directory@thefigtree.org.

For information, call 509-216-6090.

Whitworth has program to upskill workers

Whitworth LEARN is offering two workforce development programs in 2025.

Business-to-business (B2B) partnerships are becoming the norm with demand for companies to "upskill"—improve the skills of—their workforce as it grows.

Universities and colleges are increasingly relied upon by companies to collaborate on education pathways to assist in developing and retaining employees, said Trisha Coder, associate director of media relations.

Whitworth LEARN is partnering with Wagstaff and Innovia to offer the new workforce programs for participants in the wider community, beginning January 2025.

For information, call 777-1000 or visit learn.whitworth.edu.

MLK Day events are Jan. 19 and 20

Spokane's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Rally and March will begin at 10 a.m., Monday, Jan. 20, at the Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

A Resource Fair with information on nonprofit organizations will follow the march.

From 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday, Jan 19, the Spokane Ministers' Alliance holds the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Service at Holy Temple Church of God in Christ, 806 W. Indiana. The preacher is Bishop Gary Tyson, president of the General Baptist Conference Northwest from Seattle.

For information, call 868-0856 or visit mlkspokane.org or ywcaspokane.org.

Area Homeless Connect ventures merge

The 13th annual Homeless Connect will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 23, at the Spokane Convention Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

This year Spokane Homeless Connect and Spokane Valley Connect have merged, so it will be the largest resource fair in Eastern Washington, said Kari Stevens, chair of the Spokane Homeless Connect Organizing Committee.

"We united our energy, our events and our fundraising," she said. "We are a new nonprofit, Spokane Connect. It will allow us to serve more people in our community."

For 13 years, community volunteers of the Spokane Homeless Connect have been removing barriers and providing a safe space for those at risk of or experiencing homelessness to access resources easily.

This fair brings together community providers in one space for one day to offer direct services for individuals experiencing homelessness. It is also a venue for service providers to collaborate with their partners to help those in need find solutions.

Sponsorships by businesses, nonprofits and individuals allow this event to be held at a venue large enough for all the services that are offered.

Renée Norris, sponsorship chair, invites businesses and nonprofits to provide support for the event by calling 280-7447 or visiting spokaneconnect.org/sponsors.

For information, call 459-2509 or email kari.stevens@dshs.wa.gov.

Jewish Film Festival supports services

Spokane Area Jewish Family Services will present the 21st annual Spokane Jewish Film Festival (SJFF 2025) Saturdays and Sundays, Jan. 25 and 26, and Feb. 1 and 2 in person, and online Jan. 26 to Feb. 1.

The festival will screen several premieres, including the Washington premiere of Michael Winterbottom's historical romance, "Shoshana," the Pacific Northwest premieres of the short films, "Just the Tip" and "We Should Eat," and the West Coast premiere of the made-in-Spokane documentary, "Carla the Rescuer."

The documentary is about local Holocaust survivor, Carla Peperzak, her heroic efforts as a member of the Dutch resistance during World War II, and the work she continues today as a Holocaust educator.

Carla will participate in a live Zoom Q&A on before the Saturday, Jan. 25, screening.

The in-person Saturday evening screenings will be preceded by a catered reception with appetizers from Saranac Public House and wine and beer from the Magic Lantern Theatre, where all in-person events will take place.

Since 2004, SJFF has showcased international films that share Jewish life and culture with the community. The festival is designed to enhance the cultural life of the local Jewish community and the region as a whole.

"It's much more than a cultural event, because festival proceeds support the human services work of the Spokane Area Jewish Family Services. The agency uplifts seniors, low-income households and people with disabilities through advocacy, consultations, resource referrals, home visits, rent and utility assistance, transportation services, a caregiver support group, fall-prevention classes, a food bank, a medical lending closet and more," said SAJFS director Neal Schindler.

For information, call 413-8254, email director@sajfs.org or learn about the films at sjff2025.eventive.org.

Faith Action Network trains on advocacy

Faith Action Network of Washington is offering events on "Transforming Our Future through Advocacy" to sharpen advocacy skills and learn its policy priorities.

Advocacy 101 will be at 4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 5, on Zoom.

Legislative Previews are offered at noon, Thursday, Jan. 9, and 4 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 12, both on Zoom.

FAN's All Liaison Meeting: Organizing Your Faith Community for Advocacy will be held at noon, Wednesday, Jan. 15, on Zoom.

For information, visit fanwa.org

FAN also invites participants to the Eastern Washington Legislative Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, at Spokane Valley United Methodist Church, 15 N. Raymond.

FAN collaborates on the planning team with The Fig Tree, Spokane NAACP, Earth Ministry/WAIPL and Catholic Charities of Eastern Washington. This year's theme is "What does it mean to be prophetic?"

For information, call 535-1813.

Point-in-Time Count seeks volunteers

The 2025 Point-in-Time Count needs volunteers for several days in January. The annual event counts homeless people throughout the city, so the City of Spokane has an accurate number on the record for funding its services for homeless residents.

For information, visit spokanecity.wufoo.com/forms/volunteer-for-the-2025-pointintime-count.

Women+s Rally will be held Jan. 18

Freelance writer Pia Hallenberg, who recently announced a Spokane Women's Rally on Jan. 18, is teaming up with Women+s March on Spokane for a march and rally for women's and LGBTQIA+ rights from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18, by the Big Red Wagon in Riverfront Park.

The Spokane march coincides with the People's March, organized by the national Women's March organization, on the same day in Washington, D.C., to demonstrate the "resilience of resistance" through the generations.

"We are not going to stand by quietly while a new administration takes us back to a dystopian Handmaid's Tale scenario," asserted Pia. "We stand for bodily autonomy for all—including trans and LGBTQIA+ people—and for equal access to health care, birth control and abortion."

Women+s March on Spokane seeks to harness the power of diverse women in the community for transformative social change to advance justice, equity, freedom and inclusion.

For information, visit facebook.com/@MarchOnSpokane.

Event prepares people for deportation response

"Defending Against Deportation Community Listening and Mobilization" will be held with Spanish interpretation from noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Filipino Community Hall, 211 W. 2nd St. in Wapato.

With the threat of mass deportation by the incoming administration, Between the Ridges: Alliance for the Common Good, Yakima Immigrant Response Network, Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, ELLA and Poder Latinx are co-sponsoring this event to learn community concerns and begin to mobilize community response. The goal is to reactivate networks and resources used in the past, identify needs and new strategies that will shape common work and give commitments for action in 2025.

For information, email yakimaresponsenetwork@gmail.com.

WAISN creates resource for deportation defense

Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) has created a resource, "Four Deportation Defense Actions You Can Take Today," that highlights steps to take now to protect and advance immigrant rights in light of the new administration.

The flier—at waisn.org/deportation-defense-hotline-flyer—may be shared with congregations and agencies, along with "Know Your Rights with ICE" at waisn.org/kyrice in English, Spanish, French, Lingala, Portuguese and Somali.

WAISN will offer Rapid Response online training from noon to 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, on Zoom.  The next WAISN "Know Your Rights with ICE" training is from 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 8, on Zoom.

For information, visit waisn.org.

Spokane Eco-Anxiety Cafes continue in 2025

In Spokane Eco-Anxiety Cafes, continue on first Saturdays through April, are for those wanting to share worries, resources and ideas related to climate change. The next Eco-Anxiety Café is on-person, from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Jan. 4, at Manito United Methodist Church, 3320 S. Grand Blvd.

For information, email adygertgearheart@hotmail.com.

Gonzaga hosts speaker on Howard Thurman

Gonzaga's Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment hosts a lecture on "Lessons from Howard Thurman's Life" with Darian Spearman, assistant professor of philosophy, at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 29, at Hemmingson Auditorium.

Darian, who also has done research in the areas of African philosophy, eco-philosophy, philosophy of myth and philosophy of religion, has been published in Philosophy and Global Affairs and the American Philosophical Association's Black Issues in Philosophy Blog.

He will share about the work of Thurman, who is most known for his spiritual and intellectual significance to the Civil Rights Movement and his influence on Martin Luther King Jr. Only recently has his work in the area of ecological issues begun to be explored.

Darian explores how Thurman articulated his view that life is a process, which best actualizes itself through communion as written in The Search for Common Ground, a book where Thurman sought to ground the Civil Rights Movement in a vision of life's unity responding to the challenge of Black nationalism beginning in the late 1960s.

He will discuss the core themes of community, potential and unity as Thurman sees them in the biological processes of individual organisms and interspecies communion and will apply these insights to dimensions of the contemporary climate crises such as eco-anxiety.

For information, visit gonzaga.edu/climate-institute/events#January29.

Holy Cross Cemetery places urns with unclaimed remains in a crypt

Holy Cross Funeral and Cemetery Services committed 41 urns with remains of unclaimed deceased persons to the Crypt of the Holy Angels one day this fall.

Staff from the Spokane County Medical Examiner's office and Holy Cross Cemetery, and seminarians of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane's Bishop White Seminary attended. The seminarians assisted with the corporal work of mercy to bury the dead with seminary rector Fr. Daniel Barnett officiating.

Holy Cross and the Medical Examiner's Office partner to provide a dignified Christian burial for people whose remains are unclaimed. Once a year, the Medical Examiner's Office brings 30 to 60 urns of unclaimed remains to Holy Cross.

In the committal, the name of the decedent is announced as each urn is placed in the crypt and included in prayers for the dead.

Holy Cross also offers this service to families who cannot afford to bury loved ones.

"We place a single urn or a collection of urns a family has," said Lisa Barber of Holy Cross.

Names of unclaimed remains in the Crypt of the Holy Angels are published in the Holy Cross system.

"Occasionally, family members contact us, not knowing their loved one had passed," she said. "When they learn of their loved one's final resting place, most are comforted to know they received a dignified burial and leave the urn in the crypt."

Holy Cross staff facilitates arrangements for those who wish to rebury their loved one elsewhere or have their name added, for a fee, to the cenotaph at the crypt.

More than 500 urns have been placed in the crypt over the years. Only a few have been reclaimed and moved, and a few added their loved one's name. 

Cremated remains are placed at no charge in the crypt, either at Holy Cross Cemetery in north Spokane or at St. Joseph Cemetery in Spokane Valley. Donations support this service.

For information, call 467-5496 or email info@holycrossofspokane.org.

New curator at the MAC will uplift Native art

Rachel Allen, who is Nimiipuu (Nez Perce), is the new curator of modern and contemporary art at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, a role funded by a grant from M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust of Vancouver, Wash.

She co-curated its current exhibition, "Joe Feddersen: Earth, Water, Sky," a retrospective of the 40-year career of the Okanagan Arrow Lakes artist in the Colville Confederated Tribes.

As a curator and doctoral candidate at the University of Delaware, Rachel aims to uplift contemporary Native art and culture—particularly from the Columbia Plateau.

Previously, she was assistant curator at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass., and worked at the Portland, Maine, Museum of Art, the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University and the Missoula, Mont., Art Museum.

Rachel has a bachelor of fine arts degree in printmaking from the Cleveland Institute of Art, and master's degrees from Michigan State University in studio art and arts and in cultural management and museum studies.

The Murdock Trust provides three years of salary for her position, giving the museum time to raise an endowment to permanently fund it.

For information, call 801-450-32344 or email marit.fischer@northwestmuseum.org.

Family of seven moves into their new Habitat home

On Dec. 11, Habitat for Humanity-Spokane welcomed a family of seven into their newly built, safe, energy-efficient, affordable home in the Highland Village neighborhood of Airway Heights. It is one of 420 homes Habitat-Spokane has built since  1987 – 31 in 2024.

Majok and Nyibol have been in the homeownership program for a few years, completing their partnership requirements of  helping build their house and taking financial classes, saving for closing costs and opening a future of possibilities.

Through the Habitat Homeownership Program, homes are built and sold at cost, with a monthly mortgage payment no more than 30 percent of the buyer's income, said Michelle Girardot, CEO of Habitat-Spokane.

Their home is one of 16 single-family homes and 51 apartments units planned in the Highland Village Development.

For information, call 534-2552 or visit habitat-spokane.org.

Partners Inland NW receives 40,000 pounds of food from Salt Lake

Partners Inland Northwest is seeing a higher demand for food in the Spokane Valley.

"It takes many people and organizations working together to help those in need in our region," said Cal Coblentz, CEO of Partners INW.

Local leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints responded to that need by sending about 40,000 pounds of shelf-stable food, arriving on Dec. 17 in a 53-foot semi-truck from Welfare Square in Salt Lake City.

"The gift is vital when food insecurity and hunger are hitting all-time highs in the region. On average, Partners INW serves more than 220 households a day and has experienced a 400 percent increase in demand since 2019," said Cal.

"We are grateful to the church for partnering with us to support our community's most vulnerable who struggle to meet their basic needs," he said.

Partners INW assists more than 11,000 families every month with food.

"This donation came at a critical time for us as we never want to turn anyone away for a lack of food. Inflation is taking a toll not only on our most poor and vulnerable neighbors but also on working families. Both groups turn to Partners," said Justin Carlile, director of operations, "We are fortunate to benefit from the church's Humanitarian Fund and their efforts worldwide to help feed the hungry. We are grateful to call them our allies in this work."

This is the fourth truckload of food to arrive at Partners through the Welfare Square program.

In addition, church members in the region and world donate to the food program. The church has more than 52,000 members in the Inland Northwest.

Church members facing food insecurity are served by their local ecclesiastical leaders and sent to the church-run Bishop's Storehouse in Spokane Valley for food supplies. They do not have to draw on local food banks, said Brent Byers, president of the stake, a group of congregations in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

For information, visit partnersinw.org or newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org or call 270-4950.

State lands are potential sites for affordable housing

Hilary Franz, Washington state commissioner of public lands, recently visited the site of a future Habitat for Humanity development in Pasco and discussed solutions to the affordable housing crisis with Tri-Cities leaders.

Habitat will partner with the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR), entering a land use agreement to build 100 affordable housing units on 16 acres of state land and using revenue from it to fund K-12 education and libraries.

"This partnership is an example of how state lands can be used to meet housing needs," said Hilary. "We need to use every tool to ensure everyone in Washington has a roof over their heads. State lands are one solution to this crisis." 

The DNR has more than 3,000 acres of state land classed as "residential transition" land—empty lots and open lands—in and around cities—that do not generate revenue for DNR's trust beneficiaries because they are surrounded by developed land.

In the 2024 legislative session, she worked on legislation to give incentives for developers to build housing for low- to moderate-income homeowners on public lands. 

"Washington is the nation's fifth most unaffordable state for housing. Addressing the crisis requires bold solutions, like the Habitat project," said Hilary.

For information, call 360-584-3916 or email ryan.rodruck@dnr.wa.gov

Lands Council raises funds for urban forest

In October, vandalism destroyed 18 red oak trees, worth $9,000, planted as part of The Lands Council's Cool Canopy program along the Appleway Trail in Spokane Valley.

They were part of the council's urban forestry program, a five-year effort to reforest the county with 2,000 trees.

"In addition to greenery, the trees provide wildlife habitat, cleaner air and summer cooling, tangible ways to counter climate change," said Amanda Parrish, executive director.

"The program is nurtured by children, teachers and community members, as we bring schools, children and volunteers into our mission to plant trees, reconnect with nature and learn about nature," she said.

The council seeks support, not only to replace the lost trees, but also to continue building a greener, healthier future for Spokane.

For information, visit thelandscouncil.org

Growing Neighbors recruits volunteers for projects

Growing Neighbors, a community initiative of Shadle Park Presbyterian Church, is expanding and needs more volunteers to help with new projects.

Some of its upcoming projects include planting native edible plants on two acres, developing sustainable housing villages/farms, developing community composting systems with schools and managing a large greenhouse.

Other projects include starting new community dinner sites, hosting art workshops and using repurposed and naturally found materials.

Growing Neighbors also plans to build raised beds, compost bins, chicken coops, little free pantries and yard signs with pallet wood and other repurposed materials.

For information, email growingneighbors509@gmail.com.

Black Liturgy Meditation to meet monthly at Liberty Park Library

Black Liturgies for Staying Human, a monthly community gathering and meditation, will be held from 6 to 6:35 p.m. on the last Thursdays of each month at the Liberty Park Branch of Spokane Public Libraries. The program adapts Cole Arthur Riley's Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human into a type of spiritual—not religious—"liturgy" that draws quotes and insights from Black intellectuals, ancestors, authors, and mentors. It also features some short passages and reflections from the book itself.

The upcoming dates for programs facilitated by Jonathan Rossing of Gonzaga University are:

  • Jan. 30, focusing on "Dignity and Justice,"
  • Feb. 27, on "Love and Belonging"
  • March 27 on "Spring Renewal."

For information, call 313-6958 or email rossing@gonzaga.edu.

 

 
Copyright@ The Fig Tree, January 2025
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