Meet more than 100 local nonprofits, including four that support kids through tough times page 24
Meagan Glubrecht and her son Ollie are supported by the Childhood Cancer Coalition.
EDITOR’S NOTE
No matter your passion, there are countless ways to give back to this community we call home. As highlighted in our annual philanthropy-focused GIVE GUIDE, opportunities to lend your time and talents are everywhere. This year’s issue just so happens to have a unifying theme, as our four featured nonprofits all support kids, helping them get off to a positive start in life so they can accomplish great things.
River City Youth Ops is one of them, a West Central-based organization that’s looking to its past in order to shape a bright future in its next chapter. Light A Lamp is another, helping kids in local schools who are struggling with their mental health. Providing much-needed hope and guidance in difficult times is also the focus of the Childhood Cancer Coalition, which aids local families with children fighting cancer. Safety Net Inland Northwest lends a hand to teens who, lacking a strong support network, could fall through the cracks after leaving foster care.
Read more about all four of these worthy causes — and more — in this pullout section. Learn how you can lend a hand, make a donation and get involved with other nonprofits working tirelessly toward so many causes, from education and health care equity to animal welfare, environmental conservation and so much more.
— CHEY SCOTT, Editor
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HOW DO YOU GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY?
HANNAH COOLIDGE
This one’s gonna be a little hard for me to answer. I just moved here.
What do you do for work?
I work at Latah Creek Animal Hospital, which is a veterinary clinic that practices fear-free medicine, which is really amazing. So far, I’ve gotten to be a part of some summer school programs that come into our clinic and learn all about what we do, how we do it.
KIPP SIMS
Well picking up the trash, I suppose; yeah, just wandering around whenever you happen to see trash or litter, we try to pick that up as much as possible.
Do you have a favorite local nonprofit around Spokane? I like SCRAPS.
LINDA WRENN
I work for HomeStreet Bank, I’m a mortgage loan officer. And I just met a client from Iran. They’ve been turned down by several other companies, and we got them a new mortgage loan, and they are thrilled. And I love doing first-time homeowner loans.
Do you have a favorite local nonprofit? I think it would be Christ Kitchen on Monroe.
RACHEL MYERS
We’re new to the area so I’m actually still kinda looking for ways to give back. I would say small ways would be when we’re at the park if there’s someone who looks like they need someone to talk to, I’d say “hey” or we’ll pick up some trash.
ANDREA SIMS
We do a lot of outdoor activities, so getting on with the trails and things like that, and helping maintain the trails and keep them clean so people can get out and enjoy the outdoors.
Do you have a favorite local nonprofit? Spark [Central]. And I also like Thrive, which is for local refugees.
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Healthier Forests, Fewer Wildfires
We’re spending billions fighting fires, leaving too little to fund forest restoration projects in the Pacific Northwest
BY DON C. BRUNELL
Our national debt is spreading out of control like a raging wildfire. Among other things, that added liability impacts our ability to fight those fires and reforest those scorched woods and range lands.
Replanting trees is necessary to prevent erosion, provide clean drinking water, reduce CO2, protect fish and wildlife habitat, and rehabilitate public open spaces. It is very costly, and under
current funding schemes the money is not available. Our national debt just surpassed $35 trillion for the first time in history. Those we elect brush aside balancing taxes and spending, yet America continues to accumulate debt at a record pace. Now, each U.S. taxpayer would have to pony up nearly $268,000 if our creditors called for immediate repayment.
Over the next 10 years, without any changes in current policies, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that net interest will total $5.4 trillion and become the fastest-growing component of the federal budget.
To prevent the most devastating wildfires (like the one that hit Malden on Labor Day of 2020, above), more forest management needs to happen — but that costs money. WILSON CRISCIONE PHOTO
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According to Smithsonian magazine in 2022, “wildfires and other issues have devastated U.S. woodlands in recent years, and Forest Service arborists can’t keep up with replanting lost trees. They’ve reforested just 6 percent of land damaged by fires, pests and extreme weather events, which has created a backlog of about 4.1 million acres.” That is 6,400 square miles of barren ground — a land mass the size of Hawaii.
Federal agencies spent an all-time high of $2.9 billion combating wildfires last year, which is more than 12 times what was spent on suppression efforts in 1985. This year at the end of July, the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise reports, there were 94 large active wildfires nationwide that burned 2.1 million acres.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., chairs a congressional committee that reported last year that the total impact of wildfires is as high as $893 billion each year — up to 4% of GDP.
Forest fires are part of nature; however, they are getting more dangerous and expensive to fight. As fires increase in size and intensity, suppression, environmental restoration and mitigation costs soar.
Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., co-author of Fix Our Forests legislation, calculates that there is urgent need for active management across 117 million acres of overgrown, fire-prone forests. The bill simplifies and expedites environmental reviews to reduce costs and planning times for critical forest management projects while maintaining rigorous environmental standards.
The bill also aims to end frivolous litigation that delays necessary forest management efforts, often for years. Congress needs to tell federal bureaucrats it is time to get things done on the ground, not continue to equivocate and litigate in court.
Cutting diseased, dead and fire damaged trees is not new. In intermountain forests of northeastern Washington, Idaho, Montana and British Columbia, loggers once salvaged beetle-killed trees and sent them to rural sawmills to be cut into two-by-fours; that practice was severely curtailed 30 years ago as logging has been constrained.
Knowing that mature trees are most susceptible to insects and disease, public forest managers once designed timber sales on small tracts as fire breaks. The logging and subsequent cleanup removed forest fuels that, in recent years, have been allowed to accumulate.
Harvesting helped fund replanting and fire access road construction. Environmental mitigation techniques have dramatically improved, resulting in clean water and unencumbered access for fish returning to natural spawning grounds.
As we look forward to more austere times, we must revise management practices in state and federal forests. We can no longer allow nature to just take its course. There needs to be a more balanced approach to reduce the risk of wildfire. Megafires are polluting our air, endangering our health and safety, and burning a bigger hole in our pocketbooks. By thinning, salvaging and logging, we could not only save expenses, but create jobs and bring in needed revenue without borrowing. n
Don C. Brunell is a business analyst, writer and columnist. He retired as president of the Association of Washington Business, the state’s oldest and largest business organization, and now lives in Vancouver. He can be contacted at theBrunells@msn.com. …loggers once salvaged beetle-killed trees and sent them to rural sawmills to be cut into two-by-fours; that practice was severely curtailed 30 years ago…
From Crisis to Collapse?
Idaho is overhauling its public defense system in response to alleged constitutional violations; some say the change will do more harm than good
BY VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ
In 2015, Tracy Tucker sat in a Bonner County courtroom facing allegations of attempted strangulation and domestic battery in the presence of a child. He was assigned a public defender, but no defense attorney was present at his first appearance, where his bail was set at $40,000 — an amount Tucker couldn’t afford.
As his case moved forward and Tucker remained in custody for three months, he tried to call his defense attorney 50 times but received no response, according to court documents. He says he ultimately communicated with his attorney for about 20 minutes across three meetings — two of which were during court appearances for his case. Tucker pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a suspended prison term of two years.
His case and others like it would become the catalyst for major changes to the Idaho criminal justice system that are set to take effect this year.
The ACLU of Idaho worked with Tucker, Jason Sharp, Naomi Morley and Jeremy Payne, who each alleged similar violations of their right to representation at key stages of their cases. On June 17, 2015, they filed a class-action lawsuit against the state of Idaho on behalf of all “indigent” defendants who can’t afford their own attorney.
The case alleged that Idaho’s indigent public defense system is unconstitutional. Namely, the case pointed to issues with county-provided defense around the state, including “extraordinarily high caseloads and workloads,” the use of fixed-fee contracts, a lack of effective communication with clients, inadequate or nonexistent case inves-
tigation, and more. The case continued through various appeals over the last nine years.
To address the issues the case raised, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed House Bill 735 into law in 2022 to move the funding of public defense from the county to the state level, and House Bill 236 in 2023 to create the State Public Defender office.
The new office, led by State Public Defender Eric Fredericksen, is set to take over indigent public defense on Oct. 1. It will standardize public defense in Idaho and move away from a “patchwork” county-level system. The goal is to have universal hourly pay rates for contracted attorneys, track the time per case with a new management system, and balance caseloads for public defenders, with experienced attorneys in seven judicial districts overseeing defense across multiple counties.
However, even with the state working to address issues with the old system, the ACLU of Idaho, public defenders, prosecutors and other stakeholders say the new system is already creating concerns. Critics argue that the shift is taking place too hastily and that the state’s standardized pay rates will create even more issues with hiring and maintaining defense attorneys.
Anne Taylor, the former chief of Kootenai County’s Public Defender’s Office, says she fears the harm that will come to those who can’t afford an attorney.
“They won’t have enough responsive counsel,” Taylor says.
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT
The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to defense counsel. Through multiple decisions in the 20th century, the U.S. Supreme Court expanded on the right, requiring states to provide attorneys for misdemeanor cases and to ensure that public defenders have adequate time to represent their clients.
In 2009, the Idaho Criminal Justice Commission contracted the National Legal Aid and Defender Association to study Idaho’s trial-level indigent defense services in Ada, Blaine, Bonneville, Canyon, Kootenai, Nez Perce
and Power counties. In 2010, the association’s report concluded “that none of the public defender systems in the sample counties are constitutionally adequate.”
The report stated that flat-fee contracts created ethical concerns about proper representation in conflict with attorneys’ financial interests. A flat-fee contract may be a one-time payment for complete representation during a case, motivating defense attorneys to resolve cases quickly by encouraging defendants to take a plea deal. At the time, public defenders also had caseloads that were 322% of what national standards allow, and funding for investigators and support staff was insufficient for public defense, according to the report.
In response, state lawmakers created the Idaho Public Defense Commission in 2014, with the goal of collecting data on caseloads and expenditures, supporting compliance with national standards, and providing training. The commission would also make recommendations to the state Legislature. Lawmakers also moved away from county fixed-fee contracts and removed two-year minimum terms for public defenders.
Arguably, the commission lacked the ability to reform public defense, says Ritchie Eppink, legal director for the ACLU of Idaho.
“The statewide Public Defense Commission had essentially no authority to do anything about the system; it made recommendations to the Legislature, and it provided some training,” Eppink says, “but beyond that, had no significant power.”
Taylor, who was the chief Kootenai County public defender from 2017 until earlier this year, says that although the Public Defense Commission had mixed results, it did help address some issues in Kootenai County.
“There were a lot of good things that came out of that, and in my view, some negative things, but the good things were that there was additional funding,” Taylor says. “And a look at the caseloads meant that more funding came in specifically earmarked to hire more lawyers, to spread the workload.”
Idaho is changing the way it handles public defense, but North Idaho may struggle to find enough attorneys under the new pay rate.
FaLl ArTs
NEWS | CRIMINAL JUSTICE
“FROM CRISIS TO COLLAPSE,” CONTINUED...
PAYING FOR PUBLIC DEFENSE
Christopher Schwartz has spent the last 20 years as the head public defender in Shoshone County and as a conflict public defender in Kootenai County. A conflict public defender is contracted to represent individuals if there are conflicts of interest between attorneys, or multiple defendants involved in one case.
Schwartz says public defenders have always received less pay and benefits than prosecutors, making it challenging to hire and retain attorneys. He says that prosecutors can often retire 10 years earlier and, on average, receive an additional 10% in pay. Many new attorneys join county public defender offices to gain valuable experience, but don’t stay long.
“It’s not uncommon that you have someone that’s a [public defender] for one or two, three years,” Schwartz says, “[using] the public defender system to kind of learn how to do the law, and then they leave.”
In 2022, Kootenai County increased the hourly rates for conflict public defenders to $150 an hour and allowed them to bill the county $50 an hour for support staff, Schwartz says.
The same year, Kootenai County Prosecutor Stanley Mortensen collaborated with the county Public Defender’s Office to address the high cost of living in the county by asking the Board of County Commissioners to increase staff attorney wages. Still, Mortensen says the last time he checked, his office was down seven attorneys, and the public defender’s office was short-staffed by 11 attorneys.
“The commissioners approved wage increases,” Mortensen says. “I started hiring prosecutors almost immediately, but the public defender’s office couldn’t hire anybody because this law had been passed, and the law left more questions unanswered than they answered.”
CENTRALIZED AUTHORITY AND WAGES
Idaho’s new State Public Defender Office is being led by Fredericksen, who had previously worked as a state appellate public defender since his appointment in 2016 by former Gov. Butch Otter.
Under the new funding mechanism, county taxpayers no longer pay for public defenders via property taxes. Instead, the state is using sales tax from online purchases to pay for that work, and lawmakers appropriated $49 million to cover the costs for fiscal 2025, which started July 1.
The new structure maintains 14 counties’ public defender offices, with the state footing the bill. Ada, Bannock, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Canyon, Gooding, Jefferson, Kootenai and Twin Falls counties each have established public defender offices. Minidoka and Cassia counties have a combined office, as do Power and Oneida counties.
Kootenai’s office will be the headquarters for the First Judicial District, which covers North Idaho, and Bonner County will maintain its office. Thirty counties in the state don’t have public defender offices and will continue to hire private attorneys for public defense work, but those contracts will now be with the state.
The Idaho State Public Defender’s website states that contract and conflict attorneys will make $100 per hour and lead counsel on capital cases will make $150 an hour. The office claims that 77% of public defenders in the state will receive a
salary increase, 15% will receive a decrease in pay, and the rest will stay at the same rate.
When reached by phone on Aug. 9, Fredericksen says his office is standardizing rates, and the new management system, LegalServe, will allow public defenders to track their hours and caseload, allowing for more balance.
“We went across the state to establish a baseline and make sure we had fair pay for attorneys and staff across the state,” Fredericksen says. “It wasn’t just based on attorneys in Ada County, it was across the state, and right now, everybody has fair pay based on their years of experience as an attorney.”
However, many First District (Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone counties) contract attorneys are concerned about receiving a pay reduction for the same level of work. Nine attorneys voiced pay concerns in a letter to Fredericksen in May.
“Your office made the decision to cut the pay rate for all contract attorneys by 33% and to eliminate our ability to bill for our assistants’ time,” the letter states.
Schwartz and eight other attorneys stated in the letter that they want to stay at the rate they achieved in 2022: $150 per hour, with the ability to bill for staff. They claim that the state’s decision doesn’t reflect the cost of living in Kootenai County, which will make it even harder to attract and retain attorneys.
The nine attorneys, who collectively are working over 1,000 cases, have stated they will withdraw from North Idaho’s pool of conflict attorneys.
“We cannot accept your proposal and hereby provide notice to the Kootenai County Court system that the undersigned attorneys are withdrawing from the First District Conflict program,” the letter states.
Fredericksen says his team has started the process of going to job fairs and building interest among new attorneys. He says that many attorneys would enjoy moving to North Idaho because of the beautiful environment.
BRACING FOR IMPACT
In his role as the legal director for the ACLU of Idaho, Eppink says he has heard many rumblings about how disastrous the rollout of the statewide office will be. He says he’s heard of attorneys declining the new rate, including senior public defenders, who will see a 10% to 30% pay cut.
“What I fear is we’re going from a disaster and a crisis to an absolute collapse of this system — which is going to present problems all across the board, for judges, prosecutors, and, of course, for the Idahoans who are being charged with crimes,” Eppink says.
Schwartz says the shortage of public defenders in county offices across the First Judicial District led to the use of many conflict attorneys because of the sheer volume of cases.
“We represent, I don’t know, 30 to 40% of the criminal cases that people get a [public defender] on in Kootenai County,” Schwartz says, “because the Kootenai County [Public Defender’s] office has been so short-staffed that they’ve had to conflict cases based purely on having too many cases, not because there’s really a conflict.”
Prosecutors like Mortensen are concerned about the need to delay hearings and the
ity of cases getting dropped if there aren’t enough defense attorneys under the new system.
“I can’t predict what the courts are going to do — that’s up to them,” Mortensen says. “But you’re going to have a lot of defendants making motions to be released and a lot of defendants making motions to have their cases dismissed if they’re experiencing delays because of a lack of attorneys.”
Mortensen is also worried about how the rollout will impact victims, particularly if charges are dropped.
Taylor is a seasoned public defender and one of the most notable Idaho defense attorneys due to her high-profile cases. Now in private practice, she is still a defense attorney for Bryan Kohberger, the suspect charged with the murder of four University of Idaho students in Moscow.
At Idaho legislative hearings in 2023, she was sounding alarms about the proposed public defender system being underfunded, and was vocal about the need to retain the attorneys the state already has.
“My concerns were that it was underfunded and people who serve the clients would be harmed, and therefore the clients would be harmed,” Taylor says. “And I felt like their timeline was way too fast to try to put it together. It needed more money, more time and more protections for the clients and for the people who serve the clients.”
Taylor resigned this summer from her role as a Kootenai County public defender. The decision was not made lightly, as Taylor says she found her dream job working as a public defender in Kootenai County and always thought she would retire in that position.
Taylor says that no one is asking to be able to afford a lake house, but attorneys deserve adequate pay to support their staff, cover their expenses and focus on their defendants.
“They need job security, they need to know what’s going on, and they need to be paid what they’re worth,” Taylor says. “And they need not to be overworked so that they can serve the clients.” n
victorc@inlander.com
North Idaho falls under the First Judicial District. IDAHO STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER MAP
Supporting Stability
Washington is keeping more families together. Plus, Spokane’s immersion school is named after a Latino advocate; and the city’s new police chief starts Monday
BY INLANDER STAFF
Since the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) was formed in 2017, it has nearly cut the number of children in out-of-home care in half. In 2018, there were 9,171 children placed outside their homes, while this year that has shrunk to 4,971 out-of-home placements. This is largely due to the department’s Thriving Families Initiative, which aims to provide support for families so children can remain home. “We know that supporting and collaborating with families by providing access to services and programs increases their number of protective factors, leading to better outcomes,” DCYF Assistant Secretary Natalie Green said in an Aug. 14 news release. “Giving families the tools they need to thrive and safely parent means more children and youth remain safely at home.” While placements in foster care or group homes have decreased significantly, the number of child abuse and neglect complaints — about 93,000 in 2018 and 92,000 in 2023 — received by DCYF has not significantly changed. (COLTON RASANEN)
RUBÉN TREJO HONORED
Spokane’s first stand-alone language immersion program will start the school year with a new name: the Rubén Trejo Dual Language Academy. The highly respected and loved Mexican-American sculptor died in 2009, but left a lasting legacy as an educator, artist and Latino advocate. The Spokane Public Schools board approved the new name honoring Trejo on Aug. 14. Before the vote, SPS Board President Nikki Otero Lockwood shared how Trejo impacted her academic journey at Eastern Washington University, where he advocated for her financial assistance. “I do have a huge, profound sense of gratitude for him and feel very honored to be voting for this tonight,” Otero Lockwood said. Trejo advocated establishing the Chicana/o/x Studies program at Eastern in 1977, with a mission to create a better understanding of Latino heritage and culture and enhance first-generation participation in higher education. That legacy will continue at the Rubén Trejo Dual Language Academy, which was founded in 2017 as the Spokane Public Language Immersion Academy. The school has expanded by one grade each year, and currently teaches kindergarten to seventh grade, with an expected enrollment of 295 students this September. (VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ)
HERE COMES THE CHIEF
Spokane’s new police chief will start slightly sooner than expected. On Monday, the City Council voted to approve Mayor Lisa Brown’s appointment of Kevin Hall as Spokane’s next police chief, with a start date of Aug. 26. Hall, who is leaving his current role as assistant police chief in Tucson, Arizona, will make $247,804 a year — that’s more than Brown, who makes $179,148, and the same as former Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl, who announced his plans to retire shortly after Brown was elected in November 2023. Hall was selected from a nationwide search. “It always remains to be seen, but I really think we got the right choice,” City Council member Michael Cathcart said on Aug. 19. Anwar Peace, who has spent decades as a police accountability advocate in Spokane, said Monday that during interviews Hall impressed him with his innovative approaches to community-based violent crime responses, alternative staff and response models, and budgeting. “Chief Hall will have his work cut out for him,” Peace said, noting that Spokane has an unusually high rate of police shootings. Peace hopes Hall will become the “change agent that has been desperately needed in order to drag this department into 21st century policing.” (NATE SANFORD) n
A New Protected Class
Spokane City Council pumps brakes on homeless anti-discrimination law after pushback from business interests and Mayor Brown
BY NATE SANFORD
Freshman Spokane City Council member Lili Navarrete didn’t expect her proposed homeless anti-discrimination law to cause such an uproar.
Setting the Standard in Retirement Living
When she introduced the ordinance last month, the goal was simple: Protect homeless people from discrimination when they apply for housing or jobs by adding “housing status” to the city’s list of protected classes.
Business owners argue that Navarrete’s ordinance would make it impossible for businesses to trespass homeless people and prevent police from enforcing rules such as the city’s unlawful camping and sit-lie laws.
Chris Batten, the vice chair of developer Larry Stone’s recently formed Spokane Business Association, argued in a letter to Navarrete and other city officials that the law would result in “crime spiraling out of control.”
Navarrete says the concern is unfounded.
In a detailed reply to a list of questions from Downtown Spokane Partnership CEO Emilie Cameron on Aug. 7, Navarrete said that “an individual’s housing status does not equate to a license to violate other laws.”
The proposed law — often referred to as the “Homeless Bill of Rights” — aims to give unhoused people the same protections that prevent landlords and employers from turning people away simply due to protected characteristics such as race or sexual orientation. It also includes language to enshrine unhoused peoples’ right to move freely in public spaces, retain control of their personal belongings and be free from unreasonable searches.
Backlash from business interests has been fierce. After delaying a planned vote earlier this month, the City Council voted on Monday to indefinitely defer the bill “back to committee,” citing community division and a need for more outreach.
The proposed law isn’t dead, says City Council member Zack Zappone, who pushed for the indefinite deferral. It will come back for a vote at some point as part of a larger conversation about the city’s homeless policies, Zappone says. There will be roundtables involving community leaders and maybe some larger town halls.
Finding consensus won’t be easy. While homeless rights advocates have argued that the proposed law is important to protect peoples’ dignity, business organizations like the Downtown Spokane Partnership and Spokane Business Association have lobbied heavily against it — arguing the ordinance uses vague language that would confuse businesses and exacerbate safety issues downtown.
In some ways, the proposal became a scapegoat for peoples’ larger frustrations over Spokane homeless policy. The pushback was heated.
“People are just dissecting this and making this into things that are not true,” Navarrete says. “We need to have a solution together.”
As an immigrant from Mexico, Navarrete notes that she, too, is a member of a protected class. But that obviously doesn’t mean she’s allowed to commit crimes.
Still, business owners continued to rally against the proposal. Several days before the originally scheduled vote, local developer Sheldon Jackson described it as a “warped, idiotic, entitlement for the 1%, drug addicted, criminals, living on Spokane streets” in a message to the private email group of politically connected, prominent business owners that he manages.
As the ordinance came up for a vote on Aug. 12, dozens of people packed City Hall, passionately arguing for and against it.
“People are being discriminated [against] because of their lack of an address in this community,” said Anwar Peace, the chair of the city Human Rights Commission. “I hope we do something to honor our homeless neighbors and their lives.”
After listening to more than an hour of testimony on Aug. 12, City Council member Kitty Klitzke proposed deferring the ordinance indefinitely, citing the community division and a need for more input.
Council member Michael Cathcart, one of the council’s two-person conservative minority, pushed
Spokane City Council deferred a homeless rights vote indefinitely on Monday. NATE SANFORD PHOTO
back. He alleged that Mayor Lisa Brown’s administration had been quietly pressuring other City Council members to defer the ordinance because of concerns it would politically damage her proposed public safety sales tax, which is set to appear on the Nov. 5 ballot.
“This deferral is a bit disingenuous,” Cathcart said. “It’s misleading to the citizenry.”
Rumors about a politically motivated deferral had been floating around for a while. On July 30, in response to an email from Cathcart asking for help formatting an amendment, the City Council’s policy adviser recommended that Cathcart submit his amendment to Navarrete’s bill quickly because “it is likely that the administration will ask CM Navarrete to defer her ordinance until after the November election.”
(Cathcart stresses that the policy adviser was just doing his job and wasn’t trying to create issues.)
Navarrete also alluded to election-related political pressure to defer the vote during an Aug. 1 Homeless Coalition meeting. The Inlander heard similar suspicions from other sources in the week leading up to the vote.
Erin Hut, the mayor’s spokesperson, says she’s not sure where the rumor started, but that it’s totally false.
Brown did discuss a desire to defer the ordinance with council members, Hut says, but that was only because the mayor had concerns about implementation and lack of community consensus — not the upcoming sales tax vote.
Navarrete says that, while she did hear the rumor, the mayor never directly told her anything about deferring because of the election. Council member Paul Dillon says he also heard the rumor, but nothing came directly from the administration.
Following Cathcart’s allegation of ulterior political motives, the City Council initially agreed to compromise with a two-week deferral. One week later, during an Aug. 19 briefing session, the Council voted at Zappone’s suggestion to indefinitely defer the ordinance “back to committee,” with Cathcart opposed. The members also voted to defer a proposal from Cathcart to expand the city’s camping ban even more than voters did last year, arguing that both ordinances should be considered together as part of a larger conversation.
“I mean, the most important thing is for the process to be inclusive,” Zappone says when directly asked if the mayor requested the council defer the ordinance because of political optics.
Zappone adds that he has argued from the beginning for a process that is holistic and “inclusive of lots of voices.”
“That process takes awhile,” Zappone says.
Klitzke says there were “so many different considerations,” and stresses that the City Council is an independent body that doesn’t take directions from the administration.
“Just a lot going on,” Klitzke says. “There was so much division.”
Hut says Brown isn’t necessarily opposed to Navarrete’s ordinance, but the mayor does have concerns about ensuring that the city could enforce it. She says there’s a history of the City Council passing ordinances without fully identifying how follow-up would work.
“You have to understand the cost associated with it,” Hut says. “We haven’t really had that.”
The ordinance doesn’t come with any funding commitments. In her email to the Downtown Spokane Partnership, Navarrete said enforcement would fall on the city’s Office of Civil Rights, Equity and Inclusion, which is already tasked with handling complaints related to other forms of discrimination. The City Council’s homeless policy manager also prepared a detailed flowchart for how enforcement and complaints would be handled.
Navarrete has spent the past week meeting with opponents of the ordinance. She says she had a “really good conversation” with Gavin Cooley, the newly appointed CEO of the Spokane Business Association.
Despite the division, Dillon says he heard general agreement regarding the employment aspect of the bill and is workshopping a new version more narrowly focused on banning required address boxes on employment applications.
“We can start there and find some common ground,” Dillon says. n nates@inlander.com
WINNING
SAVOR A TRUE LOUISIANA BOIL!
SUNDAY, AUGUST 25TH | 4:30 PM – 8 PM
Enjoy one-pound crab, half-pound shrimp, half-pound crawfish, half-pound clams, sausage, red potatoes and a corn on the cob boiled in a Louisiana broth. Served with cornbread and coleslaw. Join us outdoors near the Spa Tower hotel entrance.
Hurry! Tickets are limited.
$50 (Advance Purchase) | $55 (Day of the Event)
Advance ticket purchase highly recommended.
Tickets will include designated entry times and the supply of tickets is limited.
All ages are welcome.
Reduced ticket pricing for children is not available at this special event.
Serving sizes are based on uncooked weight estimations.
Changing Oil
A new Washington State University discovery about seed oils could eventually help biofuel production and hinder bioterrorism
BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM
Rudolf Diesel patented his version of the internal combustion engine in 1892. He’s the namesake for diesel fuel, which today is mostly made from refined crude oil. But Diesel’s original engine ran on peanut oil.
Seed oils may be getting hate from the current health food industry, but they are ripe with promise to replace petroleum-based fuels, as well as lubricants, industrial-grade adhesives and other vital materials.
“The big picture here is that with the increasingly growing human population … there’s a higher demand to replace petroleum with renewable fuels, which do not affect the environment as much,” says Phil Bates, an associate professor of biological chemistry at Washington State University. “The carbon that is burned when you burn [seed oil] is recaptured by the plants, and they then make the oil again. It’s sort of a recycling versus pulling something from the ground and just burning it.”
There’s plenty we still don’t know about how plants produce oil, Bates says. But that knowledge is critical if the biofuel sector wants to increase the yield and profitability of nonfood oil crops such as Camelina or castor.
Thanks to a recent discovery by Bates and his lab, which studies molecular plant science, researchers now know a whole lot more.
Along with researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Bates’ team discovered a previously unknown oil production mechanism in Physaria fendleri, a plant that makes an oil similar to castor oil. Without getting too deep in the weeds, the gist is that the common perennial native to Mexico and the American Southwest can change the composition of its oil even after the initial substance has already been created.
That’s a big deal.
Knowing this mechanism exists opens up new questions and possibilities: Do other plants do this? Could you genetically modify any plant to change its oil into something it otherwise wouldn’t produce?
Answering these questions could put scientists closer to increasing seed oil production enough to compete with and maybe even replace petroleum. But to do that, the world needs a lot of seed oil.
Oil does far more than fuel our transportation. Lipids, the technical name for oils, are in just about everything.
“I got interested in lipids because they’re essential to life,” Bates says. “You can’t have a cell without lipids. But also there’s very useful things that you can make out of lipids. The goals in my lab are to better understand how plants make different types of lipids, and how we can then use that information for societal gain by either breeding or engineering plants that have different properties that we can use.”
The WSU team’s discovery, which was published in April, could affect not only cars, planes, buses and trains, but even the fight against bioterrorism.
THE OIL TO END ALL OILS
Castor oil has been used for everything from inducing labor to lubricating equipment on high speed trains. It can be found in brake fluids, inks, paints and plastics, and also in cosmetics and soaps. Historians say ancient Egyptians used it as a skin and hair moisturizer, a medicine, and a laxative.
You can find bottles of it in an aisle of your local beauty store — and it’s also probably in the plastic shopping basket you’re carrying
and the car you took to get there.
Because of its nearly endless uses, castor oil is always in high demand, making it a lucrative commodity. In 2023, the castor oil market was estimated to be worth over $2 billion.
But here’s the catch — after the oil is extracted from castor “beans” (which are really seeds), the grainy byproduct contains a toxin called ricin.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers ricin one of the most toxic biological agents known to science, and both a bioterrorism and chemical warfare weapon. According to the USDA, it is seven times more deadly than cobra venom. Ricin gets into cells and stops them from producing the protein they need. A few milligrams can kill a human adult.
The white powder has been used in Russian assassination attempts and was featured in a famous episode of Breaking Bad. In 2013, Spokane made national news when the FBI arrested a 38-yearold man for sending ricin-laced letters to a federal District Court judge, the Riverside Post Office, Fairchild Air Force Base, the CIA and then-President Barack Obama.
Castor oil fell out of large-scale production in the U.S. in the 1970s to stem access to castor mash and its deadly possibilities. Today, nearly 90% of the world’s castor is grown and processed in India.
After the U.S. stopped producing castor, the USDA started researching how to produce a similar oil without the lethal byproduct. Their researchers have been working for decades to genetically engineer castor or replace it with a similar plant oil.
Their work led them to Physaria fendleri — that’s right, the same one Bates has helped study — which produces an oil very similar to castor but hasn’t been domesticated yet.
Armed with this new knowledge from WSU about how the plant works, the USDA might actually be able to bypass the decades-long process of domesticating a wild plant into an agricultural crop. Instead, they might be able to genetically alter crops that are already domesticated to make the unique oil that Physaria fendleri does.
“By understanding the process of how some of these plants make these things, we can try to replicate that in another species,” Bates says.
One promising new seed oil plant is Camelina sativa, a nonfood crop introduced to Montana in the early 2000s. Today, there are about 20,000 acres dedicated to growing Camelina, which is used to make biodiesel and feed supplements for livestock.
Could Camelina be genetically altered to make an oil that could replace castor oil, making the industry more competitive and less dangerous? Bates is a researcher, so he’s reluctant to make such grand claims.
“Ten years will tell us, right?” Bates says. “We like to believe that we’re opening up a new direction, whenever we discover something that’s very new or very different [...] Now we know we have new targets. Is it gonna be the thing that makes a huge difference? Time will tell, but it definitely gives us new research directions and new places to go.” n
elizab@inlander.com
Physaria fendleri: A small blossom with big potential. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS CC0 1.0
VISUAL ARTS
Crimson Collection Turns Golden
WSU’s art museum celebrates 50 years with a salon-style exhibition through the fall semester
BY AZARIA PODPLESKY
In 1974, the newly opened Washington State University Museum of Art hosted seven exhibitions.
The first featured a collection of Greco-Roman artifacts on loan from the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. The second featured 18 of the 22 known etchings from Spanish painter Francisco Goya’s Proverb series, with the third highlighting a collection of 20 lithographs from French artist Honoré Daumier. (Both the Goya and Daumier works were on loan from WSU’s Holland Library.) The fourth exhibit paired ancient tools from the Pacific Northwest Indian Center of Spokane, later renamed the Museum of Native American Cultures, with their modern counterparts. (Its collection is now part of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.)
The final three exhibitions that year featured works from former WSU President Ernest O. Holland’s collection; pieces from the Virginia and Regent Charles W. Orton collection; and portraits of WSU supporters including publishers, educators, state officials and Native American tribal members painted by
WSU art professor Worth D. Griffin.
This wide diversity of artwork featured, from classics to pieces from both internationally and locally renowned artists, has been a source of pride for the museum from the very beginning, the cornerstone on which it has grown its collection in the half-century since.
Fifty years after those inaugural exhibits — with a permanent collection that now stands at more than 4,000 pieces — WSU’s art museum, now called the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU, is celebrating its growth with the exhibition “Your Collection: Celebrating 50 Years.” The salon-style exhibition runs through Dec. 13.
To honor the museum’s 50th anniversary, WSU is also hosting an afternoon of events on Sept. 26. The day kicks off at 3 pm with a printmaking activity in front of the museum. Then, current and past museum directors, staff and supporters — including Schnitzer — will gather at the museum for a reception and release party for the commemorative book Reflecting Fifty Years.
The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU reopened in 2018 after an extensive remodel. NIC LEHOUX PHOTO
In addition to the 50-year retrospective this fall, visitors can also view “The Art of Food,” which features more than 100 pieces from Schnitzer’s collection and is on display through March 8. Schnitzer also leads an “Art of Food” exhibition tour on Sept. 27, followed by a discussion about food insecurity for college students and a pop-up community market.
Now housed in what’s affectionately known as the “Crimson Cube,” which features six galleries and 14,000 square feet, WSU’s art museum had a more humble start in the school’s Fine Arts Center.
Initially under the direction of Harvey West, the museum primarily displayed work from students and staff. But within just a few years, as funds for the art department were lacking, it was placed as a department under the provost.
“A lot of people don’t know that we have no affiliation with the fine arts department,” says Debby Stinson, marketing and PR manager for the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU.
“The reason for that is because the Museum of Art and its collection serves the entire WSU community campus as well as all of its visitors and local community. Because of that, we have the ability to collaborate with all departments on campus, as well as groups outside of campus.”
Those outside collaborations helped the collection blossom over the years. Many of the works in the collection, Stinson says, were gifted to the museum by other collectors or artists.
Artist Jim Dine, for example, who created The Technicolor Heart, a blue, heart-shaped sculpture adorned with hammers, scissors and other tools that has called WSU home since 2004, donated more than 200 prints of his work to the museum in 2014.
“Many people don’t know it, but behind the [Museum of Fine Arts Boston] and the British Museum, our museum has the largest collection of Jim Dine’s prints in the world,” Stinson says.
As the art world evolved and expanded, so too did the museum’s collection. When it was founded, much of its collection featured the impressionist works WSU leaders Holland and Orton were fond of, including pieces by Frank Duveneck and Robert Henri.
Another early piece, William Thomas McDermitt’s Road to Albion, which features a tree-lined path through the rolling hills of the Palouse, stands out to Stinson because it shows a time before there was a paved road through the town of Albion.
...continued on next page
WSU faculty and Friends of the Museum members gathered in 1979 for a Harold Balazs (third from right) sculpture dedication. PHOTO COURTESY OF WSU
“CRIMSON
COLLECTION TURNS GOLDEN,”
CONTINUED...
“It’s a beautiful painting of the Palouse way back when,” she says.
Over time though, the museum’s collection has grown to include works from nearly every culture, medium and art style imaginable, including the abstract paintings of Mark Rothko, pop art of Roy Lichtenstein, photography of Andy Warhol and Cindy Sherman, engravings of Julie Mehretu, ceramic sculptures of Betty Feves and wooden sculptures of Victor Moore.
In Reflecting Fifty Years, the commemorative publication about the museum’s golden jubilee, art collector Sean Elwood, who earned his bachelor’s degree in fine arts from WSU, wrote an essay about his self-imposed challenge to find the through-line among each piece in the collection in an attempt to advise the museum as it moves into its next 50 years.
Turns out it was no easy task.
“I found that despite my connections to the place, the museum’s collection was largely undiscovered territory for me, full of new revelations or reminders of things that I’d forgotten,” Elwood writes. “I never found that overarching, single through-line that connected all the works in the collection. Instead, I was overwhelmed by the variety. I discovered there was no easily defined overall organizing principle.”
That’s because, Stinson says, the collection developed over time.
“Every one of these is completely different,”
Art by Jim Dine (left), Roy Lichtenstein (top) and Sherrie Wolf are displayed in the 50th anniversary exhibition. IMAGES COURTESY OF WSU
she says of pieces in the collection. “The only overarching theme is what we love and what we’ve loved through the different centuries.”
A love of art has been the foundation for the past and present of WSU’s art museum, and is paving the way for the future of the building, too, benefiting WSU’s broader community in numerous ways.
“You can’t help but be inspired and look at the world differently when you’re exposed to the highest quality of art,”
An art museum, Stinson says, is a place for students to both have a meditative experience and be engaged in the present moment by interacting with works that elicit emotion, be it joy or anger.
Most importantly, she says, art museums are spaces that nurture creative thinking, something that’s required in countless fields.
“You can’t help but be inspired and look at the world differently when you’re exposed to the highest quality of art,” Stinson says. “The museum functions as a repository of creative thought, and that enhances every discipline within the university.” n
“Your Collection: Celebrating 50 Years” • Through Dec. 13; Tue-Sat from 10 am-4 pm (closed holidays and during WSU breaks) • Free • Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU • 1535 N.E. Wilson Road, Pullman • museum.wsu.edu
Not Just for Laughs
Organizers say the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival brings more than big-name headliners to Spokane
BY E.J. IANNELLI
August has brought a hat trick of firsts for ONE Spokane Stadium.
Two weeks ago, the new downtown sports and entertainment venue hosted its first professional concert with the Outlaw Music Festival featuring Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson. That was followed by the inaugural home opener for the Spokane Zephyr women’s pro soccer team last weekend.
And this Friday, when the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival begins its three-day run, the 5,000-seat stadium (which maxes out at about 12,000 when floor seating is added) welcomes its debut comedy show. The touring event, which has Tom Segura, Shane Gillis and Kevin Hart headlining on consecutive nights, has been years in the planning.
“This was the first show we announced,” says Matt Meyer, director of entertainment for the Spokane Public Facilities District. “It was everything we were hoping it would be — a festival-style event with multiple days, a super-high talent level and the ability to bring people in.”
The lineup of supporting comedians changes each night along with the headliner. On Day 1, Friday, Segura is preceded by Jessica Kirson and Kirk Fox. Ahead of Gillis on Day 2 are Nate Marshall, James McCann and Spokane-born Kelsey Cook. And on the final day, Na’im Lynn, Spank Horton and Joey Wells warm up the crowd for Hart, whose festival performances overlap with his Acting My Age Tour.
In keeping with the festival atmosphere, there will be incidental entertainment positioned around the stadium. Western-themed stunt entertainer Leapin’ Louie, mind reader Cameron J. Brow and Spokane
Aerial Performance Arts are just a few of the regional artists billed as part of what the organizers are calling Untamed Acts.
“We have different things going on in different locations,” Meyer says. “So when it all comes together, the whole thing is more about the community and the arts in general.”
Typically, the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival is held in large urban parks like Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park or Prince’s Island Park in Calgary. Spokane is an exception to that format, because the event promoter, Nashville-based Trixstar Entertainment, thought that amenities like nearby Spokane Falls, Riverfront Park and the Centennial Trail hit the vibe that they were looking for, Meyer says.
He adds that the ability to capitalize on that ruralurban mix so close to the downtown core represents an opportunity for the city.
“It helps invigorate the economy. At the time [of planning] we were estimating about $3 to $4 million potential economic impact based off the event. You’re able to bring people in from outside Spokane. They’re going to travel and eat at the restaurants, drink at the bars, stay at the hotels for multiple nights.”
There’s also a case to be made that it’s more than about economic health. Meyer sees ONE Spokane Stadium as a way to augment the local entertainment scene over the long haul. By drawing more household names to town, events like the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival prove the market’s viability to promoters, which in turn helps raise the profile of venues throughout the city.
That was the thinking behind including the Spo-
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Cellphones aren’t prohibited, but they’re not exactly welcome, either. There will be designated areas where signal reception will be unblocked and you’ll be able to call and text. Recording the comedians’ acts is an absolute no-no.
Folding chairs aren’t necessary, despite what it says on the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival website.
The stadium has all-ages grandstand seating as well as reserved VIP areas equipped with tables and chairs for 21+ attendees.
Rain or shine, the show will go on. Fortunately, the weekend’s forecast is predicting ideal weather.
kane Comedy Club as a festival partner.
“It was just a natural fit to bring them in as well and associate them with the comedy festival. Because it helps everybody, right?” Meyer says. “If we don’t get a show, I want somebody else to get it because it hurts us as a city more if they don’t show up and they don’t come through.” n
Great Outdoors Comedy Festival • Fri, Aug. 23 through Sun, Aug. 25; doors at 6:30 pm • $52.50$302.50 • All ages • ONE Spokane Stadium • 501 W. Gardner Ave. • greatoutdoorscomedyfestival.com
From left: Shane Gillis, Kevin Hart and Tom Segura are festival headliners. COURTESY PHOTOS
Homegrown Comedy
Spokane comedian Kelsey Cook previews the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival
BY E.J. IANNELLI
IDo you get the sense that Spokane being added to the festival itinerary is kind of a big deal?
Oh, totally. I mean, the lineup for the festival is so insane. The fact that over three days Spokane will get to see Tom Segura, Shane Gillis and Kevin Hart — that’s kind of unheard of, right? So this is really exciting.
What makes these particular headliners so exciting?
All three of them are so hilarious. They’re all masters at stand-up. They’ve all been doing it for a long time, and their comedy voices are all so clear and uniquely theirs. And I feel like they all are willing to say things that people are thinking but might be afraid to say themselves. They’re all very uncensored in the funniest way possible.
f you grew up in Spokane, you might know comedian Kelsey Cook as a former neighbor or classmate. Then again, you also might recognize her from her TV guest spots, including multiple appearances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Her stand-up special The Hustler was released on YouTube last year and has since been picked up by Hulu. She co-hosts the podcast Pretend Problems with fellow comedian Chad Daniels. We chatted with Cook ahead of her return home for the festival; her answers have been edited slightly for brevity.
INLANDER: What got you involved with the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival?
COOK: My agent reached out and said that they were offering me a spot to open for Shane Gillis at the festival. I’m not sure if once they figured out that Spokane was going to be one of the cities that they were thinking, like, “Oh, well, Kelsey’s from here originally” and that I might be a good fit.
How does your set change when you’re opening versus when you’re headlining?
I feel like you want to keep in mind that you’re not necessarily the person that people are paying to see. You want to try to set the headliner up for as much success as possible. There’s sometimes a little bit more looseness to maybe try some new material, stuff like that, but when you’ve got a shorter set opening for a headliner, you really want to lock it in and do your strongest jokes.
Given that you riff on Spokane in your standup act, how does your material change when you’re here?
Whenever I get to perform in Spokane, some of the fun is getting to do jokes that I don’t do anywhere else. You know, obviously, if I try to joke about the Garbage Goat in Milwaukee, people have no idea what I’m talking about. I do think Spokane’s a unique city where we have these really bizarre, specific things to talk about that are fun and bring people together.
Any opening acts that you’re particularly excited about?
Jessica Kirson, who’s opening for Tom Segura, and I know that she’s performed at the Spokane Comedy Club as well. She is one of my all-time favorite comedians. She is so brilliant and funny. I just can’t recommend enough for people to watch her.
And you’re coming back early next year to headline at the Spokane Comedy Club?
It’ll be Valentine’s weekend, and it’s actually going to be the start of my individual tour. Right now we’re also in the process of pitching a new special to the streaming services. I’m hoping it will be released around that time in 2025. My current comedy special, The Hustler, has crossed 3 million views on YouTube, and as of about a week ago, you can now watch that on Hulu as well. n
MEET THE HEADLINERS
TOM SEGURA
The bilingual Ohio-born comedian, writer and actor has co-hosted the podcast Your Mom’s House with his wife, Christina Pazsitzky, since 2010. He has five Netflix stand-up comedy specials, the most recent being Sledgehammer. Segura also wrote a book of humorous essays, I’d Like to Play Alone, Please
SHANE GILLIS
Gillis’ scripted workplace comedy series, Tires, premiered earlier this year on Netflix. Along with stand-up comedian Matt McCusker, he’s co-host of Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast, which, contrary to its name, is one of the most popular podcasts on Patreon. His second comedy special, Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs, was released on Netflix last autumn.
KEVIN HART
The entrepreneur, personality and actor is known just as much for his film work — Ride Along, Jumanji, The Secret Life of Pets, Fatherhood, to name just a few — as his stand-up comedy. For the better part of a decade, Hart’s multiplatform production company, Laugh Out Loud, has provided a platform for comedians of all backgrounds. His debut standup special, 2009’s I’m a Grown Little Man, was followed by seven more, including, most recently, Kevin Hart: Reality Check
IANNELLI
Kelsey Cook
Liz Rose
(Taylor Swift, Little Big Town, Carrie Underwood) Phil Barton
(Lee Brice, Sara Evans, Dustin Lynch & many more)
Danny Myrick
(Jason Aldean,Tim McGraw, Craig Morgan)
Kross
Session Singer & Rising Country Artist)
MY POLLY VALENTINE
A letter from Peaceful Valley’s newest permanent resident
BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM
Dear fellow Spokanites, It’s good to be back.
I’ve seen the bowels of bureaucracy, and believe you me, the view from up here is much better.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Polly Valentine. We may have met briefly last fall when I started pedaling up a pylon on the Maple Street Bridge. Alas, my journey was temporarily, forcibly derailed for a bit. But now I’m back, fully reinstated as the Sisyphus of Peaceful Valley, eternally pedaling but never getting far. (These brand new black braces anchoring my bike wheels to the concrete certainly don’t help. Thanks, Office of Public Works.)
But really, I don’t mind. From my perch, I can gaze across the tops of houses down Clarke Avenue or watch neighbor kids playing below. One little girl is here now with her own pink bike, spinning circles in the cul-de-sac.
She was one of the first to arrive. But more and more people are coming out to the street. We’re all pretty happy to be reunited, so a couple dozen neighbors are gathering for my welcome back party. I have to say I’m touched. I didn’t realize I meant so much to the block.
Well, well, look who it is! Lisa! So good of you to come! Yes, Mayor Brown and I go way back. She and council member Kitty Klitzke made sure to get me back up here. But I’m actually her predecessor, in a sense. I started my journey last October, before Brown was even elected.
How did I start my journey, you ask? You think you’re so sneaky! If you think I’d slip up and reveal who made me, you’re more naive than I thought. You think everyone down there doesn’t know, too? Of course they do. But you’ll never get it out of them. Not even the kids. Trust me, those lurking journalists have tried again and again. But they’re doomed to fail! It’s our little secret. If you really need a name for print, just call my artistic progenitor “Bikesy.”
Oh, the mayor is starting her speech. Gather round, neighbors, and gaze up at me, almost restored to former glory! Yes, what a triumph — the city gracelessly removed me last November, saying that it isn’t “safe” for citizens to “attach anything to public property,” but now they’ve decided to put me back, more secure but a little worse for wear.
I don’t have the range of motion I used to have in my feet or hands, which makes it hard to grip the handlebars. The peace sign is almost completely smeared off my helmet, which makes me sad. To be honest, I can’t quite remember all that happened to me in the underbelly of the public works department to make me fit to be an official member of the city art collection.
But it’s over now, and I’m here, and no one will come to take me down again. I’m more than thankful for that. I’ll tell you what — government protection helps me sleep at night. No more jump scares of a rogue cherry picker and apologetic city worker with a swirling drill. That’s more than the riderless bike in the middle of the river next to Sandifur Bridge can say. Are we related? You fool! Adorable that you think I would fall for that.
The mayor is finishing her short remarks by asking if anyone else wants to say something. But us Peaceful Valley folks aren’t really the speech-making types. We all know what happened, we’re all special to each other, and we don’t need to beat a dead horse.
The neighbors go home for the rest of the evening, but I’ve still got friends around. On every pillar down here there are portraits of real kids who used to live in the neighborhood in the ’80s. They’re a bit worn — to be honest, the empty eye sockets and blank expressions were a little hard to get used to at first. But they’re delightful and we’re total pals now.
Turns out, we’re what makes this place weird and wonderful and home. And it’s good to be home.
Cordially yours,
Give back just by joining. stcu.org/join.
Each year, hundreds of organizations throughout the Inland Northwest work hard to ensure that everyone in our community is healthy, happy and whole. The Inlander’s annual philanthropy issue, Give Guide, offers a glimpse into the many nonprofits making meaningful change for the better in our community. You don’t need to look hard to find the passionate teams supporting people at some of the hardest moments in their lives. It’s evident in the care offered by the Childhood Cancer Coalition, whose team members have been in the same shoes as parents like Meagan Glubrecht, whose 3-year-old son Ollie was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year. You’ll also find it in the work of Safety Net Inland NW, which helps young adults get on their feet as they age out of the foster care system and set out on their own.
Meanwhile, River City Youth Ops is celebrating the return of some familiar faces as it returns to its roots, and Light A Lamp is expanding its efforts to ensure that teenagers struggling with depression and anxiety know that people care, and help is available.
In addition to our reported stories on these and other organizations, you’ll find an extensive advertising directory of many of our region’s nonprofits that can help you understand the work taking place throughout the community.
If you’re passionate about helping your neighbors, this is a great place to learn how to get involved, where to donate your time and/or money, and to be reminded of the many people working together for good in our region.
— SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL, Give Guide Editor
Light A Lamp works to support Inland Northwest students who struggle with anxiety and depression, one act of kindness at a time
BY COLTON RASANEN
To make a one-time or monthly donation to Light A Lamp, or to buy gift basket items from a wishlist, visit lightalamp.org.
Angella Southerly speaks with students about her nonprofit’s work in schools.
Angella Southerly believes that a single act of kindness, no matter how small, has the power to change someone’s life.
After health issues led Southerly to leave her career in the medical field, she founded Light A Lamp in 2014 as her own small way to give back. At first, she focused on recognizing folks who went above and beyond in their communities by making and delivering gift baskets to them.
“I just had a lot of guilt about not being able to work because of my health,” she says. “I’ve always volunteered and always been a caregiver, so this was something I could do to recognize my community members.”
Southerly realized she wanted to do more though, so in 2019 she applied to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. While still continuing her previous efforts, she partnered with Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center to provide specialized gift baskets for kids with cleft lip and/or cleft palate and their families. Southerly still works with these families, but that part of Light A Lamp transitioned into its own nonprofit, Inland Cleft & Craniofacial Group.
Then in 2022, Southerly and the Light A Lamp Board of Directors, mainly composed of people working in education or the medical field, decided to shift some of their focus to youth struggling with depression and anxiety.
After the pandemic, about a third of Spokane County 10th graders reported having depressive and anxious feelings, and 18.1% of them said they had contemplated suicide, according to the 2023 Washington Healthy Youth Survey. Both statistics were higher than the statewide totals reported in the same survey.
“We got together and said, ‘Man, our kids are struggling tremendously with their mental health after COVID,’” Southerly says. “So what we did for the older kids in the cleft lip and palate program, we realized we could do for kids in local schools.”
The day after deciding to focus on youth mental health, Southerly reached out to Rogers and North Central high schools to begin offering gift baskets called “health packs” to students who might benefit from them. Light A Lamp calls the endeavor “Project Lift Up.”
The Project Lift Up team delivers a handful of health packs to counselors at participating schools each month to provide to students who may need them. The packs include food and drink coupons, snacks and hygiene products, alongside more fun — but still useful — items, such as journals, fidget toys and drink tumblers. Southerly ensures that contact information for local mental health organizations are included in these packages.
Although it may seem minor, Southerly says this small act of kindness can have a large effect on students’ mental health.
“These baskets that we’re giving are just a conduit that allows [students] to see that people care for them,” she says. “It lets them know that they’re not alone and they’re cared about — even though it’s sent from someone that doesn’t personally know them.”
Project Lift Up has grown quickly. During the 2023-24 school year, Southerly says the nonprofit served 17 schools throughout the Inland Northwest, including schools within the East Valley, Spokane, Tekoa and Reardan-Edwall districts. That’s expected to grow in the 2024-25 school year, with at least 25 schools participating.
Light A Lamp doesn’t receive federal or state funds — it relies on private donations at its annual June fundraiser, “Light Up the Night.” This year, the nonprofit raised enough funds to fully support Project Lift Up at 15 of the 25 schools it plans to serve. Other funds will come from local businesses, which can sponsor these efforts at a single school for about $2,500.
However, that may change soon as the organization has grown large enough to hire a grant writer to find and apply for other sources of funding. Light A Lamp is also searching for an office, so it can move operations out of a shed (delightfully called the Lighthouse) on Southerly’s Mead property.
“My dream is that we’ll be in every school in the region,” she says before correcting herself. “It’s a goal that we’re going to make happen.” n
The Literacy Project of North Idaho
The estimates vary — 32 million adults? 46 million? — but the urgency is clear: at least 1 in 6 American adults cannot read or write above a third grade level. They’ve been left behind by unscientific teaching methods, or rushed along by a school system that advanced them despite failing benchmarks, or they were simply pulled out of school to work.
No matter the reason, it’s not their fault they can’t read well, says Kat Gilmore, founder of the Literacy Project of North Idaho.
“Reading is one of those things you can’t teach yourself,” she says.
But smart people can figure out a way to avoid reading. In Gilmore’s experience, most nonreaders find coping mechanisms that allow them to function well in daily life without reading.
They can cope so well, in fact, that their low literacy goes undetected by family and friends, Gilmore says. Some are successful local business owners or other respected community members. But the shame of not being able to read well keeps adults from seeking help.
That’s where the Literacy Project steps in. Gilmore and other teachers offer confidential classes for adults who have low to no reading skills.
In May, the Literacy Project received a $10,000 grant from the Innovia Foundation to help keep these efforts alive. The grant will also support English as a second language classes for community members who are learning the language.
But there’s plenty more need and plenty of ways to get involved. Coming soon, you can dress up as your favorite author or character for the Literacy Project’s WalkRunRead 5K fundraiser on Oct. 19. The $30 entrance fee goes straight to supporting programs. You can also visit theliteracyprojectni.org to find out how to volunteer your time or resources.
“My heart is with those people who find the courage and are humble enough to just say, ‘Help,’” Gilmore says.
— ELIZA BILLINGHAM
– Kelli Stangel, RN, BSN, CHPN, Director of Hospice House and Admissions
should be fun — for everyone!
WINNING IS JUST THE BEGINNING!
COEUR D’ALENE CASINO IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
At Coeur d’Alene Casino, giving back to our community represents one of our longstanding Coeur Values. Over the years, we’ve given more than $35 million to schools in our region. In addition, employee team members lend a hand at community charity events such as Blessings Under the Bridge, Tools 2 Schools, and more. Coeur d’Alene Casino gives hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to sponsorships, non-profits, organizations, and deserving individuals. In late 2019, we launched “Coeur Connections,” giving our community work a formal name. Giving is a part of our culture and we will continue to expand our efforts to lend a helping hand to the people of Idaho and our Inland Northwest region.
Kids • Social Services • Civil and Human Rights • Education
How To Give
READ THE GIVE GUIDE
Read all about the goals of local nonprofits in this special section; make a note of the ones you connect with most.
AHANA – Multi-Ethnic Business Association
327 E. Paci c Avenue • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
GO ONLINE Grab your credit card, scan a QR code or log on to the charity websites found in these pages and make a contribution.
509.503.1024 ahana-meba.org ahana@ahana-meba.org
AHANA is an acronym for Asian, Hispanic, African, and Native American, and we are the umbrella business organization for all under-represented and under-served ethnic communities and cultures in the region. We educate small businesses on how to start up, grow, and expand to become successful. AHANA is a proud partner of the Washington State Dept of Commerce Small Business Resiliency Network.
GET INVOLVED
Small Business Incubator Program
Small Business Accelerator Program
Small Business Workshops
Akin (formerly Children’s Home Society of Washington)
2323 N. Discovery Place • Spokane Valley, WA 99216
PICK UP YOUR PHONE
Call your nonprofit of choice via the numbers listed here and make a pledge of cash or volunteer hours.
509.747.4174 akinfamily.org spokane@akinfamily.org WHAT WE DO
Akin is dedicated to the health and wellbeing of children, families and communities, and committed to seeking the transformation of the child welfare system.
Akin (formerly CHSW) has a broad continuum of care from prenatal-adulthood, leveraging 100+ years’ expertise to advance child and family wellbeing and strengthen caregiver-child relationships through family support, early learning and mental and behavioral health programs in Spokane and statewide.
GET INVOLVED
Your support allows Akin to keep o ering programs that make a positive impact on families in the Spokane area. Give today! https://bit.ly/3R7upgl
320 E. 2nd Avenue • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
509.328.6326
arc-spokane.org
info@arc-spokane.org
We promote independence and choice and enhance the quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families.
• e Arc of Spokane provides numerous services and programs to fully engage people with IDD in their communities.
• Transition and Young Adult Programs for teens and young adults as they transition into adulthood.
• Advocacy and Family Support Programs including individual advocacy, legislative advocacy and support for parents of children with IDD.
• e Community Center provides adults with IDD opportunities to build friendships through games, enrichment classes and group outings around Spokane.
• Supported Employment matches people with IDD to jobs in the community that t their needs and abilities.
• e Investment Recovery Center is an over 30-year partnership with Avista that employs adults with IDD to perform jobs such as driving forkli s and sorting cast-o wiring and equipment for recycling.
• e Supported Living program serves about 50 individuals with IDD who live as housemates in homes they own, lease, or rent together.
GET INVOLVED
• Donate and shop at e Arc ri Stores in Spokane and Spokane Valley.
• Attend our fundraising events, Rock the Runway and the Cornhole Tournament.
• Make a gi through a one-time donation or become a sustainer and give on a monthly basis.
VOLUNTEER
Apply to become a volunteer to make a di erence for individuals with IDD! Volunteer with:
• Community Center
• Helping parents with Parent to Parent
• Transition & Young Adult Programs
Join us for an end-of-summer Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser! SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 • 11:00 AM-3:30 PM • 320 E SECOND AVE
Learn more and register at: arc-spokane.org/cornhole
Artisans is a non-pro t agency providing services necessary for individual job development, employment support, and employment opportunities in the community for persons with disabilities.
Artisans provides Supported Employment, Community Inclusion, and Independent Living services in Spokane, Stevens and Pend Oreille Counties for persons with varying disabilities. Each person we serve is unique and has speci c skills, abilities, and talents. Because of this, our agency prides itself in o ering services and employment opportunities as diversi ed as those we serve. ese services are provided through DDA, DVR, FCS and private contracts.
Supported Employment: O ers services throughout the entire employment process including resume building, interview skill building, job development, job coaching, and training. Sta members work diligently to o er job placements in the community and personalized support, centering e orts on each person’s interests and abilities. We pride ourselves in hiring sta with diverse backgrounds to support individuals in various work industries.
Community Inclusion: O ers services focused on community engagement activities and goals. It is designed for individuals who have reached retirement age, or for individuals in need of skill building and community integration to prepare for employment through volunteerism, social outings, and other community-based activities.
Independent Living: O ers services to assist individuals with accessing and utilizing the public support systems including, but not limited to housing, food, clothing, and nancial resources. Specialized skill training is also available.
GET INVOLVED
Businesses:
• Reach out to us for your hiring needs
• Host mock interviews for job seekers
• Provide volunteer or work trial opportunities for job experience. Sta support provided Individuals:
• Mentor individuals by teaching job skills and so -skills
• Donate monetarily or with services to support clients in their interview and employment endeavors
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Northwest
1912 N Division, Suite 100 • Spokane, WA 99207
WHAT WE DO
509.328.8310 nwbigs.org joinus@nwbigs.org
Our mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. We match at-risk youth with volunteer adult mentors. e relationships developed through mentoring have positive e ects that span a lifetime and beyond. Our mentors build self-esteem, serve as positive role models, and foster a brighter outlook for our kids. Mentors are professionally screened and trained, and all matches receive ongoing professional support to guide positive relationships. More than 40 kids are waiting to be matched with the right mentor right now!
Young people want to shape the world, Camp Fire provides the opportunity to nd their spark, li their voice, and discover who they are. We want all youth to thrive! Camp Fire owns and operates Camp Sweyolakan on Lake Coeur d’Alene and Camp Dart-Lo in North Spokane. Youth can learn and grow at our camps and school-year programs where they develop leadership skills and have the opportunity to just be a kid while in an inclusive and outdoor environment.
GET INVOLVED
A donation from $25 to $25,000+ will make a di erence in shaping young lives. Our 20th Annual Nurture Our Nature Fundraiser and Auction is a great way to show your support by attending. Call us to discuss estate planning or major gi s.
e City Gate exists to Reclaim, Rebuild and Restore, Lost and Broken Lives, transitioning from homelessness
e City Gate was initially formed as a church to serve the homeless and low-income of inner-city Spokane. Over the years we have become more holistic adding a client choice food bank and clothing bank, a social drop-in center and 28 low-income studio apartments, including 2 emergency shelter rooms. We now serve breakfast and lunch Tuesday-Friday for anyone in need.
GET INVOLVED
Donations of all kinds are always welcome to support our clients. Donations of seasonal clothing, non-perishable food and paper products, co ee, and cash all of which will go to support those we serve. Cash donations may be made on our website or directly via PayPal or Venmo.
Our mission is to protect children and strengthen families. We envision every Washington child thriving safely, healthily, and supported by family and community.
Our agency supports children and youth by providing safe, loving, temporary homes through foster care. We focus on keeping siblings together, honoring diversity, and supporting reuni cation with families. When you become a foster parent, you help children stay connected to their families, schools, and communities, o ering them stability and hope.
GET INVOLVED
Be the Way Home! Become a foster parent, o er respite care, specialize in speci c needs, volunteer, donate, or advocate. Make a di erence today!
509.747.8091 gsewni.org WHAT WE DO
Girl Scouts of Eastern WA & Northern ID is a local non-pro t organization with the mission to build girls of courage, con dence, and character who make the world a better place.
Girl Scouts of Eastern WA & Northern ID is the pre-eminent leadership organization for girls. rough innovative programming in STEM, outdoors, nancial literacy, the arts, activism and advocacy, and life skills, Girl Scouts gives girls the opportunity to discover, connect and take action. We are girl-led, girl-inclusive, and girl-driven.
GET INVOLVED
$30 could provide a girl with a year of Girl Scout membership $50 could out t a girl with a uniform $175 could send a girl to day camp for a week
e mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
Prepare boys and girls to become responsible, participating citizens and leaders guided by the Scout Oath and Scout Law. is will be achieved through skill development, social development, personal growth, and physical health in the outdoors.
GET INVOLVED
Attend one of our fundraising events:
• Fire ‘n’ Ice Gala (February)
• Golf Classic (May)
• Sporting Clays (September)
• Buy popcorn during the popcorn season (August - November) to Fund Your Scouting Adventure
Rent a camp!
e Inland Northwest Council is proud to o er our three camps to the public. Each property has ample space for unit campouts, family reunions, company events, weddings, and more. Each unique lodge includes a dining hall, full-service kitchen. Each camp has cabins, campsites, RV space and boat slips and boat rentals.
• Cowles Scout Reservation located on the shore of Diamond Lake
• Camp Grizzly located along the Palouse River
• Camp Easton located in Gotham Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene For reservations, pricing, or questions, call 509-242-8235 or email marcia.hunt@scouting.org
DONATE
Support our youth with your Time, Talent, Materials and Donations. All donations and sponsorships help us to provide a world class experience for our LOCAL youth. Scouting teaches young men and women how to be great leaders.
e Jonah Project is an educational 501(c)3 serving survivors of sex-tra cking through preventative education, direct advocacy, and emergency relocation. Believe it or not, sex-tra cking is rampant in the Inland Northwest. Survivors of sex-tra cking need resources e Jonah Project o ers, and we need funding to continue these services. We provide avenues for ALL people to have access to receive trauma sensitive and transparent services; our team specializes in both remote/mobile and in-person case management. Beyond meeting tangible needs, we o er support and guidance, working one-on-one with victims to help them make the best choices for themselves. ere is no other local team that comes close to the quality of care our team executes. Since 2014, our team has changed the lives of over 500 victims. Please see our social media for survivor testimonials.
Highlights of our services:
• Tangible needs for victims such as food and hygiene supplies
• Survivor-led, individualized care plans
• Immediate and compassionate communication
DONATE
• Long-term case management with no leverage
• Help accessing local resources including transportation
• Homeland Security approved Community Prevention Trainings
Right now, we are at risk of limiting our services due to lack of funding. Donations support DIRECT victim needs:
• $100 monthly supports basic necessities
• $250 monthly covers disability, medical and vehicle needs
• $500 monthly supports transition to independent living
• $1000 monthly supports emergency relocations
• We currently have an open campaign for $15,000 for a 2025 grant writer. Please support!
GET INVOLVED
• Volunteer as a self- guided and proactive fundraising lead ( exible hours)
• Schedule us to train your sta , school, business or group.
• Seeking a professional grant writer
• Everyone can make a life-saving di erence because education is the #1 PROVEN best way to prevent sex-tra cking
208.345.9474 Idaho.wish.org idaho@idaho.wish.org
With the help of the community, Make-A-Wish® Idaho grants life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses throughout the state of Idaho. Our goal is to grant every eligible wish in Idaho.
Make-A-Wish Idaho typically grants four types of wishes: A wish to have (a shopping spree, a treehouse) a wish to go (to Disney World, Hawaii), a wish to be (a cowboy, a ballerina) or a wish to meet ( e Rock, Dolly Parton). e purpose of these wishes is to create hope and joy in a time of anxiety and isolation. Although wishes aren’t curative, they do provide a much-needed emotional boost during a frightening time. It should be known that most of the children we serve live well into adulthood, many even recover completely from their battles with cancer and other illnesses. However, children who face life-threatening ailments are at greater risk of short- and long-term emotional problems like anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, loneliness, post-traumatic stress disorder as well as behavioral and learning issues. According to the latest studies, wishes improve overall emotional wellbeing, act as a coping mechanism, and are sometimes the turning point during treatment.
Local Dollars Help Local Kids
Aven, of Coeur d’ Alene, was facing two big surgeries that would improve the quality and quantity of his life. However, undergoing surgery is always frightening, especially when you’re a child. He had to spend his entire summer vacation at home, separated from his friends and the outside world. Aven didn’t want to be alone during this di cult time and asked Make-A-Wish® Idaho for a golden retriever puppy to keep him company during his long convalescence. He picked one out online and named her Hope. At the beginning of the summer, a volunteer in a blue Make-A-Wish t-shirt arrived at his door with a puppy under her arm. “It’s Hope!” Aven exclaimed.
Around y percent of the wishes we grant, are wishes to go to Disney, and the average cash cost of a Disney wish for a family of six is $10,000. Your donations help us ensure that wishes are granted when the child needs it the most.
VOLUNTEER
Our volunteers are at the heart of every wish experience. MakeA-Wish volunteers consider their work impactful and meaningful. And, their e orts are rewarded—not in dollars or cents, but in the incredible di erence they make in the lives of our wish kids.
SPONSORED BY PACIFIC MORTGAGE CENTER
Make-A-Wish Alaska & Washington
104 S. Freya St, Yellow Flag Bldg #207 • Spokane, WA 99202
DO
Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. It’s our vision to grant an equitable wish to every eligible child, but we need your help!
More kids than ever are waiting for wishes partly because we don’t have all the resources needed to ful ll their wishes. Your hard-earned dollars will be put to good use as wishes have proven physical and emotional bene ts that can give children with critical illnesses a higher chance of survival.
DONATE
• Wishes are like a prescription that doctors can’t write and pharmacies can’t ll. But with your help, Make-A-Wish can.
• Make a one-time or a monthly gi .
• Register to attend our Happiness Hour event on Nov. 7.
• Host an online fundraiser for wishes while celebrating your birthday.
100% local & privately funded through donations, Meals on Wheels Spokane provides food, support, and human connection to homebound Spokane seniors.
Meals on Wheels Spokane provides so much more than a meal. With the help of our dedicated volunteers, we provide hot meals, human connection, and support to homebound seniors and their pets.
DONATE
$5 provides one meal for a homebound senior.
$35 feeds a senior for an entire week.
$0.89 cent of every dollar donated supports Spokane’s homebound seniors.
MiA Mujeres in Action
318 E Rowan Avenue Suite 208 • Spokane, WA 99207
509.869.0876 miaspokane.org info@miaspokane.org
MiA advocates for survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault, helping them reach their full potential and educating our community from a Latine perspective to end family violence. MiA’s Main Programs:
• Mente y Corazón: WA State certi ed victim advocates provide crisis intervention, safety planning, medical advocacy, legal advocacy, case management, resource navigation, and licensed Behavioral Health facility. e work is survivor-led and trauma informed while meeting participants where they are.
• Puerto Seguro: MiA’s mobile housing advocates support survivors with navigating and securing emergency, transitional, and/or permanent housing for people eeing DV/SA in Spokane. We leverage our strong partnerships with housing programs and private landlords to help stabilize families who are homeless/at-risk of homelessness. Currently, MiA is planning the development of our own housing project, known as Casa MiA.
• ComUnidad y Acción: MiA’s policy advocacy team. Advocating for survivors rights, addressing barriers within the systems and building community power.
• JiA - Jovenes in Action: MiA’s youth prevention program. A Community-Based, Public Health Approach to Strengthening Protective Factors and Preventing Violence and Harm for Latine Youth Mental Health, Wellbeing, and Resilience.
DONATE
Your donation can help us provide essential services to survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. Every contribution makes a di erence. To donate, please visit www.miaspokane.org
GET INVOLVED
Eradicating violence from our communities is collaborative work. We welcome volunteers, donors, and partners to participate in the work towards a community free of violence: Opportunities include:
• Participating in community events
• Tabling with us during community events
• Provide support to survivors
• Engage in power building through policy advocacy
Join us for MiA’s 2nd annual gala, Sequins and Velvet: Rompiendo
North Idaho College is committed to meeting the diverse educational needs of students, employers, and the communities of northern Idaho.
NIC Foundation, Inc. is an independent, non-pro t charitable organization. rough contributions and prudent stewardship, the NIC Foundation provides scholarships for students and invests in programs and services to enhance educational excellence and student success at North Idaho College.
GET INVOLVED
Make a contribution today! Gi s of any size make an incredible di erence in providing scholarships for students as they pursue education and training.
NIPA is a nonpro t organization of LGBTQIA+ people, allies and community groups working together to create a more inclusive North Idaho.
e North Idaho Pride Alliance envisions a safe and inclusive community where LGBTQIA+ individuals belong, can connect and are empowered to thrive in North Idaho. We will accomplish this through Networking, Educating, and Advocating with the help of our amazing volunteers and supporters.
DONATE
Every dollar helps! Donate $10, $25, $50, or more to the North Idaho Pride Alliance and help ensure the rights of all LGBTQIA+ Idahoans. Together with strong community partnerships, NIPA can help hundreds of North Idahoans live authentic lives where they can thrive and access the critical life-saving resources they need.
With integrity, ParaSport Spokane will provide training, recreational, and competitive opportunities for youth and adults with physical disabilities that promote success, self worth and independence. ParaSport Spokane uses adaptive sports as a catalyst for life.
We are a growth focused community providing sport and recreation for youth and adults with physical disabilities and vision impairment. We are a zero cost for participation program and provide access to equipment and training.
Our programs: Strength & Conditioning, Wheelchair Basketball, Para Track and Field, Sled Hockey, Swimming, Fencing are open to all ages. Our Futures Play Group is open for toddlers and young children with mobility impairments.
We host weekly training opportunities as well as the Spokane Showdown Wheelchair Basketball Tournament and the Pine Cone Track and Field Classic.
Our member athletes experience so many barriers to participation in various aspects of life. We have a goal to support as many athletes as possible and need your help.
Give the gi of access to sport and recreation, equipment, and competitive experiences for as little as $5. Our fundraising initiatives support 100% of athlete training and competition costs, o en supporting athlete meals and nutritious snacks. ere are many opportunities including ongoing monthly, annual, or one time donations via the QR Code, our athletes greatly appreciate all donations and support.
GET INVOLVED
ere are many ways to support our programs. We need volunteers for weekly programming, coaching, events, and fundraising initiatives. We are seeking event sponsors to support and o set facility and competition costs and our annual fundraiser Pairing with ParaSport Spokane in January. Our ever growing network of ParaSport Spokane Champions are telling more people about who we are and what we do. Give us a call to nd out how you can help.
Partners with Families & Children
509.473.4810
www.partnerswithfamilies.org Partners@partnerswithfamilies.org WHAT WE DO
106 W. Mission Avenue • Spokane, WA 99201 GET INVOLVED
Our mission is to prevent, interrupt and repair cycles of abuse and neglect within families.
Partners provides mental health services, substance use disorders treatment and parenting classes for parenting adults and the children in their lives. rough our Children’s Advocacy Center, Partners is a safety net for abused and neglected children with the ability to provide holistic supportive services like medical exams, forensic interviews, and child legal advocacy.
• Donate funds today or give monthly
• In-kind donations
• Follow us on social media
• To learn more visit www.partnerswithfamilies.org
Passages’ Recovery Through the Arts
1700 S. Assembly Road, Ste. 300 • Spokane WA 99202
Participation in Passages’ Recovery rough the Arts programs gives adults and youth an opportunity to re-channel overwhelming and challenging emotions.
e program utilizes a wide variety of visual and performing art mediums:
Painting
Sculpture
Woodwork
Photography
Music
GET INVOLVED
Passages accepts donations, as well as art supplies, and we utilize volunteers. If you’d like more information, please contact us during business hours from 9-5PM Monday- ursday and 9-Noon on Fridays.
Project Beauty Share
509.455.3537 projectbeautyshare.org development@projectbeautyshare.org WHAT WE DO
2718 E. Sprague Avenue • Spokane, WA 99202 DONATE
Project Beauty Share is a 501(c)(3) non-pro t agency that provides personal hygiene, cosmetics, and beauty products to nonpro t organizations that serve women and families overcoming abuse, addiction, homelessness, and poverty to help restore hope and dignity in their lives.
We are a pass-through agency that collects, sanitizes, and distributes these items to over 120 other non-pro t organizations in the Inland Northwest including Catholic Charities, Partners INW, Salvation Army, Union Gospel Mission Crisis Centers, HRC Ministries, Partners with Families and Children, Idaho Youth Ranch, and many more.
• Host a hygiene drive. For details, contact us via the email address above
• Donate funds or supplies directly to Project Beauty Share
• Purchase Hygiene supplies via Amazon Wishlist
Refugee and Immigrant Connections Spokane
509.209.2384 ricspokane.org rics@ricspokane.org
Refugee and Immigrant Connections Spokane supports and empowers refugee and immigrant communities by providing services, fostering community bonds, and advocating for refugee and immigrant rights in the Inland Northwest.
At RICS, refugee and immigrant families nd opportunities to connect with community and become self-su cient. We support this process through case management, city tours and resource navigation, enrichment programs for youth and Elders, and activities that support social and emotional health.
We welcome volunteers for English tutoring, driving lessons, assisting our youth program, and o ering peer support.
Passages’ Recovery Arts through the
Safe Passage
Responding to and educating to prevent violence in North Idaho since 1977.
Safe Passage is the largest agency in North Idaho and one of the largest in the state, providing free and con dential support, resources, and crisis intervention for adults and children a ected by violence. Programs include 24-hour helpline and text services, emergency safe shelter, court advocacy, licensed trauma-informed counseling, sexual assault/intimate partner violence and child abuse victims Hospital Response and intervention services 24/7/365, forensic trauma-informed interviews for children of abuse, prevention education to middle and high schools students, bystander intervention training on college and university campuses, Bars Training at restaurants and bars, as well as family advocacy and support for children a ected by violence. In the last few years, we have experienced over 10% growth in every aspect of our program o erings. While Safe Passage works every day to meet these growing needs, we are struggling to do so. Our temporary shelter is at capacity daily, with shelter intake screens doubling and our transitional housing is growing. We see a child every day that has been impacted by abuse as Law Enforcement and Idaho Department of Health and Welfare refers these families to us. As our community continues to grow so does violence, our safe shelter has steadily been at capacity providing a haven for those eeing violence. Will you help? Supporting Safe Passage directly supports survivors, gives them and their children, safety, and stability, and helps them look to the future with resilience and HOPE. Your generous gi transforms lives today and for generations to come!
Financial Gi :
$100 provides a survivor with a comprehensive safety plan
$200 provides counseling for a child who has experienced abuse
$500 provides a semester of materials for school presentations
$1000 provides a survivor eeing violence with one month’s rent
Volunteer: Contact us at admin@safepassageid.org or visit our website at safepassageid.org/get-involved to learn how you can get involved.
Advocate: Tell those in your life that Safe Passage is here 24/7 and ready to help. You never know when someone you care about may need us.
Safety
WHAT WE DO
Net InlandNW P.O. Box 13706 • Spokane Valley, WA 99213 VOLUNTEER
Safety Net is the helping hand for our local teens and young adults who have aged out of Foster Care. ese foster teens need to know someone is out there who will help unconditionally with their most basic needs. ey need time to nish growing up. Safety Net is that support. We meet them where they are. With us, they understand that we care and want nothing more than to see them succeed in life.
You can help future foster teens aging out of the foster care system by: 1. Making a cash donation or donate gently used household items.
2. Use AmazonSmile for your online purchases. Set Safety Net Spokane as your bene ciary organization. 3. Encourage your o ce to hold a fundraiser.
509.533.9966 silverspursyouthfolkdancers.org silverspursspokane@gmail.org WHAT WE DO
Begun in 1947, Silver Spurs Youth Folk Dancers broadens the world view of K-12 grade students by teaching them traditional folk dances of 40 plus cultures and countries from around the world. rough learning and performing the dances, songs and traditions, students from the greater Spokane area grow to appreciate the similarities and di erences of world cultures while increasing their strength, coordination and co-operative skills. eir skills, experiences, and friendships remain valuable assets throughout their lives. Instructors and costumers donate their time.
Donations of all amounts can be made for: dancer scholarship(Red Henderson Scholarship Fund), rehearsal space, traditional folk wear storage/care/replacement, sound equipment, general administrative needs.
Thrive International
110 E. 4th Avenue • Spokane, WA 99202
rive International is empowering multicultural communities to THRIVE.
rive International is based in the rive Center downtown Spokane—a 90 room facility that provides a ordable housing, programs to empower women and youth, and educational workshops for over 2,000 newly arrived refugees from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Congo, and many other nationalities.
GET INVOLVED
Our newest neighbors need friends and partners like YOU to help them thrive! Visit our website to learn more, donate, or volunteer: www.thriveint.org 509.553.5606
3128 N. Hemlock Street • Spokane, WA 99205
509.328.6702 help4women.org info@help4women.org
Transitions works to end poverty and homelessness for women and children in Spokane. We pursue this mission through the operation of six unique programs in the area.
Educare: A childcare center where children experience growth and resilience while receiving high-quality individualized care as families recover from homelessness & poverty.
Home Yard Cottages: Provides a ordable, permanent supportive housing units for homeless families and individuals in 24 cottages.
Miryam’s House: O ers transitional housing to 10 women experiencing homelessness, encouraging recovery & stability through wrap-around supportive services.
GET INVOLVED
DONATE
Transitional Living Center: Provides transitional housing with supportive services for women & children experiencing homelessness in 16 units, creating safety & stability for up to 2yrs.
New Leaf: O ers on-the-job barista training, individualized support, and vocational services to help individuals achieve stability & selfsu ciency.
Women’s Hearth: A downtown drop-in day center o ering a safe space for women experiencing poverty, trauma and/or homelessness to nd community, respect, classes, social service referrals, & case management.
Volunteer: Fight poverty with your own two hands by volunteering at Transitions! Learn about volunteer opportunities: help4women.org/volunteer
When you give to Transitions you’re investing in the growth and wholeness of the women and children served. Working to end poverty and homelessness for them is a lo y goal, but with your support, our mission is accomplished each day, week, or month, one person at a time.
Join us this fall for our 22nd Annual PEOPLE WHO CARE EVENT OCTOBER 15, 2024 • 12:00PM - 1:00PM at the Davenport Grand Hotel https://help4women.org/pwc2024/
WE DO
Since 1951, Union Gospel Mission has partnered with the Inland Northwest to provide a pathway out of homelessness. What began as a soup kitchen in downtown Spokane has expanded into a comprehensive ministry spanning two states and including four shelters, three recovery programs, three transitional housing complexes, three thri stores, an automotive enterprise, and a summer camp for underprivileged kids.
$32 for 3 meals and a bed
$224 for a week of shelter, food, and care
$365 for a week of holistic recovery
87% of every gi goes toward program services.
Women & Children’s Free Restaurant & Community Kitchen
WCFR is a vital safety net lling nutritional gaps for women and children in need while fostering dignity and respect, within our restaurant and in the community.
At Women & Children’s Free Restaurant & Community Kitchen, we believe that access to not just food but healthy food is a basic human right. We serve women, children, seniors, and teens who struggle with nutrition insecurity and poverty stemming from various root causes. Now in our 36th year, we are a two-time AGORA award recipient for nonpro t excellence. In March 2020, we made a transformative shi to address our community’s growing need for nutritional support. Since then, we have provided more than 5 million meals to our community.
We also prepare and deliver nutritious meals to organizations throughout our community, working collaboratively with agencies providing housing, DV support, childcare and protection, job training, and LGBTQ+ support. ese unique partnerships connect our most vulnerable citizens with basic needs for improved quality of life.
Please consider donating or volunteering with us. Together, let’s ensure that no woman or child goes hungry in our community.
DONATE VOLUNTEER
• Fresh Protein - $2,500
• Fresh Dairy - $1,000
• Fresh Produce - $500
• Breakfast for Kids - $250
• Package & Delivery - $100
Give online at wcfrspokane.org/donate
• Curbside meal and grocery distribution team member
• Kitchen team assistant or meal packager
• Food inventory team member bag & stock food
Learn more at wcfrspokane.org/volunteer
AgWest Farm Credit presents Dinner on the Farm, a taste of farm life celebrating 36 years of service to women & children. SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 • 6:00-9:00 PM For more information, visit: farmdinner.org
Women Helping Women Fund
3704 N. Nevada Street Suite 201 • Spokane, WA 99207
WE DO
509.328.8285 whwfspokane.org info@whwfspokane.org
Empowering Spokane area women and children to achieve their full potential, by building a strong, diverse community of engaged, and strategic givers.
Together, we make the greatest impact. With your help, WHWF has invested over $7 million to support local women and children. rough our Giving Circle, members pool their funds to make a larger impact than they could alone. We provide members with meaningful ways to give back and build community.
Become a Giving Circle member with a gi of $25 or $50/month. Your gi funds grants to local nonpro ts and scholarships for mothers balancing childcare and tuition. No events or meetings are required. Get involved in ways that work best for you.
$1 to Partners INW provides roughly 10 meals
$25 to Elevations helps with a copay for a child’s therapy appointment
$50 to 2BU Ranch sponsors a youth for six weeks
$100 to Stop the Silence provides a complete “Go” bag to a domestic violence victim
SCAN TO DONATE NOW!
World Relief Spokane
11707 E. Sprague Avenue Suite 106 • Spokane, WA 99204
509.484.9829 worldrelief.org/spokane wrspokane@wr.org WHAT WE DO
We partner with the local community to welcome refugees and provide the wraparound services they need to rebuild their lives.
Working alongside churches and other community organizations, World Relief guides refugees through job searches, school enrollment, accessing community resources and more. We envision a thriving, welcoming city in which individuals experience restorative relationships together and have facilitated hundreds of lifelong friendships.
GET INVOLVED
Volunteer: Between being a refugee’s friend, setting up apartments, transporting new arrivals...there are many ways to support refugees in Spokane!
Donate: Donate household goods or give nancially
YMCA of the Inland Northwest
1126 N. Monroe Street • Spokane, WA 99201
509.777.YMCA (9622) ymcainw.org jzumbro@ymcainw.org WHAT WE DO
We give everyone a safe place to learn, grow & thrive by strengthening the foundations of our community through healthy living, youth development & social responsibility.
e YMCA is addressing major challenges facing our community, including:
• Lack of childcare and early learning which impacts children’s potential and parent’s ability to remain in the workforce
• Signi cant health disparities which increase the risk of illness for more vulnerable groups
GET INVOLVED
Your donation helps ensure all families in our community can access high quality childcare and every individual can pursue their health journey regardless of their nancial constraints. Make a di erence today at ymcainw.org/donate
Provide free, con dential services for individuals and their children who are impacted by domestic violence, poverty, homelessness, & unemployment.
For over 120 years, YWCA Spokane has worked to disrupt cycles of violence and strengthen communities by working to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
OUR SERVICES:
• 24hr DV Helpline & Emergency safe house
• Supportive services for survivors of DV, including safety planning, housing and legal support, and mental health therapy
• Free women’s clothing boutique
• Job readiness, skill development & healing classes for women
• Free preschool serving eligible children & their families
• Community education & prevention classes
DONATE
Together, we can create a sustainable community where everyone is able to live with dignity & respect. Your gi helps a survivor of domestic violence nd hope, safety, stability, & success.
Give A One-Time Gi or Become a Monthly Donor: You can help meet the immediate needs of women, men, and children eeing violent relationships. Consider making a gi in your will: Your gi can ensure a future of dignity, empowerment, & justice while planning for your own.
Save the date for the 2025 Women of Achievement Awards Luncheon on March 14th, 2024! For more information, visit: ywcaspokane.org/woa
Back to Their Roots
As she takes the lead at River City Youth Ops, Kate Burke hopes to reinvigorate the organization where she got her start
BY E.J. IANNELLI
For Kate Burke, stepping into her role as the executive director of River City Youth Ops this June marked the start of a new phase for herself and the organization.
“When I saw the job description, I realized that this is something that truly brings me joy,” she says. “Working with young people, community building, networking and working for something that you believe in is super important to me.”
The sense of purpose and positivity that the position offered were especially important to Burke. Her time as a Spokane City Council member was still fresh in her mind; the burnout from that experience had led her to step away from elected office after her first term ended in 2021.
She followed that with a short stint as a grant writer before upping sticks and driving across the United States with her girlfriend — now wife — Sarah. After making it to Florida, the pair sold their car and took off for Central and South America, where they could savor the culture and polish their Spanish.
More than just an opportunity for exploration and self-edification, the year of travel was a chance for Burke to ground herself and rediscover her priorities. And what she found was that, looking back, her direct involvement with youth-focused community organizations was a deeply fulfilling period of her life.
Which is why her arrival at River City Youth Ops is also a kind of homecoming.
Before adopting its current name in 2017, River City Youth Ops was Project Hope Spokane. Officially founded in 2008 by Pat and Connie Malone, the organization began as a way to get teens in the West Central neighborhood engaged with agriculture through the farming of urban plots and selling their produce.
Two years later, Burke joined Project Hope as a staff member.
once a week. And it was amazing,” she says. “So when I got back [to Spokane] after moving to another city, the first thing I did was ask to join the board because I loved the organization so much.”
Her board service came at a “really vital time,” Burke says, as Project Hope was then growing beyond the Malones’ stewardship.
HOW TO HELP
“The board worked really hard to align themselves together, to create a mission, and really move forward on that,” Burke says. “We were able to give it a new direction, a new mission, a new vision. During that time, there was a really great infrastructure for the programs and for the organization.”
To learn how to get involved, volunteer with the bike bus or donate, go to youthops.org. The organization’s annual “Harvest Dinner” fundraiser is set for Oct. 3 at Inland Pacific Kitchen.
“I got to work with the youth through the summer program and create the market space that we hosted
But as Project Hope scaled up, choosing the name River City Youth Ops to reflect its new image, there were growing pains.
After Burke had termed off the board, she observed “transition periods” where “the foundation began to
Kate Burke is working to rebuild River City Youth Ops. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
NORTHWEST BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATION is seeking proposals from certified micro-lenders, economic development and/or workforce development companies, or technical assistance providers that will utilize the award funds to support business development outcomes through micro-lending programs, entrepreneurial training/incubator space, scholarships to students, or workforce development among any or all of the following targeted populations:
• Veterans
• Women
: Northwest Business Development Association | Give Guide Main : Give Guide- Main : GIVE Full pg : TM
• Minorities as defined by SBA
• Youth ages 18-24
• Individuals with Disabilities
• Underserved areas
Note: One or more successful applicants may be awarded up to $50,000.00 in grants to carry out the above-mentioned work. The grant is non-renewable and during the period of project NORTHWEST BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATION will require quarterly outcome reporting to evaluate the impact of the investment through economic development and jobs creation.
“BACK TO THEIR ROOTS,”
crack a bit.” The organization drifted from its roots in urban gardening and its tight focus on 12- to 18-yearolds in West Central. That evolution put a strain on its resources, which in turn impacted later board and staff efforts to course correct.
Now that she’s been tapped to lead the organization, Burke is working to realign River City Youth Ops with its original scope and mission. She’s been busy developing and updating policies, recruiting new board members and reconnecting with the organization’s support base.
“In my first 30 to 40 days, I spent a lot of time going back through the history of the organization and reaching back out to folks who were a part of it, whether it’s being on the board, a past participant, a past donor or one of our past partners,” she says. “Through that, I ended up doing a survey to all of those folks to ask them where they see us going and where we could do better. And I got some really great information from that. What I found is that one of our strong suits as an organization is our longevity in the community.”
As if to underscore that longevity and the lasting relationships, this past weekend Burke held an informal reunion for past participants, partners, donors and board members. She’s also moving the organization’s offices back into their former home in Salem Lutheran Church.
And when she sought to augment the board with more financial expertise, she deliberately reached out to Bakari Green, a former youth participant and Whitworth University grad who now works as an accountant.
But even with all these nods to the organization’s history, Burke is looking to its future. She recently brought on Chelsea Hardenbrook as the new operations manager. While the two strategize how best to relaunch the nonprofit’s core summer program, they’re laying the groundwork for a new fall program called the West Central Bike Bus.
That initiative will create a bike group and safe route for students at Holmes Elementary School, Yasuhara Middle School and North Central High School. Burke acknowledges that it’s not centered on agriculture, but it will still provide neighborhood youth with a chance to interact constructively and benefit their community at the same time.
“What really resonates [with our participants] is what we teach them through our programming,” she says. “Things like team building, communication skills, exposure to different things, learning how to work, learning how to navigate kind of different systems and the world that’s out there. That’s what they carry with them.” n
PARTNERS INW
The number of people requesting food from Partners INW, previously called Spokane Valley Partners, has increased by about 370% in the last five years, says Calvin Coblentz, CEO of the nonprofit organization.
Partners INW is a lead agency for Spokane County’s food pantry network, which is made up of almost two dozen food pantries. Using funds from the Washington Department of Agriculture, the organization distributed 2.5 million pounds of food last year.
The increase in need, Coblentz says, still has a lot to do with the fallout from COVID and resulting rent increases. Higher monthly rents are squeezing budgets and making it harder to pay for groceries.
“It’s food insecurity pushing up into the middle class,” he says.
Partners INW changed its name last October to better reflect how much of the area the Spokane Valley-based nonprofit serves. It serves 17 counties in Eastern Washington and North Idaho, helping everyone from infants to seniors. In addition to food, Partners INW also distributes clothing — about 1 ton a week — through free clothing banks, and it’s the only diaper bank in the region.
Partners INW’s staff members have access to a wholesale network to buy diapers on the cheap, which is one of the ways they’re able to double or triple the impact of dollars donated to their programs. But they’ll always accept physical donations from anyone who wants to buy at retail price or host their own fundraising drive. They also rely on hundreds of volunteers each year to move pound after pound of food and clothing.
The organization also recently bought the Ziggy’s Home Improvement store on Sprague in Spokane Valley, which will be renovated in 2026. The 65,000-square-foot warehouse will allow Partners INW to become an even more effective regional distribution center. Anyone hoping to donate to those renovation efforts can get in touch with Terri Fortner, director of philanthropy, at terrif@partnersinw. org, or Coblentz at calc@partnersinw.org.
— ELIZA BILLINGHAM
Volunteer your time
• Be an English tutor for Refugee and Immigrant Connections
• Host a hygiene drive for Project Beauty Share
• Coach athletes with Parasports Spokane
• Teach job skills and soft skills with Artisans
• Help with housekeeping or yard work with Hospice of Spokane
Partners INW provides many necessities, from diapers to pantry items. PHOTO COURTESY OF PARTNERS INW
Pets • Wildlife • Public Lands • Environment
READ THE GIVE GUIDE
Read all about the goals of local nonprofits in this special section; make a note of the ones you connect with most.
2BU Youth Ranch
How To Give
GO ONLINE Grab your credit card, scan a QR code or log on to the charity websites found in these pages and make a contribution.
509.994.1167 2buyouthranch.org tobeuyouth@aol.com
Our mission is to help youth grow into healthy adults as they nd faith, healing , hope and trust with horses.
2BU Youth Ranch mentors at risk youth from our community, while teaching basic safe horsemanship. We teach responsibility, life skills and healthy friendships during 90 minute sessions once a week. We provide a safe and positive environment for everyone to reconnect with the family. Our program is o ered free of charge.
$50 Sponsor a Youth for six weeks
$220 Donate cost of 1 Ton Hay (delivered and stacked)
$350 Adopt a Horse for one month
$2,100 Adopt a Horse for 6 months Donate In Kind Items such as Senior Feed, Horse Treats, Water & Treats for Youth.
CatTales.org
Our Mission is simple yet profound: Wildlife Rescue, Compassionate Care, and Education Ambassadorship - Serving the Inland Northwest and beyond - Since 1991
Cat Tales provides lifelong refuge to non-releasable wildlife and exotic animals, ensuring their well-being through compassionate care. We also serve as education ambassadors, raising awareness about wildlife rescue and fostering a deeper connection between people and the natural world.
Volunteer where needed most to support our mission. Donate to fund animals’ needs. Join educational programs for wildlife and conservation awareness.
PICK UP YOUR PHONE
Call your nonprofit of choice via the numbers listed here and make a pledge of cash or volunteer hours.
222 N. Havana • Spokane, WA 99202
TEACH GROW PROTECT
WHAT WE DO Master Gardener Foundation of Spokane County
e Foundation provides nancial support to the Master Gardener Program of Spokane County. We’re celebrating our 50th anniversary of educating the public about sustainable gardening practices.
*Our award-winning Plant Clinic is sta ed by Master Gardener volunteers, providing free-of-charge, research-based information. It’s located at 222 N. Havana in the WSU Extension Spokane County building. You can also call (509.477.2181) or email (mgardener@spokanecounty.org). e Plant Clinic is open weekdays, March-Oct, and is also at the Shadle & Cheney libraries.
• Our Waterwise Garden is open to the public to demonstrate drought-tolerant plants, drip irrigation and various types of mulch.
• e Community Gardens Project teaches community members how to grow their own food in community gardens throughout the city.
• e Youth Program is active in a er school programs teaching children about growing their food and environmental stewardship.
• Master Gardeners also teach classes to the public.
GET INVOLVED
• Utilize the Master Gardener Plant Clinic
• Buy plants at our Garden Fair in late April
• Buy bulbs at our sale in October
• Apply to become a Master Gardener
Spokane Audubon Society
P.O. Box 9820 • Spokane, WA 99209
audubonspokane.org info@spokaneaudubon.org WHAT WE DO
e Spokane Audubon Society advocates for birds and their habitats in the Inland Northwest and connects people with nature
We are a local, volunteer-run, grassroots environmental conservation organization. We share the National Audubon Society’s commitment to protecting birds using science and in uencing policymakers, but we focus on local conservation and education issues in eastern Washington.
GET INVOLVED
Join us on one of our free bird walks, monthly education meetings, or community events to learn more about birds. Volunteer by joining our Save-A-Bird team that transports injured or orphaned birds to skilled wildlife rehabilitators; habitat restoration planting work parties; bird surveys including our annual Christmas Bird Counts; nestbox building, placement and monitoring; and other projects. Donations and membership dues support our Save-A-Bird work, habitat protection and restoration, and environmental education.
Master Gardener Annual Bulb Sale Fall 2024
Attend a charity event
• ARC of Spokane - Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser
• BIg Brothers Big Sister - Reaching New Heights Gala
• Mijures in Action - Sequins and Velvet: Rompiendo Barreras Gala
• Transitions - People Who Care Event
• Volunteers of America - Eye Contact: Art Exhibit
Letting Kids Be Kids
The Childhood Cancer Coalition eases the disease’s burden on Inland Northwest families, one kindness at a time
BY E.J. IANNELLI
On Meagan Glubrecht’s right forearm is an unmistakable tattoo. It’s a golden orange ribbon crossed in the recognizable loop of cancer awareness. Alongside it is an abbreviated date that represents June 6, 2021, the day her son Oliver was born.
Three months before his third birthday, Ollie was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a form of cancer in which a type of white blood cell grows out of control. In healthy individuals, these white blood cells are indispensable to the body’s immune system, helping fight infection. When a mutation causes them to go rogue, however, they displace bone marrow and seep out into the blood.
Ollie’s diagnosis came on the heels of months of uncertainty.
Doctors initially told Glubrecht that Ollie’s worsening lethargy, pallor, cold sweats and labored breathing likely stemmed from something simple and transient — a “childhood virus,” she says.
how many cells were in his marrow,” she recalls.
B-cell ALL, as it’s often called, is a relatively common form of childhood cancer, affecting roughly 1 in 1,750 children. But statistics like that come as scant consolation to families with a child who’s been diagnosed with the disease.
HOW TO HELP
For Glubrecht, Ollie’s formal diagnosis only led to more questions about the course of treatment and how their lives would change from that point on. As a single mother of two, she wondered how it would be possible to balance everyday responsibilities with the care regimen that Ollie needed.
Go to cccnw.org/how-you-can-help to learn how to volunteer, to help families by buying items from their wish lists, or to donate. The nonprofit’s “Light the Way” gala is Sept. 28 at the Spokane Convention Center.
It wasn’t until one health care professional happened to take a more skeptical view of those assessments that medical teams were able to correctly identify the cause of Ollie’s symptoms. Almost before Glubrecht had time to process the news, she and Ollie were rushed to Sacred Heart Medical Center for a bone marrow draw.
“They couldn’t even get a full syringe because of
Soon, though, a hospital social worker introduced her to Denise Moss of the Childhood Cancer Coalition. Glubrecht found Moss to be a vital source of knowledge and empathy for the tribulations of childhood cancer, especially in the early days.
When Ollie had to have his nasogastric tube inserted to administer medication, “Denise actually stood with me because I couldn’t stay in the room with him,” she says. “She held me and talked to me and gave me as much
support as I could possibly ask for, because she’s gone through it herself.”
Moss can be found at Sacred Heart providing support to kids and parents on behalf of the Childhood Cancer Coalition every weekday. On weekends and holidays, you’ll find Lindsay Morgan. Coalition Executive Director Leslie Woodfill says both women are special resources because of their innate compassion.
“They get it,” Woodfill says. “They understand the fear that these parents are going through. They’ve seen their children go through it and what that looks like for a child who experienced a cancer diagnosis.”
That firsthand experience can be invaluable, even for parents like Glubrecht who have a large family support network.
“You can talk to someone who hasn’t had cancer and they’re like, ‘Well, we feel for you,’” Glubrecht says. “But when you have a person who has gone through what you’re going through, they can help you step by step with what they’ve actually done.”
The coalition’s support takes many forms. Sometimes Moss or Morgan will drop in with a blanket or toiletries
Meagan Glubrecht and her son Ollie are thankful for help from the Childhood Cancer Coalition. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO ...continued on page 28
Powered by some seriously delicious brownies, Beacon Hill’s expertise in catering and event planning helps nonprofits level up fundraisers
The delicious signature brownies from Beacon Hill Catering & Events have been perennially popular items at area fundraisers — not just for eating, but for auctioning! In fact, a single brownie platter once garnered a winning bid of more than $2,600.
Thanks to the popularity of those decadent treats, co-owner Ellie Aaro estimates that Beacon Hill’s brownies have helped local nonprofits raise around $350,000 over the past 20 years.
Yet brownies certainly aren’t the only way that Beacon Hill has contributed to the success of nonprofit events in that time. Through their business, Aaro and her team have o ered tailored, end-to-end event planning and catering services to organizations of all sizes, from school booster clubs to nationally recognized charitable foundations.
“We have great bandwidth and a long history of experience in catered events,” she says. “One of our main priorities is to understand the mission of the organization and figure out how catering would amplify their messaging and the event experience.”
When SNAP and the Ronald McDonald House wanted to host fundraisers in a convenient luncheon-style format, Beacon Hill came up with a concept that Aaro describes as a “hybrid plated meal.” It features a gourmet, scratchmade box lunch that guests could enjoy within the timeframe of their lunch breaks in a central downtown location. The flexible format proved a hit.
The family-focused nonprofit Vanessa Behan, on the other hand, was looking to give a distinctive spin to its annual Cheers for Kids event. Beacon Hill has delivered by partnering with local breweries to create one-of-a-kind food and beer pairings that make for a truly “special and memorable” occasion, Aaro says.
“It’s an event that’s unique to them, one that you can’t go to anywhere else in Spokane.”
Beacon Hill has even helped transport fundraiser
guests to a region in Italy that’s famous for its wine and cuisine. As the dinner and venue sponsor for the YWCA Spokane’s annual An Evening in Tuscany benefit event, Beacon Hill provides a Tuscan-inspired menu and atmosphere that routinely draws compliments for months afterwards. For the past two years, donors set new fundraising records for a cause they love at Beacon Hill.
As Beacon Hill’s reputation for excellence has grown among the nonprofit community, so too have its expertise and resources. Longstanding professional collaborations with other award-
A Shining Example
winning partners, such as Barrister Winery, enable Beacon Hill Catering & Events to dial in every single aspect — meals, libations, music, location, you name it — according to its clients’ vision.
“We’re dynamic and versatile, so we work really hard to keep things fresh and solve problems creatively, whether it’s a budget, a location or a time constraint,” Aaro says.
“In that way, we’re like the glue that pulls an event together.”
JOYA
Joya Child & Family Development has dedicated 64 years to serving families with young children who have disabilities and delays. The organization takes a holistic approach to pediatric therapy services, which include speech and physical therapy, autism screening and diagnosis, hearing screenings, and cognitive therapy with developmental therapists.
Since 2014, Joya has seen a 73% increase in the number of children who qualify for its services. Qualifying starts with a referral from Spokane Regional Health District, neonatal intensive care units, primary care physicians or early learning programs such as Head Start. Joya then begins an initial assessment to determine the level of delay the child may have and if its pediatric therapy services are appropriate.
The increased demand has led Joya to adapt to the needs of the Spokane community with new services such as a dietitian to ensure newborns thrive with nutritional plans. The organization has also grown, and in May 2022 it moved into a new 42,000-square-foot, two-story facility at 1016 N. Superior St. in Spokane’s Logan neighborhood. Because of its larger space, Joya can provide services to more families than ever.
Joya Executive Director Colleen Fuchs is
“LETTING
KIDS BE KIDS,” CONTINUED...
and a change of clothes. Other times they’ll slip a coffee card into a weary parent’s hand or entertain a child with an iPad as they undergo painful treatment. They’ll also stop by and chat with the patients as their parents step out of the room for a moment.
“It gives them a chance to take a break and just breathe, where they’re not having to keep a brave face on for their kid,” Woodfill says.
In some cases, the Childhood Cancer Coalition (formerly called the American Childhood Cancer Organization Inland Northwest) will temporarily cover a family’s utility bills or grocery costs. The organization also puts together field trips and activities to help foster a sense of community among the families with this shared experience. During the winter holidays, there is a tradition of “adopting” families to ease their
excited but also shocked at the demand since the expansion of services at its new location.
“The goal was to serve twice as many children and families within seven years of moving in,” Fuchs says.
In just two years Joya exceeded that goal.
She points to the greater demand stemming from the complex social needs of children due to prenatal drug exposure and food and housing insecurities for families.
According to Joya, 50% of the program’s graduates reach age-appropriate milestones, ranging from speech accomplishments for those with developmental delays to learning to walk for children with cerebral palsy or who’ve had strokes.
Fuchs says the new community space isn’t exclusively for those seeking services for a child with a delay or disability: Any family with young children can experience and benefit from Joya’s new space.
“They’re just open for any family who has a child under 5 to come and play,” Fuchs says.
The benefit is that children with and without disabilities can develop better socialization skills, new friendships, and more acceptance for other kids as they move into grade school.
— VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ
burden and restore joy to the season.
“To bring peace and hope and light to a family and a child who are experiencing cancer, I think it’s a really good way to be a part of our community and make a difference,” Woodfill says. “What we try to keep giving [families] is an opportunity where kids can just be a kid and parents can just be a parent.”
To Woodfill, Ollie exemplifies why the Childhood Cancer Coalition continues to live out its mission. He’s not a child defined by a disease; he’s a 3-year-old who loves swings and sticker books and playing with his pet Indian Runner duck named Sonchi.
“He’s the epitome of a kid who just wants to be a kid, and he’s got this dang cancer diagnosis,” she says. “But he’s not letting it dim his spirits.” n
Joya staff help kids with disabilities and developmental delays.
Foundations • Patient Support • Health Education • Advocacy Groups
How To Give
READ THE GIVE GUIDE
Read all about the goals of local nonprofits in this special section; make a note of the ones you connect with most.
House NW 4118 S. Cook Street • Spokane, WA 99223
GO ONLINE Grab your credit card, scan a QR code or log on to the charity websites found in these pages and make a contribution.
509.863.2197 ah-nw.org bjohnson@ah-nw.org
Ashley House provides comprehensive, cost e ective, quality care to medically fragile children, teens, and young adults in home-like settings.
When a critically injured or ill child leaves the hospital, they may still need complex medical care. At Ashley House, a child receives skilled nursing care while the family prepares for their child’s homecoming at a much lower cost than a hospital.
Brandy told us “ e twins were both born with a genetic disorder; they were in the hospital for months. When the doctors said they could be discharged to Ashley House, I was scared. ey were both so tiny; I had never held them; their big sisters had never gotten to play with them. and I had never heard of Ashley House. What kind of place was it? Everything changed at Ashley House. I got to hold both my boys at the same time. eir sisters were welcome at the house too. I learned how to care for by boys special medical needs, while they became stronger day by day, until the day they came home!”
At Ashley House, we believe that every child deserves to live the best, fullest life possible! We give each child the care they need while their family prepares to take them home. For a few who need ongoing care, Ashley House becomes home, but for most of the children and youth in our care, Ashley House is a step on their journey to the rest of their life!
Visit our website to donate or scan the QR code provided to go directly to a donation page for our Spokane program!
VOLUNTEER
Maybe you love to rock an infant, dance with a toddler, or read to a child. For more information contact us a msmith@ah-nw.org
For
PICK UP YOUR PHONE
Call your nonprofit of choice via the numbers listed here and make a pledge of cash or volunteer hours.
611 N. Iron Bridge Way • Spokane, WA 99223
WHAT WE DO CHAS Health Foundation
509.444.8888 chas.org foundation@chas.org
e mission of the CHAS Health Foundation is to create health equity by strategically investing in patients, partners, and communities.
2024 marks CHAS Health’s 30th anniversary, evolving from a two-exam-room clinic in downtown Spokane to a major provider of primary care services for the region. CHAS Health is a non-pro t, federally quali ed health center that provides high quality medical, dental, pharmacy, and behavioral health services to families and individuals of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay.
e CHAS Health Foundation plays an important role in advancing the mission of CHAS Health and tackling health disparities within our community. rough the generous support of our donors, we are able to meet the diverse needs of our patients and the broader communities we serve. Whether it’s providing individual patient assistance beyond the scope of CHAS Health or partnering with community organizations to address Social Drivers of Health (SDOH), the CHAS Health Foundation is dedicated to creating a healthier, more equitable community.
If you have questions about the CHAS Health Foundation, it’s work and mission, or making or designating a donation, please email us at foundation@chas.org or call us at 509-444-8888 and ask for the CHAS Health Foundation.
“The Foundation has played a crucial role in enhancing the School-Based Health Program. Since our partnership with the Foundation, each SchoolBased Health Center (SBHC) now boasts an outreach closet stocked with essential hygiene products, school supplies, and ready-to-eat snacks for students in need. This initiative ensures that students have access to necessary resources, promoting their overall well-being and academic success while promoting the SBHC as a welcoming place for students.”
-Daniel Trautvetter, School Based Health Program Manager
Greatest Need
Addresses urgent and emerging needs.
Patient Support
Removes nancial barriers for individual CHAS Health patients in need of treatment, medical equipment, or other critical health related needs outside of the services CHAS Health provides.
Health Equity Programs
Supports CHAS Health initiatives that directly impact targeted communities. Examples may include:
• School-Based Health Centers
• Homelessness and Street Outreach
• Refugee and Immigrant
• Women and Children
Rual Community Support
Donors may elect to keep their contributions local by supporting one of the following funds:
• Cheney
• Deer Park
• LC Valley
• Moscow (Latah)
“The funds from the Foundation have helped numerous patients who would have had extensive wait times for completion of a procedure that has been causing pain and infection.”
- Dr. Elisabeth Warder, DDS CHAS Health Dental Director
GET INVOLVED
By donating to the CHAS Health Foundation, you are investing in access to quality healthcare for any community member in need, regardless of their situation.
As a donor, you have the exibility to direct your support to the funds that resonate most with your philanthropic interests.
Provide women in need with professionally tted bras in a fun and caring environment.
We achieve our mission by partnering with organizations in the greater Spokane and inland Northwest community to hold monthly events where we reach women of all ages and diverse backgrounds, complete a professional bra tting, and send each woman home with new 2 bras, a garment bag, care instructions, and new found con dence.
VOLUNTEER
VOLUNTEER as a tter or helper and see the di erence a tted bra makes!
Cancer Care Northwest Foundation
509.228.1019 ccnwf.org foundation@ccnw.net
CCNWF is a non-pro t organization that helps Inland Northwest cancer patients and their families through educational, emotional and nancial support.
e CCNWF o ers limited nancial support for basic necessities such as transportation, prescriptions, groceries and rent, counseling for children and families, and community resource referrals. e CCNWF also supports the advancement of cancer research.
DONATE
Your donation helps ensure that Inland Northwest cancer patients and their families have the support they need throughout their journeys with cancer. To make a donation, please visit www.ccnwf.org or text CCNWF to 44321
Elevations: A Children’s Therapy Resource Foundation
325 S. University Road Suite 203 • Spokane Valley, WA 99206
Elevate children with special needs by funding necessary therapies they need to thrive. In 2023, Elevations funded therapy and bought equipment for 265 kids in Spokane.
e weight of realizing that your child’s future may not be a ordable is a tremendous burden to bear. Elevations provides funding for e ective, evidence-based therapy services and special home therapy equipment for children with special needs.
DONATE
Any donation can change the trajectory of a child’s life.
At Embrace Washington, we believe every child deserves a safe and nurturing environment. rough our Halo Program, we are committed to bridging funding gaps, ensuring that no child’s health or well-being is ever compromised.
e HALO Program (Healthcare Assistance for Little Ones) supports foster children with complex medical needs in Eastern Washington. HALO lls funding gaps by o ering custom mobility solutions, sensory devices, and critical medical equipment, ensuring these children lead safer, healthier lives.
Your donation to HALO through Embrace Washington is a lifeline, providing critical medical resources that transform lives. With your support, we ensure vulnerable children have the opportunity to thrive and lead healthier, happier lives.
Gildred’s Garage at Excelsior Wellness is a cutting-edge vocational program dedicated to training youth and young adults in electric vehicle technology. Our mission is to reduce environmental impact and promote community health through sustainable transportation solutions.
By empowering the next generation with the skills to innovate in green automotive technologies, we’re paving the way for a cleaner, brighter future. With your support, Gildred’s Garage aims to become a premier center for sustainable automotive education, helping to create a healthier planet for all.
VOLUNTEER
Donations to Gildred’s Garage are fundamental in providing students with the tools, safety gear, and uniforms they need to succeed. We also gladly accept in-kind donations of uniform coveralls, gently used tools, and volunteer time. Every contribution directly impacts the quality of our program, helping prepare the next generation for careers in sustainable technologies. Join us in shaping a brighter future for our youth and community
At FailSafe for Life, our goal is not easy, but it’s simple. We want to end suicide attempts and deaths in our community. We provide life-saving education that equips our community to recognize and respond to someone having thoughts of suicide. We host events that promote connection, and we provide activities that instill hope.
• Sign up for one of our upcoming trainings.
• Sign up to volunteer at our next event.
• Purchase items o our Amazon Wish List or from a local store that we can use to promote hope.
• Donate funds to be used to purchase items to support our upcoming activities.
Hospice Of Spokane
509.456.0438 www.hospiceofspokane.org WHAT WE DO
GET INVOLVED Northeast Washington’s long-standing nonpro t hospice, serving anyone of any age with any terminal condition through a holistic approach to end-of-life care.
Hospice of Spokane focuses on ensuring patient comfort and supporting quality of life. From delivering specialized care right in the home day or night, to around-the-clock phone support and grief counseling for family members, we are here for our patients and their family.
Hospice volunteers help in a variety of ways, such as providing companionship to a patient, helping with light housekeeping or yard work, meal preparation, playing a musical instrument or singing; helping in the o ce with mailings or other o ce tasks, or helping with one of our community or fundraising events throughout the year. Background check is required, and training is provided.
• Go shopping at Global Neighborhood Thrift
• Donate your gently used seasonal clothing to The City Gate
• Purchase items from Failsafe For Life’s Amazon wish list
• Donate diapers to Mission Outreach Community Center
NAMI Spokane (National Alliance for Mental Illness)
152 S. Je erson Street Ste. 100 • Spokane, WA 99201
WHAT WE DO
509.838.5515 | Text: 509.209.3905 namispokane.org o ce@namispokane.org
NAMI Spokane provides free mental health support and education to those who are living with a mental health condition. We also teach concerned partners and family members how to help.
NAMI Spokane serves Eastern Washington and surrounding communities. We empower people to live their most ful lling lives as we build a stigma-free tomorrow.
NAMI Spokane is your local a liate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. anks to donors and volunteers, we provide education and support at no cost to the public. So, people in need can begin rebuilding.
NAMI Spokane’s free education courses, support groups and advocacy forums are run by trained sta members and volunteers. ese sta members and volunteers have experienced mental health conditions themselves or have a family/friend member a ected by a mental health condition. ey bring to each session a deep, intimate understanding of related challenges and have uncovered many personal paths to healing.
Welcome to a community who “Gets It.”
DONATE
$25 Resource hotline support for 3 calls
$50 Support group session for 1 adult and family members
$100 Mental health educational training for 1 group leader
NAMI Do-It-Your-Way
Create your own fundraiser to support NAMI Spokane! It’s super simple. For more information, visit: nami.org/get-involved/fundraise-your-way/start-a-fundraiser/
e NATIVE Project is a non-pro t health facility that provides medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, patient care coordination, wellness, and prevention services for both Natives and Non-Natives in the greater Spokane community. We serve ALL people. Medicaid, Medicare and most private insurances are accepted. You will not be charged your insurance co-pay if you provide proof of tribal enrollment/ descendency.
e NATIVE Project’s Service Delivery Philosophy is a patient centered care model that embraces action, education, culture and spirituality on the road to healing and wellness. Our team commits to providing patient centered care that includes physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellness and healing. Services will be o ered through the practice of “Sacred Hospitality”.
Our philosophy has roots in the medical model of disease prevention, treatment and management that is solution based in the recovery oriented model of care, including drug free lifestyles. We utilize the highest level of care using evidence based and promising practices to promote healing and wellness in individuals, families, sta , and communities.
GET INVOLVED
Everyone can be a patient here. Be informed, go to our website, NativeProject.org, and subscribe to our email list, follow us on social media and check out our events calendar. Join our circle of care, where using one team and one voice, individuals, sta , families and agencies will utilize skills, leadership, cultural and spiritual consciousness to give back to his or her community by living as:
WARRIORS, NURTURERS, SCHOLARS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS
Northwest Autism Center
528 E. Spokane Falls Boulevard # 14 • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
509.328.1582 nwautism.org info@nwautism.org
We exist to build, facilitate and coordinate comprehensive services for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities using community-based approaches.
e CDC reports the prevalence of ASD is 1 in 36 children, with an estimate of 48,000 children a ected in Washington State. Northwest Autism Center utilizes multi-disciplinary care to provide holistic and individualized treatment options. Our vision is to promote the worth of every individual, ensuring access to early diagnosis and treatment; best practices in public education and healthcare; and the social supports necessary for optimal personal growth and meaningful participation within family and community.
What we o er:
• Free screenings for ASD
• Family navigation by a PEER certi ed specialist
• On-site, remote and in-home consultation and therapy
• Occupational therapy, speech & language therapy and ABA
• Augmentative & alternative communication device support and picture exchange communication expertise
GET INVOLVED
• Evidence-based practices and progress reporting
• Schools and community trainings
• Skills and recreation programs for teens and adults
• Care collaboration with community health teams
Donate: Philanthropy is a critical element of meeting the needs of the most vulnerable and underserved. You are invited to participate in the work of providing services, advocating for resources and building inclusion through a monthly or one-time donation.
Community Events: Join us for the annual Steps for Autism 5k awareness event in April or participate in the annual Giving Tree, purchasing and wrapping gi s during the holidays for those with autism and other developmental disabilities living in residential homes.
Volunteer: Support youth and adults at our Skills & Recreation Center. We are looking for people who have a passion for making a positive di erence and helping us create a safe and inclusive environment for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
We provide exceptional reproductive and complementary health care services, honest education, and fearless advocacy for all.
For over 55 years local people have been turning to Planned Parenthood for the resources they need to be healthy, plan their families and futures, and achieve their dreams. Your support will:
Help over 40,000 people annually get the health care services required to plan their families.
Advocate for comprehensive sex ed in our community so youth have the knowledge they need to be healthy, safe, and plan their futures.
Ensure reproductive freedom is protected for everyone during unprecedented attacks on these civil rights.
“As a cancer survivor, my visits to Planned Parenthood help provide peace of mind in addition to health care that is a ordable and attainable. ey genuinely care about my mental health just as much as my physical health.” — Taylor D., Spokane patient
GET INVOLVED WHAT WE DO
DONATE Your generosity will ensure everyone in our community can receive the care they need. No matter what.
TELL YOUR STORY The best way to promote, practice, and preserve comprehensive reproductive health care and overcome stigma surrounding these services is to share our stories.
VOLUNTEER The gift of your time and energy is invaluable in the fight to protect and advance reproductive rights.
BECOME A PATIENT Receive expert health care from our providers and support the services we provide to our community.
Providence Inland Northwest Foundation funds projects and programs to help ensure comprehensive, compassionate health care for all in Spokane and Stevens counties. Your generosity helps us care for the most vulnerable in our community and supports breakthrough technology that saves lives.
“ ank you to all the people who are donating. You’re saving lives. You saved mine,” patient, who went through oncology treatment in a remodeled infusion center, made possible through generous donations.
In 2023, the Foundation distributed:
• $453k Patient families received help with transportation, medication, utilities and basic necessities.
• $3M State-of-the-art medical equipment was purchased for patient care.
• $1.9M Donors supported a wide range of vital patient programs. With donor support, we help fund everything from art supplies for the art therapy program to a $1 million surgical robot to ensure stateof-the-art technology in our hospitals.
DONATE
• $50 could help provide patients support for transportation, housing, and other non-medical needs.
• $100 could give our nurses scholarships and training opportunities to empower learning and develop new skills that help reduce stress and burnout.
• $250 could help purchase infusion chairs for patients with cancer to provide a more comfortable care experience.
• $1,000 supports leading-edge technologies and new treatment methods to ensure our patients have the clinical excellence they need, close to home.
• Follow Your Heart: Stay connected for an exciting announcement about our next fundraising project in 2024!
SAN - Spokane AIDS Network
715 E. Sprague Avenue #115 • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
509.844.1758 sannw.org support@san-nw.org
SAN provides support and services to those living with HIV, their families, and the greater 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Our services include peer navigation & support, outreach services, HIV prevention & testing, weekly food pantry, holiday boxes, HIV HOPWA & Ryan White housing support, emergency nancial assistance, monthly support groups, SAN/PRIDE Community Center, safe space events & so much more!
Our events include: September: Spokane AIDS Walk, Red Dress Party, December: World AIDS Day, Holiday Boxes, March: Red Ribbon Gala, April: Drag on Ice, June: Big Gay Dance Party, Spokane PRIDE.
GET INVOLVED
SAN needs your help! Volunteer your time or talents, donate to support our programs or attend an event! Visit our website to stay informed!
READ THE GIVE GUIDE Read all about the goals of local nonprofits in this special section; make a note of the ones you connect with most.
GO ONLINE Grab your credit card, scan a QR code or log on to the charity websites found in these pages and make a contribution.
PICK UP YOUR PHONE Call your nonprofit of choice via the numbers listed here and make a pledge of cash or volunteer hours.
Shriners Children’s Spokane
911 W. 5th Avenue • Spokane, WA 99204
WHAT WE DO
509.252.3370
shrinersspokane.org
william.gross@shrinenet.org
Shriners Children’s Spokane’s experienced orthopedic pediatric specialty care team brings hope and healing for children in WA, ID, MT, AK, & Canada, and other U.S. & international locations.
Our patients are at the heart of everything we do. ey inspire us to continue our mission of improving the lives of children and families. We understand the unique medical needs of children by providing vital, pioneering treatment from birth to age 18. At Shriners Children’s Spokane, children have the opportunity to be evaluated and treated by doctors recognized as the best by their peers.
We have a team of physicians and specialists who have the highest training and education in pediatric orthopedics. is team is equipped to treat children with a variety of di erent orthopedic conditions ranging from mild to complex. Other specialties you will nd at our facility include orthotics and prosthetics, scoliosis spine and treatment, sports medicine and fracture care.
In addition to providing care at ve outreach clinics in the region, Shriners Children’s Spokane is part of an international pediatric healthcare system of hospitals, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers and global outreach.
In Spokane, we provide wrap around care to our families, o ering a full range of programs, services and support, all in-house, caring for children in a welcoming, warm, reassuring environment.
At Shriners Children’s, we never stop looking for ways to enhance the quality of life for children.
Our entire team is committed to nding ways to improve children’s lives, give them the resources and determination to succeed and encourage them to have faith in their dreams.
GET INVOLVED
We are grateful for donations of all sizes which help us provide out specialty care to the kids who need us. Stewardship is one ofour core values. Scan the QR Code to nd out how you can help! Approximately 85% of all funds spent by Shriners Children’s annually is dedicated to patient care, research, and education.
Shriners Children’s Spokane is celebrating 100 years of providing amazing care to kids and their families, regardless of their ability to pay. Our mission has remained the same since 1924!
Your gi can help us provide:
$50 helps us ve a birthday party to an inpatient!
$100 funds our 3-D printer supplies for patient activities!
$250 can fund a wheelchair!
$500 Funds patient outings, sports medicine rehab equpment!
Scan the code to learn how to make your gi today!
Easing the Shift from Summer to School
As summer winds down, it’s time to prepare for the new school year. And whether you’re a seasoned pro or a first-time school parent, the back-to-school shuffle can feel overwhelming.
From crucial health checks to lunchbox hacks, families can navigate the transition smoothly and ensure a healthy, productive start for students by incorporating these back-to-school tips:
Health and Safety First
Many school sports programs require a wellness exam or sports physical before participation. Because of this, you will want to schedule your child’s sports physical early.
During these exams, doctors assess height, weight, blood pressure, vision, and overall physical condition. For athletes, particular attention is paid to joint and muscle strength and flexibility. The doctor may also discuss diet, exercise, and other lifestyle issues, as well as any gear your child will need to protect from injuries while playing a sport.
“Ensuring children’s health as they return to school is crucial for their academic success and overall well-being. Regular check-ups, updated vaccinations, and healthy habits lay the foundation for a productive and safe school year,” says Dr. Cicely White, a pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente Veradale Medical Center in Spokane. For efficiency, often you can also combine the sports physical with a regular wellness exam.
Nutrition Planning
Healthy school lunches are foundational to your child’s performance. Plan weekly meals based on your prep time and the school menu. “Find foods from each food group that your child likes. Don’t worry if your child only likes one vegetable or one or two kinds of meat. Children accept new foods gradually,” says Dr. White.
You may also want to consider stocking a drawer with grab-and-go snacks like yogurt, fruit cups, and whole-grain options to make lunch packing easier for both you and your kids.
Adjusting to New Routines
Going back to school means adopting new routines. Establishing a consistent bedtime can help children adjust. Try to gradually move sleep times to match school-night bedtimes
“Adjusting to new sleep schedules is essential for children’s physical and mental health. Consistent sleep patterns help kids stay focused, energized, and ready to learn,” advises Dr. White.
For parents juggling varying schedules, communication and organization are key. Use shared calendars, delegate tasks, and create a command center for school notices and important documents.
Remember, flexibility and patience are crucial as you set the stage for a successful school year. With proper preparation and a positive attitude, you can help your children thrive throughout the school year.
Helping Youth Thrive
When kids age out of the foster system, Safety Net Inland Northwest is there to help
BY NATE SANFORD
Aging out of the foster care system can be incredibly traumatic. Kids turn 18, and all of a sudden, they’re completely on their own. No home. No job. No money. No support network.
“There’s no backup for these kids. There’s no family that they can rely on or anybody they can reach out to,” says Coleen Quisenberry, co-founder of Safety Net Inland NW. “If they don’t have some way to have somebody care, they’ll fall through the cracks and feed the homeless system.”
Between 2016 and 2021, roughly 20% of foster care youth in Washington experienced homelessness within one year of leaving the foster system, according to data from the state Department of Children, Youth and Families.
Years ago, Quisenberry had wanted to become a foster parent and was surprised to learn about the limited support network for kids
Safety Net Inland NW founders Coleen Quisenberry (left) and Molly Allen (right) pose with former KREM meteorologist Tom Sherry at the nonprofit’s 2023 auction.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAFETY NET INLAND NW
aging out of the system. So, in 2009, she decided to start Safety Net Inland NW as a nonprofit to help provide foster kids everything they need to thrive once entering adulthood. She founded the nonprofit with her friend Molly Allen, who was a co-host of the wellknown Inland Northwest radio show “Dave, Ken and Molly” until June this year.
“We help them with the things they wouldn’t necessarily be able to take care of without going into a tailspin,” Quisenberry says.
Safety Net has two warehouses — one in Spokane and one in Post Falls. When kids become adults and age out of the system, they can visit one of the warehouses to shop for free and pick up whatever items they might need for their first apartment: dressers, coffee tables, chairs, sofas, pots, pans, paper towels, soap, lightbulbs, vacuums and more. Safety Net also buys a bed for each young adult leaving the system.
system. The state wouldn’t pay for it because it was considered cosmetic surgery, so Safety Net covered the bill.
Quisenberry doesn’t have an exact number, but over the years, she estimates that Safety Net has helped thousands of young adults.
HOW TO HELP
Donate directly to Safety Net
Inland NW and sign up to volunteer by going to safetynetinlandnw.org or calling 509-863-9431.
As youth adjust to life in the outside world, Safety Net supports them in a variety of other ways. For example, if they have to miss work because they’re sick, and they fall behind on rent, Safety Net will help them catch up on bills.
Depending on the need, the organization will also provide bikes, computers, bus passes and groceries — basically everything someone might need to adjust to life as an adult when they don’t have money or a support network.
Quisenberry recalls one young man who lost his front teeth in a car accident when he was in the foster
Earlier this year, the Washington Legislature expanded services for foster youth ages 18 to 21 who are no longer eligible for the usual foster services. The program started rolling out this summer. Quisenberry says she’s glad the state is taking action, but that the need she’s seeing is still higher than it’s ever been. Because of inflation and higher rents, the number of kids coming to her nonprofit for help has increased significantly over the past two or so years, she says.
People don’t always realize how traumatic it can be to leave the foster system, Quisenberry says. She’s talked to children who have been through as many as 30 different homes.
“These kids come out without any real life skills,” Quisenberry says. “How to balance a checkbook, how to open up a bank account… Unfortunately, no one has taken the time to teach them life skills.”
Safety Net only has one part-time employee — everything else is managed by volunteers. The work is hard, but Quisenberry says hearing from youth who’ve managed to thrive makes it worth it. She hears from former foster youth she helped who went on to become doctors, restaurant managers, flight attendants and more.
“They’re coming back and saying, ‘Thank you, I wouldn’t have had a life,’” Quisenberry says. “We were the difference between homelessness or them getting out there and making their own way.”
Quisenberry recalls one young woman who came to Safety Net last spring to drop off furniture at the warehouse for a used furniture drive. The woman said she was moving out of state with her husband and two children, and had extra furniture to drop off. Quisenberry didn’t recognize her at first, but while loading items out of the truck, the woman reminded her.
“‘You don’t remember me, but you guys gave me my first bed, and you helped me furnish my apartment 10 years ago,’” Quisenberry recalls the woman telling her. “‘Now I’m married, I’ve got a job, I have two kids… You guys made all the difference in the world to me.’”
Those are the stories that drive Quisenberry to keep going.
Safety Net is always looking for volunteers and donations, Quisenberry says. The organization accepts donations of furniture and other items, as well as money. On Sept. 14, the organization is holding its “Fostering Flight” auction at the events hangar at Felts Field. There will be vacation-themed prizes and activities, and people are encouraged to show up in Hawaiian shirts to help raise money for kids in need.
“If anybody has any complaints about homelessness in Spokane, they need to step up and help make a difference,” Quisenberry says. “By helping Safety Net help these kids, we can all help turn the faucet off — they’re just running like water into homelessness if they aren’t helped.” n
AHANA
The multiethnic nonprofit AHANA, short for Asian, Hispanic, African and Native American, helps underserved and underrepresented communities of color achieve business success.
AHANA has grown since its founding in 1998 by expanding its services for multiethnic business owners, including financial literacy help, business counseling and management training. These services can range from QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel training to business certification workshops and guidance in applying for grants or business loans.
With the help of a $100,000 donation from Washington Trust Bank and a $1 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant from Spokane County, the nonprofit was able to buy a building to expand its services. AHANA’s new location is at 327 E. Pacific Ave. in the University District and was celebrated with a ribbon cutting in July.
getting started. Multiple organizations and community groups provide on-site mentorship on topics such as navigating potential contract bids and how to scale up a business.
For many small-business owners, there’s a learning curve to reading financial statements and understanding how to run a business productively, says Marvo Reguindin, AHANA’s executive director.
“A lot of our businesses start because they found either a niche or a need because they’re very good at what they do, but they never really imagined that they would go into business,” Reguindin says. “So they didn’t go to business school.”
He believes the new facility is also a safe place for the culturally diverse business community. It can feel overwhelming and unwelcoming being a person of color in a predominantly white space.
gifted small grants of up to $10,000 to businesses it serves to fund various one-time purchases, including marketing materials, new computers or other needs to scale up their business.
“We took 30% of the full million-dollar grant and gave out $300,000 in grants to small nonprofit organizations to help them also expand,” Reguindin says.
The future is bright for AHANA, and Reguindin would like to see the nonprofit someday obtain even larger office spaces to expand its business incubator program and lease space to new businesses. Reguindin says he’s happy to see economic development leaders and local governments collaborating with AHANA, and looks forward to further collaboration.
The building includes incubator offices, where business owners can have space to operate from while
“We have a training center and an incubator center that allows us to provide services in a more safe and friendly environment,” Reguindin says, “because our BIPOC businesses may not feel safe downtown.”
With the ARPA funds, the organization recently
The AHANA Board of Directors is volunteer-run, and the team regularly looks for new members with leadership experience or seeking to gain that experience who understand the mission and values of AHANA. Apply by contacting ahana.meba10@gmail.com and providing a letter of interest, resume, and two client or employer references.
— VICTOR CORRAL MARTINEZ
AHANA’s leadership celebrated moving into a new building this year. PHOTO COURTESY OF AHANA
The Arts • Sports • Neighborhoods • Faith-Based • Social Services
How To Give
READ THE GIVE GUIDE
Read all about the goals of local nonprofits in this special section; make a note of the ones you connect with most.
American Red Cross, Greater Inland Northwest
315 W. Nora Avenue • Spokane, WA 99205
WHAT WE DO
GO ONLINE Grab your credit card, scan a QR code or log on to the charity websites found in these pages and make a contribution.
e American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human su ering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
Our Northwest Region brings together local volunteers to care for their neighbors, trains hundreds of thousands of people each year in life-saving skills and responds to local disasters. We shelter, feed and provide comfort to people a ected by disasters; supply about 40% of the nation’s blood supply; teach skills that save lives; distribute international humanitarian aid; and support veterans, military members and their families. e humanitarian work that we do at American Red Cross would not be possible without our volunteers. In fact, 90% of the Red Cross’s workforce is made up of volunteers. We have a variety of disaster relief volunteer opportunities available, as well as potential positions focused on facility management, health and safety, Service to the Armed Forces, and more. By volunteering with the Red Cross, you join a network of as many as 275,000 volunteers in about 230 chapters across the U.S. who support the Red Cross mission of preventing and alleviating human su ering in the face of emergencies.
GET INVOLVED
Getting involved with the Red Cross is easy. We o er a variety of opportunities such as blood drives, disaster relief, and monetary donation drives. We want to ensure that you’re prepared in an emergency do we o er classes in CPR, AED, babysitting, nursing, and rst aid. We serve the people, businesses, and communities of Chelan, Douglas, Gran, Okanogan Ferry, Lincoln, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Whitman Counties in Washington; and Kootenai, Bonner, Boundary, Benewah, and Shoshone counties in Idaho.
VOLUNTEER, DONATE
Visit redcross.org/donate to make a nancial gi and make a di erence in someone’s life Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Red Cross. Join us at redcross.org/volunteer Disaster Action Team volunteers help local families cope with emergencies. Join us. redcross.org/dat
Home res claim seven lives every day. Join the local Red Cross this spring to install free smoke alarms in homes in our community. To lean more, visit redcross.org/nwhome re
PICK UP YOUR PHONE
Call your nonprofit of choice via the numbers listed here and make a pledge of cash or volunteer hours.
The Blue Door Theatre
319 S. Cedar Street • Spokane, WA 99201
509.747.7045 bluedoortheatre.org info@bluedoortheatre.org WHAT WE DO
We are dedicated to the advancement of improvisation, the performing arts, and community building through innovative entertainment and education.
e BDT is Spokane’s only improv theatre. We o er a safe space for all ages to explore creativity, build con dence, and connect with others through performance, workshops, and community-focused programs. Programs include Youth Improv League, BIPOC Improv, QueerProv, Improv in Prisons, and more.
GET INVOLVED
• When you volunteer, you see shows for free and get 25% o classes
• Become a front sta volunteer
• Donate to our youth programs
• Attend a show
• Take an improv course with our School of Improv
• Visit our website and learn more
509.557.0179 carlmaxeycenter.org cmc@carlmaxeycenter.org WHAT WE DO
e Carl Maxey Center (CMC) is a neighborhood cultural center, gathering place, and community based non-pro t organization located in the East Central neighborhood of Spokane.
CMC provides programs and services focused on addressing the needs of Spokane’s African American/Black community. Our mission is to inspire, empower, upli and advocate for the Black/African American community by focusing on economic development, education, racial equity, justice, and cultural enrichment.
A donation to the Carl Maxey Center provides support for one of our current programs including the Sandy Williams Justice Center, Eviction Prevention, Black Business Support and Development, Digital Equity and Community Resource Navigation. Donations may also be designated to support the remodel of CMC building which is a cultural hub and gathering space in the East Central neighborhood.
12 E. 5th Avenue • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT
509.358.4250
Volunteer Contact Info 509.625.3535 cceasternwa.org volunteering@cceas ternwa.org
CCEW empowers Eastern Washington : compassionately serving and upli ing communities through holistic care, safe housing and equitable paths to health and wellbeing.
Since 1912, our legacy of service to our community has rooted itself in our call to feed the hungry, heal the hurting and welcome the stranger. rough collaborative partnerships with parishes, businesses, government and nonpro t organizations in Eastern Washington, we advance innovative programs that bring hope to our clients.
VOLUNTEER
Help us create an Eastern Washington where everyone can thrive. For volunteer opportunities, please email volunteering@cceasternwa.org
DONATE
To support programs and services that help members move toward healthy and stable lives, please visit: cceasternwa.org/donate.
e Catholic Charities Foundation was established in 2005 to invest funds to support the programs and services of Catholic Charities Eastern Washington.
By putting Catholic Charities or the Catholic Charities Foundation in your will, you will be joining our Legacy Society, which allows you to create a lasting impact in the lives of those in need in our community. Remember, your legacy can be a testament to your compassion and generosity, ensuring that your values and beliefs continue to make a di erence long a er you are gone.
GET INVOLVED
Please consider a gi of personal property, IRA, stock, insurance and or inclusion in your will/ estate to the Catholic Charities Foundation. Please contact Ann Marie Byrd, Director, Catholic Charities Foundation at 509-358-4266 or annmarie.byrd@cceasternwa.org.
Childhood Cancer Coalition
202 E Spokane Falls Blvd Ste 301 • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
509.995.5431 cccnw.org leslie@cccnw.org
We support local children and their families who are battling a childhood cancer diagnosis, o ering nancial, emotional, and practical support, education, and advocacy.
e Childhood Cancer Coalition is unwavering in its dedication to supporting local children diagnosed with cancer and their families. Our mission is to provide comprehensive resources to ease the burdens faced during such a challenging time. We o er nancial assistance for medical and household expenses, ensuring families can focus on their child’s health and well-being.
We provide emotional support through support groups, and connecting to other families who have had experience with similar cancers. ose connections provide hope. We believe no one should face the emotional turmoil of a cancer diagnosis alone.
Educational resources are a cornerstone of our mission, helping families understand cancer treatment, navigate the healthcare system, and advocate for their child’s needs.
Your support allows us to continue this vital work, providing hope, enhancing lives, and bringing normalcy during tumultuous times. Together, we can ensure no child or family ghts cancer alone.
DONATE
Please consider making a donation to our mission. We have opportunities to support by roundup, one time donation and monthly donations. See our website at: https://cccnw.org/about-us/#donate
READ THE GIVE GUIDE Read all about the goals of local nonprofits in this special section; make a note of the ones you connect with most.
GO ONLINE Grab your credit card, scan a QR code or log on to the charity websites found in these pages and make a contribution.
PICK UP YOUR PHONE
Call your nonprofit of choice via the numbers listed here and make a pledge of cash or volunteer hours.
Christian Youth Theater Spokane
3901 E Main Avenue, Suite A • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
509.487.6540 cytspokane.org o ce@cytspokane.org
CYT Spokane aims to serve our community by providing quality, educational theater arts programs and productions at an accessible price to all interested families.
We believe in validating and celebrating the artistic expression and hearts of our youth in a safe, compassionate environment. Unfortunately, ticket sales and tuition cover only a portion of our operating budget. We need loving, service-minded donors who believe in our mission to partner with us.
GET INVOLVED
Every dollar contributed assures that CYT will continue to deliver top-notch a ordable programming to all who need it. Please consider joining us as we continue to develop character one stage at a time.
Companions Animal Center (CAC) is an independent, nonpro t 501c3, non-government privately funded organization dedicated to the welfare of animals. We practice the No-Kill philosophy.
Formerly Kootenai Humane Society, CAC has been serving homeless and unwanted animals for over 44 years. O ering low-cost medical services like a spay/neuter clinic, vaccinations and microchipping for your pets, adoptions, and a safe haven for unwanted animals are just a few of the ways CAC supports our animal population. CAC is open Tuesday – Sunday at noon.
By volunteering your time, sharing your good fortune, or o ering your home to a pet, you will help continue our lifesaving mission for years to come.
We elevate and empower immigrants and refugees as leaders, using international cuisine as a platform for economic resilience, holistic growth, and culture-sharing.
We embody this mission through our social enterprise restaurant and catering company in downtown Spokane – where we host a di erent Chef Partner Family every day – we are open to the public Wed-Sun for lunch & dinner! Since 2019, we have helped people build skills, become leaders, and share culture!
GET INVOLVED
Dine with us - food sales support the family who cooked your meal! Donate - we rely on grassroots nancial support from community members like you! Volunteer - From helping wipe down tables in the dining room to helping a single mom from Syria nd a ordable housing, Feast volunteers are everyday heroes! Start the conversation by emailing volunteers@feastworldkitchen.org!
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. Since 1987, Habitat-Spokane has built, rehabbed, and sold over 400 a ordable homes.
Families empowered to help themselves: Habitat for Humanity is a partnership — families help build and renovate their own homes alongside volunteers and community partners. A er completing the program, they BUY their home and pay an a ordable mortgage.
GET INVOLVED
SHOP - DONATE - VOLUNTEER. With your support, we can tackle the a ordable housing crisis in Spokane County. Shop at the Habitat Store. Donate goods or funds. Volunteer and help build a ordable homes!
Together, we create opportunities that change lives and strengthen communities, through employment, training and education, housing support, and nancial stability programs.
We say TOGETHER, because our employees, program participants, donors, shoppers, and community partners all play a role in the work and mission of Goodwill.
Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest began changing lives in eastern Washington and north Idaho in 1939. We help people reach their goals through our employment, training and education, housing support, and nancial stability programs. In the past 15 years, we have helped 85,499 people in eastern Washington and north Idaho.
Our programs are funded mainly through our thri and online stores. ere are thousands of stories of lives changed in small and big ways with the help of our Goodwill. We call these the stories behind the store. You can read some of these stories at discovergoodwill.org/news. Or watch these stories on our YouTube channel at GoodwillINW.
GET INVOLVED
1) Shop our thri s stores or online.
2) Hire one of our program participants.
3) Contact our housing team if you have a property available for rent.
DONATE
Donate your gently used clothing, shoes, books, household items, etc. Or make a donation at DiscoverGoodwill.org/monetary-donations
The Kellen CARES Foundation
WHAT WE DO
kellencares.org info@kellencares.org
We are committed to suicide prevention through workshops for parents and educators and by involving youth in community events and peer support groups.
Further Description: Kellen Cares is dedicated to helping young men survive the mental health crisis currently in our community. We strive to involve our community to educate, advocate, and eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness, while funding research and programs that provide boys and young men with the tools and resources that support their mental health and wellness.
Help us fund wellness programs and opportunities that bene t boys and young men in our community:
• Hope Squad – peer to peer suicide prevention program throughout Spokane area schools
• Guest speakers like Ryan Leaf and Kevin Hines who have shared their survival stories.
• Educational workshops with speakers such as brain and gender expert, Dr. Michael Gurian.
• Collaboration with community partners and other mental health professionals.
Attend a charity event
• ARC of Spokane - Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser
• BIg Brothers Big Sister - Reaching New Heights Gala
• Mijures in Action - Sequins and Velvet: Rompiendo Barreras Gala
• Transitions - People Who Care Event
• Volunteers of America - Eye Contact: Art Exhibit
KYRS Thin Air Community Radio
88.1 / 92.3 FM
Spokane Central Library Building • 903 West Main Ave • Spokane, Washington 99201
WHAT WE DO
509.747.3012 kyrs.org info@kyrs.org
KYRS- in Air Community Radio is a volunteer-powered, non-commercial, community radio station serving the Inland Northwest with unique programming for un-served and underserved audiences.
Broadcasting on 92.3 & 88.1 FM and streaming 24/7 at KYRS.org, we provide a mix of news, views, culture and music o en overlooked by other media. As we celebrate our 20th year, our passion for amplifying diverse voices remains unwavering. We are excited about the future and grateful for the opportunity to continue serving and upli ing our community.
GET INVOLVED
in Air Community Radio is the creation of every programmer, volunteer, underwriter, grant funder, and perhaps most importantly the listeners and communities we serve.
Lutheran Community Services Northwest
210 W Sprague Ave • Spokane, WA 99201
WHAT WE DO
509.747.8224 lcsnw.org lcsnwSpokane@lcsnw.org
Behavioral Health, Crime Victim Advocacy, and Refugee Foster Care services for trauma recovery. Partnering with individuals, families, and communities for #HealthJusticeHope
We believe all children deserve safe and loving homes, stand with refugees who’ve endured the unimaginable, and support crime victims along their healing journey. We partner with thousands to break generational cycles of trauma and make positive impacts on people and communities.
GET INVOLVED
Volunteer on our 24/7 support line. Learn about becoming a foster parent. Join our Client or Youth Advisory Boards. Attend an event, Join our Team, or Donate.
Make-A-Wish Alaska & Washington
104 S. Freya St, Yellow Flag Bldg #207 • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
Toll Free: 800-304-9474 wish.org/akwa
Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. It’s our vision to grant an equitable wish to every eligible child, but we need your help!
Want a dose of joy, hope, connection, and FUN in your life? Change your life, and the lives of others, when you join our Make-A-Wish community as a volunteer!
Volunteers get as much out of the wish experience as wish kids do! Volunteers report that wish granting is one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives.
VOLUNTEER
• It doesn’t cost you a dime!
• Online and on-demand training available so it ts into any schedule.
• English and Spanish-speaking volunteers in demand.
• Volunteer as little as two hours a month.
Mission Community Outreach Center
1906 E. Mission Ave • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
509.536.1084 4mission.org mcoc.spokane@gmail.com
Mission Community Outreach Center is a free clothing, housewares, hygiene and diaper bank dedicated to serving those in need in our community.
Mission Community Outreach Center provides gently used clothing, basic household goods, and hygiene items every 60 days as well as diapers and wipes every 30 days. We operate an independent, 501(c)(3) nonpro t organization intent on reaching out with care to those in need in the Spokane community.
DONATE
Your nancial support and donations of gently used clothing, kitchenware, and bedding items, and of new diapers and hygiene items keep our shelves stocked. Email mcoc.spokane@gmail.com for interest in volunteering, donate online, or drop o donations Mon & urs 1:00-4:00pm and Wed 10 am-1 pm.
Mobius sparks curiosity and ignites imaginations of all ages through exploration and play, hands-on exhibits, and STEAM learning experiences.
Mobius Discovery Center (formerly Mobius Children’s Museum and Mobius Science Center) continues to provide experiential learning to our region. We o er eld trips, STEAM-based educational workshops, outreach experiences, birthday parties, classes, and a erhours adult events.
DONATE
$0 Donate your time by volunteering
$15 Provides one STEAM Kit to a student or organization in need
$160 Give back by becoming a member and enjoying unlimited admission
$200 Gi a classroom an opportunity to visit Mobius for a no cost eld trip
Northeast Youth & Family Services
19 E. Queen Avenue, Suite 300 • Spokane, WA 99207
509.475.6793 neyfs.org info@neyfs.org
NEYFS is a family resource center committed to empowering generations by providing access and support to children and their families in Northeast Spokane.
Identifying all of the resources available for children, youth, and families in Northeast Spokane. Collaborate with organizations and families to identify potential and existing barriers to accessing those services. Facilitate programs to help eliminate those barriers.
DONATE
• $50 can help to stock our community food pantry for up to a month!
• $100 can supply shampoo for 80 families!
• $200 can supply hygiene products and laundry detergent for 40 families!
INVOLVED Our mission is to educate, advocate, and collaborate in support of stronger nonpro ts. Discover how state associations help at nonpro twa.org & idahononpro ts.org. Support your favorite cause by sharing a training opportunity, encouraging them to grab a membership, and donating to NAWA and INC.
Visit nonpro twa.org and idahononpro ts.org to learn more about how the state associations help the helpers. Keep supporting your favorite individual causes and share a nonpro t training opportunity with them. Donate to NAWA and INC to keep training accessible to the nonpro ts you know and love.
• Go shopping at Global Neighborhood Thrift
• Donate your gently used seasonal clothing to The City Gate
• Purchase items from Failsafe For Life’s Amazon wish list
• Donate diapers to Mission Outreach Community Center
Northwest Mediation Center
35 W. Main Suite 230 • Spokane, WA 99201
509.456.0103 nwmediationcenter.com info@nwmediationcenter.com WHAT WE DO
Northwest Mediation Services fosters, provides, and teaches peaceful problem solving. We help save time and money by keeping people out of the court system.
We have a strong record of helping people nd peaceful solutions to disagreements without needing to go to court. From landlord/tenant disputes, including rent issues, to parenting plans as a result of separation or divorce, to workplace con icts, we help the parties involved nd their own solution.
DONATE
DONATE to our CIRCLE OF PEACE program. Monthly small-donations program.
$5 per month provides additional $5 per month from matching donors
$5 per month can provide free training for sharing children for up to 4 separating couples per year
$10 per month can provide up to 24 hours of mediation per year OR up to training for up to 8 separating couples per year
e MAC collects and preserves stories and material culture that serve as the memory of our region. We present exhibitions that enrich and inspire our community.
e MAC is the living center of art, culture, and history in the Inland Northwest. We inspire expression, build community, and uncover history’s relevance through art and shared experiences. We are an a liate of the Smithsonian Institution.
GET INVOLVED
Become a member today! Membership funds our exhibitions, collections, and educational programs. Perks include free admissions and special discounts on programs and the Museum Store. Come join us at Your Museum!
Nuestras Raices
WHAT
509.557.0566 hbpaofspokane.org
Nuestras Raíces is a community center committed to increasing public awareness and pride in the depth and diversity of Hispanic-Latino culture through our 501c3 and our 501c6.
Our mission is to provide a sense of belonging through well-being and holistic services to empower our community and promote a more equitable economy. We o er direct services through our three core programs: social services, economic development, and youth engagement. We promote culture and are committed to serving the Hispanic-Latino community in the Inland Northwest.
VOLUNTEER
• Volunteer for our cultural Hispanic-Latino Tacos y Tequila Festival Fundraiser and our other major events throughout the year
• Become a mentor for our LUNAA youth and student-community engagement mentorship program
• Sign up to help with our UNION soccer youth program
• Spend two ursdays per month helping out at our Esperanza food pantry
509.927.1153 partnersinw.org development@partnersinw.org WHAT WE DO
Feeding, clothing, and empowering our neighbors. When local families, vulnerable youth, and impoverished elderly face signi cant obstacles, Partners INW is here to provide a safety net for those in need. With roots of compassion dating back over 60 years, Partners INW has grown to meet the needs of the community as the largest social services agency in Spokane Valley.
GET INVOLVED
Donate cash, food, clothing & diapers
Every $1 donates provides roughly 10 meals
Career Clothing Bank, sponsored by Humanix, provides clothing at no cost, and your donations of professional attire may help men and women get a much needed job. Senior Box Packing, 1000 senior boxes are packed each month to bene t low income seniors all across Spokane County. Host a Food Drive
The Salvation Army Spokane
222 E. Indiana Avenue • Spokane, WA 99207
WHAT WE DO
509.325.6810 makingspokanebetter.org
rough numerous programs and services, e Salvation Army Spokane helps transform the lives of local vulnerable families and individuals so that they can become self-su cient.
Since 1891, our commitment has been to help the whole person physically, emotionally, and spiritually without discrimination and always with dignity and respect. $.82 cents of every dollar donated to e Salvation Army goes to life-changing programs that bring hope and results to those in need.
GET INVOLVED
$50 provides food for a week for a local family
$300 provides one week of transitional housing for a family of three
$1,000 provides a month of safe and loving care for a foster child, age 2-12, at Sally’s House
Spokane Arts: Amplifying the Arts
Spokane, WA 99210
509.321.9614 spokanearts.org artshelper@spokanearts.org WHAT WE DO
Build and support arts and culture in the Spokane region through ongoing programming, grant opportunities, and advocacy work.
Spokane Arts is a 501(c)3 nonpro t dedicated to amplifying and supporting arts and culture in Spokane. We lead public art programs including murals, sculptures, and signal boxes around town, curate the Chase Gallery at City Hall, manage the Spokane Poet Laureate and Poetry Out Loud Programs, and organize the city’s annual Arts Month and Spokane Arts Awards celebrations, along with so much more. We invite you to explore everything this creative city has to o er!
GET INVOLVED
Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated! Check out cool artists (or add yourself) on the Spokane Artist Roster or apply for a SAGA grant. You can also help out as a volunteer with Spokane Arts or attend an arts event found on our website. And hey, if you like what we’re doing, you can donate to help us keep going. Find more at spokanearts.org!
What we do: Teaching Spokane to make and enjoy art via classes, a rotating gallery, artist retail store, studios, community events, and art outreach programs.
Spokane Art School is a 501(c)3 non-pro t that was founded in 1968 and has been helping the community to “make and enjoy art” since. We o er quality stand-alone and multi-week classes in core subjects like drawing, painting, pottery, and art history, as well as expanding our classes to keep our community and students constantly creatively engaged. Our outreach programs include ArtReach, which o ers art to underserved groups, including school children and community centers, and we also teach art to groups in our space and o -site. Contact us to learn more, and we look forward to connecting with you via creativity!
GET INVOLVED
· Join our newsletter to learn about classes and events. Sign up for our classes; we also o er classes to groups. Visit our school to view our rotating gallery and artist retail shop. · Donate time (volunteer), art supplies, or nancially to help fund our programs and art residencies.
• Be an English tutor for Refugee and Immigrant Connections
• Host a hygiene drive for Project Beauty Share
• Coach athletes with Parasports Spokane
• Teach job skills and soft skills with Artisans
• Help with housekeeping or yard work with Hospice of Spokane
Second Harvest
1234 E Front Avenue • Spokane, WA 99202
WHAT WE DO
509.534.6678
2-harvest.org
info@2-harvest.org
Since 1971, all of us at Second Harvest have been rolling up our sleeves to serve people facing hunger and build healthier communities. As the local charitable food distribution center with a long reach, we bring together volunteers, donors and partners to feed our neighbors in need across 26 counties in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.
Currently, 1 in 7 people in our community faces hunger, including 1 out of 5 kids. at’s why our scrappy team and incredible volunteers work tirelessly to source and share donated food with 250 partner food banks, meal sites and other programs.
We also use our Mobile Market—a food bank on wheels—to bring free food to convenient locations. For kids relying on school meals, Bite2Go provides weekend food support. In our Spokane warehouse, we o er free cooking classes, helping folks create healthy, budget-friendly meals.
ank you for joining Second Harvest to put food on tables and hope in hearts. Food connects us all, and together we are nourishing our community!
GET INVOLVED
You can be part of creating a hunger-free community!
Roll Up Your Sleeves: Pack food, ll Bite2Go bags, or lend a hand at a Mobile Market or cooking class.
Feed Hope: Your donation, big or small, helps nourish our community. Create a Lasting Impact: Consider remembering Second Harvest in your will to serve people facing hunger for years to come. Learn more at 2-harvest.org/legacy.
e Spokane Symphony, led by Music Director James Lowe, is a 74-piece orchestra committed to creating extraordinary musical experiences for everyone in our community.
Now in our 79th season, we believe the power of music impacts everyone regardless of age or background. We believe music has the power to ignite passions, nourish and inspire us, and connect us to our world and to each other.
Programs for students are core to the Spokane Symphony mission, fueled by a commitment to serve Spokane and surrounding communities. We are here to connect people of all ages to music in concert hall, classrooms and in everyday lives.
Your donations directly impact the Spokane Symphony by allowing us to bring musicians into classrooms, provide students K-12 with free tickets and share the Spokane Symphony with the community.
What your donations can do:
• Keep FREE concerts in our parks.
• Send a 4th grader to Symphony Day at e Fox.
• Send a musician to your school to enrich music curriculum.
• Send a classroom to attend a symphony concert with Class Pass Tickets.
• Send a student K-12 to experience a symphony concert with FASTix.
• Keep the historic Fox eater a vibrant, treasured landmark in Spokane.
• Support the continued prosperity of arts and culture in our community.
GET INVOLVED
It is the generous support of individual and corporate concert sponsors that make it possible for us to bring premier guest artists to perform for you with the Spokane Symphony, such as Yo-Yo Ma in our 2023-24 Season! For more information on Concert Sponsorship, please visit SpokaneSymphony.org.
Spokane Preservation Advocates
108 N Washington St #404 • Spokane, WA 99201
WHAT WE DO
509.344.1065
spokanepreservation.org
preservationspokane@gmail.com
e mission of Spokane Preservation Advocates (SPA) is to preserve and enhance the historic character of Spokane and Spokane County through advocacy, education and preservation.
SPA’s e orts have largely resulted in the preservation of many historic landmarks in our community, through its own resources, through alliances with other stakeholders, and through remaining steadfast in its mission to preserve and enhance Spokane’s architectural integrity. Spokane Preservation Advocates was formed in 1997 by a group of local historic preservation advocates who believed in the value of preservation and its role in enhancing Spokane’s quality of life. From the very beginning, SPA has been an inclusive group, open to anyone who shares a commitment to historic preservation.
JOIN US BY BECOMING A MEMBER!
• You’ll be kept updated on important preservation issues and join in on advocacy e orts.
• You’ll be regularly informed about what stakeholders are doing to preserve our local heritage and history.
• You’ll explore and learn about the architectural history of many Spokane County buildings.
• You’ll socialize with many like-minded preservation advocates and experts at our member events.
• You’ll be warmly welcome to volunteer in areas that ignite your interests.
GET INVOLVED
You don’t have to be a historic homeowner to be a member of the SPA. We have numerous preservation-related activities and events throughout the year that educate and advocate and also welcome your direct participation.
If you’d like to participate in SPA’s preservation e orts, several opportunities exist for you to do so. So why not get involved with us and have some fun while contributing to make sure Spokane remains the beautiful region that it is.
Attend our Autumn Tour of Historic Homes – Four historic homes in the Cannon Streetcar Suburb Historic District THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2024, NOON TO 4PM $20 per person, tickets to be available online and on the day of the tour
Spokane Public Radio
1229 N. Monroe Street • Spokane, WA 99201
WHAT WE DO
509.328.5729 spokanepublicradio.org kpbx@kpbx.org
Spokane Public Radio provides high-quality artistic, educational, and informational programming, which enhances and enlivens the cultural life and civic discourse of its listening communities.
SPR’s three program streams can be heard throughout the inland Northwest on KPBX 91.1, KSFC 91.9, and KPBZ 90.3.
DONATE
Help us to ensure our future by donating at spokanepublicradio.org Together we make Spokane Public Radio!
Spokane Valley Heritage Museum
WHAT WE DO
509.922.4570 spokanevalleymuseum.com
Spokane Valley Heritage Museum seeks to inform, in uence and inspire community members and visitors through the work that we do to preserve our regional history for future generations, educate others on the history of our region and provide resources for individuals to conduct research on the people, places and events that have shaped the area we call home. e Museum houses many artifacts of local history and has an ever-rotating display of special exhibits, including traveling exhibits. We o er guided tours, bookings for school eld trips and group experiences with knowledgeable guides, occasional educational presentations, a vast archive of historical photos, assistance with historical research and more!
GET INVOLVED
Donate today! Spokane Valley Heritage Museum is almost entirely volunteer-run, and our admission rates are kept a ordable to allow everyone access to history. Your generosity allows us to continue our mission to inform, in uence and inspire. You can also volunteer at the Museum. Call us for more information on volunteering.
Changing Lives and Healing Hearts brings awareness and education of domestic violence to the greater Spokane area.
Changing Lives and Healing Hearts provides “GO” bags for individuals in need of leaving unsafe situations in a hurry. Go bags have toiletries, gas cards, food cards and other necessities so people can leave at a moments notice.
GET INVOLVED
$100 donation sponsors a complete “GO” bag.
$50 donation provides a gas card and a food card.
$25 donation provides a gas card.
Please visit our website for events and volunteer opportunities.
As a nonpro t that was started right here in the Inland Northwest over 13 years ago, we seek to reach our struggling veterans in our community that gave all around the world to protect our freedoms.
VCR is a nonpro t organization composed of veterans from all branches, local re ghters, and certi ed therapists that work diligently to support combat veterans in their readjustment process. Our programs help combat veterans develop the skills to navigate their postwar challenges and lead productive and satisfying lives a er serving our great country. It is our rm belief that with compassion, understanding, and action we can create a safe and structured environment to promote the healing process for those we serve.
GET INVOLVED
Volunteering: We are proud to rely solely on the resources and volunteerism of our community to carry out our mission. Reach out to learn how to connect and serve Donate to VCR: Your donation directly supports VCR’s 1-to-4-day retreats, supports our responder and community service programs, and much more.
Volunteers of America (VOA) Eastern Washington 525 W. Second Avenue • Spokane, WA 99201
509.624.2378 voaspokane.org info@voaspokane.org
VOA provides specialized care to youth and adults with low-barrier access to services and housing rst solutions.
As a licensed Certi ed Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), our focus is on holistic care. is involves addressing social determinants of health, medical treatment, mental health care, peer support services, and substance use disorder treatment, all within our housing and shelter services.
We have a wide range of programs serving teens (13-17), young mothers (up to 24), young adults (18-24), foster youth, women (18+), veterans, outreach, and housing. Our dedicated sta is here to meet individuals right where they are in life and walk beside them on their journey toward achieving their goals. VOA has been upli ing our community for 128 years!
DONATE
You can donate your time, talent, or dollars!
Cook and deliver a meal to Crosswalk or YAS
Provide haircuts
We are in constant need of men’s clothing, boxer briefs, and shoes of for all $50 can provide meals, $250 can provide a move-in kit for someone newly housed Your kindness goes a long way!
GET INVOLVED
Attend Eye Contact u. Oct. 10
Host a Mardi Bras Party, Feb. Dine out for Give & Gather in April
TRANSACTION REQUIREMENTS: 3
A. Perform five or more qualifying actions from this list:
• Make a purchase using your BECU debit Mastercard.®
• Write a check or electronic check.
• Make a payment using the BECU Bill Payment service.
SCAN THE QR CODE TO LEARN MORE.
B. Deposit $500 or more into your checking account. OR
This QR code should lead you to https://becu.org/join. If the code leads you to another site, avoid entering your information and report the incident to BECU.
1 Offer valid until September 30, 2024, and redeemable at any BECU location and online. For new BECU members only, age 18 and older. Must be within BECU’s field of membership and be eligible to open and maintain membership; not everyone will qualify. New members who are rejoining but have had a membership relationship with BECU in the last six (6) months do not qualify. Business, Fiduciary, Zero-Dividend, HSA, Early Saver accounts, and BECU employees are not eligible to receive deposit bonuses. Must establish and maintain membership by opening a Member Share savings and also a checking account using promo code GIVINGBACK and meeting the transaction requirements within 30 days of account opening. BECU is not required to pay the promotional incentive for accounts opened without the appropriate Promo Code. Accounts must remain open for at least 90 days. The $100 bonus deposit to your Member Share savings account will occur within 120 days of establishing the qualifying accounts if the transaction requirements were met in the first 30 days. Accounts must be open and in good standing at time of fulfillment to qualify. BECU will not deposit bonus funds to closed accounts. Bonus will be reported to the IRS on form 1099INT at year end as interest income. Other terms, limitations, and conditions apply. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Limit one offer per member. Check with BECU for current Annual Percentage Yield (APY) of accounts. BECU reserves the right to terminate this offer at any time.
2 Giving Back Spokane will receive the $100 donation for every new primary member who established a Member Share savings and checking account, and met transaction requirements within 30 days using promo code GIVINGBACK by 12/31/2024. A one-time cumulative donation will be made to Giving Back Spokane within 120 days following the conclusion of the promotion period. No charitable receipt will be provided.
3 To meet the transaction requirements, you must open and maintain active Member Share or Member Advantage savings and also a checking account. You must complete five or more qualifying transactions using the checking account or deposit transaction(s) of $500 or more into the checking account within 30 days of account origination. Checking transactions, POS withdrawals, international ACH withdrawals, ATM transfer debits, electronic checks, ATM withdrawals, checks, and external withdrawals are defined as qualifying transactions. External deposits, ATM deposits, ATM transfer credits, new account deposit, and international ACH transaction deposits are defined as qualifying deposits.
Federally insured by NCUA.
FESTIVAL
Ancestral Spirits
Spokane street festival Tacos y Tequila returns for its fourth and biggest year yet
BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM
For Francisco Gutierrez, good tequila is personal. His family traces its roots to Jalisco, the state of Mexico where tequila has to be made — just like Champagne has to be made in Champagne, France.
“I’ve always been around tequila,” Gutierrez says. “It’s always been in our family. I mean, that’s our blood.”
Gutierrez is the financial adviser for Nuestras Raíces Centro Comunitario, which translates to “Our Roots Community Center.” He’s also the founder of Tacos y Tequila, an annual festival in downtown Spokane that supports the center, celebrates Hispanic culture, and honors local residents’ Mexican and Latin American roots.
Tacos y Tequila started as an outdoor way to supplement Nuestras Raíces’ largest fundraiser, Viva Vino & Brew, when the center couldn’t host the gala in person due to COVID restrictions in 2021. But now, Tacos y Tequila is a staple event. For the last weekend of August, street tacos and craft booths take over Spokane Falls Boulevard in front of the Central Library for a much anticipated two-day fiesta.
Proceeds benefit the center’s work providing scholarships and economic development support, plus a food and clothing bank and a free youth soccer program for the Spanish-speaking community in the Inland Northwest.
This is only the festival’s fourth iteration, but so far it’s nearly doubled in size every year, according to Nuestras Raíces’ public relations and marketing coordinator, Brianda Perez. In 2021, the festival had under 2,000 attendees. Last year, it had over 6,000. Nuestras Raíces is expecting even more people this year — not just from Washington, but from Oregon, Idaho and California as well.
In addition to food and drink, there will be plenty of live music. The festival features local acts, like Nuestras Raíces’s own ballet folklórico (folk dance) group. There are also musicians coming from surrounding states. A stage overlooking the Spokane Falls will showcase everything from traditional Norteño and mariachi bands to a drag show and tributes to Carlos Santana and Selena.
“I think we can offer the idea that Spokane is not really what most people think,” Gutierrez says. “There’s
this cultural event that’s growing. It’s a great way for everyone to get together and for us to share [with] the greater community.”
If there’s anything more Mexican than tequila, it’s tacos.
“You think of Mexican food, you think tacos,” Gutierrez says. “They’re synonymous.”
Perez has also done her research about tacos. Their origin is definitely pre-Hispanic colonization, she says. It’s thought that the famous Aztec emperor Moctezuma II used tortillas as spoons and that Aztec women used tortillas to wrap the lunches of field laborers.
According to her research, the name “taco” is probably a bastardization of an Indigenous Nahuatl word, either “tlahco” which means “in the middle,” or “quauhtaqualli,” a word for tortilla that was complicated for the Spaniards to pronounce.
But today, Gutierrez’s favorite thing about a taco is …continued on next page
Tacos, tequila and tons of fun! LUIS TORRES MULTIMEDIA PHOTO
“ANCESTRAL SPIRITS,” CONTINUED...
how simple a perfect one can be.
“A corn tortilla and just a meat in there,” he says. “It could be beef, pork, chicken. Oh, and a good salsa. I mean, that’s as simple as it gets.”
Onions and cilantro complete the experience for Gutierrez. And it probably should be noted that getting carne asada, al pastor or chicken tinga just right is no small feat — it usually takes hours of prep and generations of know-how.
But the festival has expanded this year to include even more than tacos. Cuisines from other Latin American countries are represented, like Salvadoran pupusas from Sabor Latino and Colombian arepas from Ricura Caribeña Catering.
And, obviously, there will be some really good tequila: nine spirits in total from five different brands. The focus is on more artisan distilleries, including La Gritona Reposado, a femaleled distillery in Valle de Guadalupe, a small town about 60 miles northeast of Guadalajara, the capital of Mexico’s Jalisco state.
Gutierrez is partial to a good reposado, which La Gritona specializes in. Tequilas come in three ages — blanco, which is unaged; reposado, aged between two months and a year; and anejo, aged anywhere from one to three years.
No matter what, a good tequila is going to be 100% agave. Any added sugar cheapens the spirit and contributes to a nasty hangover the next day. Gutierrez says he’s spent plenty of nights drinking good tequila and woken up feeling fine the next day.
“What I wanted to show with this event was to share some culture — almost reclaiming it, saying, ‘Hey, tequila is a Mexican thing. It’s a Jalisco thing,’” Gutierrez says. “Then educating people along the way that this is a good tequila. There’s always going to be some cheap tequilas out there, right? So [we want] to showcase the good stuff.”
The lobby of Nuestras Raíces Centro Comunitario has handmade art on the wall and a jersey from the center’s free youth soccer program. The community center is an outgrowth of the Hispanic Business Professional Association, a networking and scholarship organization that’s been in the Inland Northwest for over 25 years.
It moved to this center last year after
outgrowing a small office space. Now there’s a conference room, a dedicated space for collecting and distributing culturally appropriate food and clothing, and community space for workshops and dance rehearsals.
On a large back wall of the shared space, a huge monarch butterfly spreads its wings against a bright blue background. Above the mural are painted the words “La migración es beautiful,” or “Migration is beautiful.”
“I think the butterfly represents us as Mexican or Latinos, because we immigrate from our home country to a different state or country,” Perez says.
Monarch butterflies winter in Michoacán, a Mexican state between Mexico City and the Pacific Ocean. It’s the same state that Perez is from. For her, the butterfly is a special reminder that finding a new home doesn’t have to mean giving up a different one.
The Hispanic community in Spokane County has grown from around 3% in 2010 to over 7%, according to 2022 data. Nuestras Raíces leaders are already wondering if they’ll need a bigger space in Spokane. They just opened an office in Othello to become a hub for more of Eastern Washington. Tacos y Tequila is an opportunity not to just share food and culture with the entire community, but also knowledge and support for local Latinos.
“We hope that they learn about our center and all the resources we have,” Perez says. “I want them to take back that feeling of welcome in the community, especially in Spokane … to remember all those memories when they were back in their home country.”
“I want people to know that we are here, that we’re here to help you,” Gutierrez says. “Then lastly — make friends in the streets. It’s so fun when everyone’s just dancing in the middle of the street.”
But what if you’re not a good dancer?
“Tequila fixes that,” he says.
Now that’s a good tequila. n
Tacos y Tequila • Sat, Aug 24 and Sun, Aug 25 from 1-10 pm • Free admission • All ages Central Library • 906 W. Main Ave. • tacosytequilawa.org • 509-557-0566
Tacos y Tequila supports the Nuestras Raíces Centro Comunitario. LUIS TORRES MULTIMEDIA PHOTO
New Season-ings
The end of summer brings some unexpected shake-ups to Inland Northwest restaurants
BY ELIZA BILLINGHAM
Don’t worry: Patios are still in full swing and there’s plenty of sunshine left. But we are nearing the golden hour of summer, which means some things are about to change. The restaurant world is no different — some pretty major players are shaking things up before we head into the fall.
Though it feels bittersweet, a change in seasons — in both weather and work — can sometimes be a good thing.
RESTRUCTURING
Churchill’s Steakhouse announced in mid-July that it would be joining the Anthony’s Restaurants family. Founder Bill Alles and his wife, Renie, who opened Churchill’s in 2007, sold the Spokane institution in order to spend the next chapter of life with their own family.
“I am confident that Anthony’s will uphold our tradition of excellence for both our guests and staff,” Alles said in a press release, stating that nothing about the steakhouse would change.
Anthony’s Restaurants operates more than two dozen restaurants across the Northwest. While most are focused on seafood, President and CEO Amy Burns says that Churchill’s Steakhouse is a natural extension of her com-
pany’s commitment to excellence no matter the cuisine.
Don Poffenroth, founder of Dry Fly Distilling, is also nearing retirement and looking forward to spending more time actually fly fishing. In mid-August, Poffenroth sold a majority stake of Dry Fly to Charlie Wagner of Napa Valley’s Caymus Vineyards and Wagner Family of Wine.
Dry Fly and Wagner Family have worked on projects together for a decade, including a whiskey aged in Caymus wine barrels that will be released next year. Their goals have slowly merged as Dry Fly looks to increase its presence across the U.S.
“We share the same vision, and we are thrilled to put Dry Fly and its future growth in their hands,” Poffenroth said in a press release.
What’s more, Dry Fly’s first employee, Patrick Donovan, will be promoted from lead distiller and VP of operations to president of the company. It’s a full-circle moment, and one that encourages the company to keep fishing for even bigger opportunities.
RELAUNCHING
Originally opened in 2019, the Spice and Tea Exchange in Coeur d’Alene’s Riverstone Village is starting a new
era under new owners this August. Anne and Tony Kleimann are taking the reins of the specialty shop, which handcrafts classic and seasonal spice blends and stocks over 80 teas.
The Kleimanns have always been foodies, and Anne is a registered dietitian who knows the importance of spice to create dishes that everyone can enjoy. The store also offers gourmet honeys, olive oils, smoked salts and some seriously cute kitchen accouterments to make anyone in the kitchen “a more creative and joyful cook,” as Anne puts it.
A celebration of new ownership happens Friday, Aug. 23, to Sunday, Aug. 25, during regular store hours from 10 am to 6 pm (5 pm on Sunday). There will be a mocktail happy hour from 4-6 pm on Friday, plus tea and food samples, scratch-off prizes and special promotions throughout the weekend. Sunday caps it all off with a grand prize gift basket giveaway.
CLOSING
It’s terribly true that all good things must come to an end. Case in point: Prohibition Gastropub announced via social media on Aug. 14 that it will close its doors by the end of the month. The post cited the loss of a parking lot plus rising food and labor costs as reasons the business was no longer viable.
The restaurant was especially known for its “Hearts Wide Open” program that helped raise money and organize donations during emergencies like the COVID pandemic and the Gray and Oregon Road fires last year.
Chef Michael Wiley will still run his Wiley’s Bistro downtown Spokane. If the public outcry is loud enough, maybe it could convince him to add Prohibition’s famous jalapeño poppers to the menu in his upscale dining room. (C’mon y’all, I need this.) n
From left: Dry Fly’s new president, Patrick Donovan, with founder Don Poffenroth and former co-owner Terry Nichols, photographed in 2021. YOUNG KWAK PHOTO
Breaking Out of Prison Clichés
Sing Sing is a stunning work of cinema with Colman Domingo and Clarence Maclin giving two of the year’s best performances
BY CHASE HUTCHINSON
When reflecting on a film like the spectacular Sing Sing, which is somehow only the second feature from director Greg Kwedar after he made his feature debut with 2016’s tumultuous Transpecos, one must also reflect on mass incarceration in America. Not only that, but one must think deeply about the stories we tell ourselves about this uniquely American crisis. Is there a part of us that is drawn to a drama about individual redemption and personal healing so we don’t need to confront the systemic failings that roll on like a machine swallowing people whole day after day? Is there a way to tell these stories that don’t paper over injustices that remain ongoing?
In the case of Sing Sing, the answer is not just a resounding yes, but it’s a truly beautiful one. Rather than offering easy answers to what remain inescapably harsh realities about the world, it is a rich portrait of a group of men coming together to find a way to not just make art, but survive. They do so in the confines of the Sing Sing Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison where the real life inmates have spoken up about dire conditions, alleged brutal beatings and even waterboarding (in addition to just enduring the agony of being locked away).
When faced with the potential to spend years of your life in such a place, finding hope is all that may stand between you and despair. Out of this necessity was born the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program where the men work together to put on various theatrical productions. As we hear at one point in a key conversation, they are there so they can “become human again.”
While Kwedar wrote the script for Sing Sing with his
creative partner Clint Bentley (Jockey), these moments and the film itself are grounded in the lives of the people held there. They are again shaping their own stories, only now many of them are even playing versions of themselves.
In particular, former Sing Sing inmate Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin gives a debut performance that is overflowing with grace, charisma and depth. The film centers on his relationship with John “Divine G” Whitfield, played by Oscar-nominee Colman Domingo (Rustin), as the two go from initially challenging each other to opening up and then ultimately helping each other in the original play they’re staging, as well as life itself. Just as we trace the development of the production — a wonderfully absurd mashup of many genres and influences — we also see how Whitfield is attempting to prepare a clemency case so he can someday be free. It provides a gentle yet necessary throughline showing, while these programs can offer some hope, true salvation is a longer road.
Rated R
painful when discussing long-awaited mail that’s received, a beautifully complete picture is captured, eschewing cliché to get to the very heart of their lives.
Sing Sing
Directed by Greg Kwedar
Starring Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin
In exploring this, all involved give remarkable performances so authentically layered and thoughtful that you feel like you’re just wandering into a room to see a group of people gathering. Some of this could be too easily dismissed as being because many of the cast are playing versions of themselves, but that in many ways can be even harder as you must make sense of who you once were before stepping back into the inmate “character” now years beyond them. In every line of dialogue, be they genuinely funny in one slightly dark gag midway through surrounding a rehearsal of sorts or devastatingly
Shot on gorgeous 16mm by cinematographer Pat Scola, who previously worked on the recent Pacific Northwest gem Pig, Sing Sing is a film that also just looks great from start to finish. It ensures that the typical idea of how we picture a film about prison is gently upended in the visuals just as it is the story, never letting us forget the humanity of the characters and the beauty that resides within all of us. Films cannot change the systems in place, but they can resist dehumanizing people. At the same time, when we then see a conversation where reality comes crashing in and Whitfield is accused of lying because of his acting background, Domingo’s performance rips your heart out, as we are reminded of the casual cruelty of this system.
Sing Sing doesn’t simply tell a feel-good story that can be reduced to being about the “triumph of the human spirit,” hollowly allowing us to forget why such triumph was even needed in the first place. Even as all involved break free of the limitations that have been imposed on them in life — as well as the limitations in most films of a similar ilk — it pushes us to reflect on the realities that necessitate such work. In the end, Sing Sing is a work of poetry that truthfully confronts us just as it creates one of the most enduring and well-told character studies you’ll see all year. May the day come when the dreams of all who have been locked away can break free with as much beauty as they do here. n
The redemtive power of art is on full display in Sing Sing
Some parties don’t end well...
Blink and You’ll Miss It
Zoë Kravitz’s Blink Twice is an often sharp directorial debut betrayed by a prevailing hollowness
BY CHASE HUTCHINSON
In the opening interview scene of Blink Twice, an inescapably fraught thriller about two women who are whisked away to a beautiful yet remote island that is home to something far more sinister, we come to see just about everything that there is to know about what underpins the film. Yes, there will be revelations to follow that expose new depths of depravity. However, Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut (which originally had the working title of Pussy Island ) opens on a man whose capacity for cruelty is already abundantly apparent.
The man is Slater King, played by Channing Tatum in an unsettling (if mostly one-note) performance. He is a tech billionaire currently lying through his teeth about the harm he caused. You can see right through his hollow words, as we all know the world is full of men whose power and wealth can mostly insulate them from any real consequences. The trouble comes as the film peers into this hollowness — often with rather entertaining flair — only to emerge disappointingly empty with few insights about the characters or deeper ideas the movie lays out.
Rated R
ALSO OPENING
CATVIDEOFEST 2024
The internet is largely a dark and miserable place. But the digital hellhole has one saving grace: cat videos. And every year CatVideoFest lets us enjoy the cutest and silliest little floofs on the planet via a curated 75-minute reel of family-friendly felines. Not rated At the Magic Lantern
THE CROW
In a reboot of the ’90s gothic superhero film, Bill Skarsgård plays a musician who is brutally murdered along with his fiance only to be resurrected as the invulnerable Crow in order to seek revenge. Rated R
THE FORGE
This Christian drama follows a young high school graduate from a singleparent home who has no real plans for the future as he attempts to find steady work and greater meaning in his life. Rated PG
STRANGE DARLING
Loaded with twists and turns, this acclaimed nonlinear horror-thriller sees a one-night stand lead to a murder spree by a serial killer. Rated R
ends and unsettles, hinting at a bolder film that rejects coherence in favor of tapping into more disquieting rhythms about the ways violence can suddenly burst free from even the most seemingly ordinary of circumstances. In the sharp eye of cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra (who previously did beautiful work on the terrific The Last Black Man in San Francisco), and the capable hands of editor Kathryn J. Schubert (who helped cut the grippingly tense Green Room), Blink Twice is best when it feels like a snapshot of a world coming apart.
Blink Twice
Caught up in all this is Frida, played by an excellent Naomi Ackie of the somewhat thematically linked though more lingering 2016 film Lady Macbeth, whom we meet intently watching that interview with King on her phone. Living in a dingy apartment with her friend and co-worker Jess (Arrested Development’s Alia Shawkat), they soon come into contact with King himself after sneaking into a swanky event he’s putting on. After hanging with him plus all his friends, he (seemingly spontaneously) invites them to come away to his island. They accept and begin having the time of their lives, partying the days away. Inevitably, things take a dark turn, and the beautiful facade begins to fall apart all around them. Unfortunately, so too do most of the more resonant thematic ideas about violence and abuse.
However, while this nightmare is generally well put together, the film is unable to give it the full emotional or thematic heft it is reaching for. Though similar in some regards to a variety of haunting modern horror films from Get Out to Midsommar, Blink Twice keeps blinking in the face of anything substantive, leaving a sense that something is getting lost each time it does so. Kravitz and her cowriter E.T. Feigenbaum (High Fidelity) have much to say, though they fall short when it comes to expressing these ideas and the characters themselves with any real depth.
Directed by Zoë Kravitz
Starring Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Alia Shawkat, Adria Arjona
Though Ackie is quite good, there is a fundamental distance between the audience and Frida that never gets closed. She has some traits here and there, though we get little insight into who she really is. A late twist on top of another twist is haphazardly thrown in to sort of explain this away, but it doesn’t resonate. Even when something befalls Jess, the impact is fleeting. We just see her essentially get replaced by the similarly underdeveloped Sarah, played by Adria Arjona, who again does the most with an underwritten character after already doing so in this year’s Hit Man. She very nearly saves the whole experience through sheer charisma alone. Almost… but not quite.
For much of the film, we are effectively disoriented through the use of some vibrant extreme close-ups and rather sharp quick editing that blurs everything together. It’s the type of presentation that up-
While it’s got bigger ideas that it gestures toward, the film feels destined to fade away as soon as it ends. No matter how many striking pictures it takes, Blink Twice won’t last very long at all. n
No Nostalgia Trip
X’s John Doe (above right) on the band’s final album, punk roots and staying creative as an older artist
BY DAN NAILEN
The end for legendary Los Angeles punk band X comes not with a whimper, but with a bang. That bang comes in the form of Smoke & Fiction, X’s ninth and reportedly final studio album that arrived this month a mere 44 years after the group’s debut. Remarkably, this set comes from the same original quartet that formed X and helped create West Coast punk all those years ago. Even more remarkably, the album stands up to anything in the band’s catalog, blending Billy Zoom’s insistent rockabilly guitar riffs, the powerful swing of drummer DJ Bonebrake (coolest drummer name ever?) and the vocal interplay of Exene Cervenka and bassist John Doe, as they explore dark lyrical subject matter through effervescent, even danceable, tunes. X didn’t exactly hide the news of its impending demise. Posters for their tour, stopping at the Knitting Factory Friday, included a message stating “The End Is Near.” When X’s label Fat Possum announced Smoke & Fiction would come out this summer, it also announced
these would be the band’s final batch of new songs and final tour.
Doe says all the “final” this and “final” that talk is a bit “reductive” when it comes to the band’s plans.
“After this year, we’re going to stop doing 60 or 70 dates a year in clubs,” Doe says. “We’ll do fewer shows. I’m not going to tell you anything new when I tell you that touring is hard.”
With the band members all between 68 and 76 years old, knocking out high-energy concerts of about two dozen songs night after night takes a toll, as does the travel. Smoke & Fiction will indeed be the last full-length X album, Doe says, because the work that goes into creating a new album is tough, too, and he doesn’t believe the band would have the stamina to tackle another album project in two or three years.
“It just seemed like a good stopping point,” Doe says “Midway through writing and recording, looking at the lyrics, there was a lot of looking back, and reflection.
“This was also a really difficult record. We did a lot of rehearsing, there was so much rewriting that went into this. Exene and I worked our asses off. Songs like ‘Face in the Moon’ and ‘Smoke & Fiction,’ there was a lot of rewriting, learning, relearning, rehearsing.”
There’s also a more simple reason to call it quits — ending things on a high note.
“I think we all want to go out kicking ass,” Doe says. “I’ve seen and heard of people that are out there and the wheels are falling off. That doesn’t interest me.”
Even if X never made 2020’s excellent Alphabetland or Smoke & Fiction, the band would be going out kicking ass. X is simply one of the best, most consistent rock bands America has produced. And even though the quartet didn’t release a new record for 27 years before Alphabetland, the group toured consistently for many of those years. Zoom left the band in 1986, replaced temporarily by ace guitarists Dave Alvin of The
X still marks the spot for old school punk thrills. KRISTY BENJAMIN PHOTO
Blasters and then Tony Gilkyson, but Zoom’s return in 1999 seemed to give X renewed passion for the road.
Together, the original members make a sound that always stood out from their early SoCal punk peers. X’s brand of “punk” was always more of a common spiritual approach rather than a sonic overlap with the likes of Black Flag, the Minutemen and the Germs.
With the benefit of a half-century of hindsight, that punk label is almost quaint. X, after all, got Ray Manzarek from classicrock mainstays The Doors to produce the 1980 debut album, Los Angeles, and moved to major label Elektra just two years later. Through the first five albums released between 1980 and 1985, X did all the things a band needed to do to Make It Big: The band filmed videos (that were largely ignored by MTV); used “hot” producers (who sanded off some of the band’s edge in search of mainstream success); and landed songs on major movie soundtracks (the cover of “Wild Thing” from Major League might be the most recognizable X performance for non-fans).
Through the ups and downs, hiatuses and side projects, X always came back together and proved capable of capturing the magic that first erupted from their amps when they originally got together. With Doe and Cervenka sketching out lyrics about life on the fringes of Reagan-era Los Angeles, X delivered a ton of upbeat hooks to match the often desolate tales.
“That’s one of our signatures. There’s a conflict between the lyrics and music when we’re talking about some emotional and philosophical subjects,” Doe says. “It paints some pretty desperate and dark pictures, with music that you could dance to, if you wanted to.”
That’s a gift the band had right from the beginning on early songs like “Johnny Hit and Run Paulene,” “Sex and Dying in High Society” and “The World’s a Mess, It’s In My Kiss.” And new songs like “Sweet Til the Bitter End” and “Flipside” show X still has that trick in their bag.
“Big Black X” stands out among the new songs as the most autobiographical, painting scenes of days partying at Errol Flynn’s old mansion, taking acid at the Los Angeles riverbed and experiencing the grime and glitter of the Sunset Strip.
While Doe doesn’t consider himself a nostalgic person, he admits to missing that era of Los Angeles and has fond memories of the band’s early days.
“We were pretty self-destructive at the beginning, but it was for the sake of seeing the other side,” Doe says. “It was for the sake of just trying to see what’s out there.”
Doe credits Zoom and Cervenka for being the primary reasons X was able to make themselves into a great band.
“DJ and I are more adaptable, being a bass player and drummer. And me being a songwriter, I can write different styles,” Doe says. “But I think Billy bringing rockabilly guitar into punk rock was a game changer, because nobody else did that. Nobody had the chops or experience to do that. And Exene was a unique thing because she hadn’t come up in bands or done traditional harmonies. But she eventually made her own way.”
X’s tour runs through October — including an Aug. 23 stop at the Knitting Factory — and then Doe, Cervenka, Zoom and Bonebrake will likely get back to other artistic pursuits. Doe does folkinflected solo albums. Bonebrake has a couple of jazz ensembles. Cervenka works in poetry and visual art. And Zoom? Well, he’s kind of a man of mystery, albeit one who plays guitar, saxophone, violin, accordion, flute, piano and banjo.
If this is indeed the end, then Doe expresses no regrets and much pride in what X accomplished on Smoke & Fiction
“The last thing I would wish for is to be 35 or 25 now,” Doe says. “I can’t speak for everyone in the band, but I feel really fortunate, incredibly fortunate, to have lived through and seen all the things that we have. And we want to set an example of still being creative at this age, and still having a fire, still having passion and desire to create and to be a band.” n
X, James Intvled • Fri, Aug. 23 at 8 pm • $35 • All ages • Knitting Factory • 919 W. Sprague Ave. • sp.knittingfactory.com
MONEY ANSWERS FOR THOSE WHO FANCY A RIVER FLOAT.
– Jacob M., Numerica team member
CABARET RACHAE THOMAS
FESTIVAL ROCK THE BLOCK
Thursday, 8/22
ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, The Ronaldos BOTTLE BAY BREWING CO., Starlite Motel
CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, Johnson Bro Longnecks CHECKERBOARD TAPROOM, Weathered Shepherds
J J KNITTING FACTORY, Joy Oladokun, Kara Jackson
THE LODGE AT CARLIN BAY, Kosh
J MCCRACKEN’S PUB AND BBQ, Nate Ostrander
J MCINTIRE FAMILY PARK, JamShack
J PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Alma Russ
J QQ SUSHI & KITCHEN, Just Plain Darin
J RIVERSTONE PARK, Spare Parts, The Weddle Twins
J STELLA’S ON THE HILL, Theresa and the Bobs
J TRUE LEGENDS GRILL, Carli Osika
ZOLA, The Night Mayors, Ronin Piano
Friday, 8/23
AK ASIAN RESTAURANT, James Motley
BIG BARN BREWING CO., Dirk Schwartz
J THE BIG DIPPER, Sorcia, Red Mesa, Sonic Druid
BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Agents of Rock
J THE CHAMELEON, SKEEMN Tapes Vol. 1: Dark Daze
Album Release Show
CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, D.A. and The Blue Notes
CHINOOK STEAK, SEAFOOD & PASTA, Kosh
the Night Sweats, Joy Oladokun, Bella White
J THE GRAIN SHED, Haywire
IOLITE LOUNGE, Dan Conrad LIVE
IRON HORSE (CDA), Heather King Band
J J KNITTING FACTORY, X, James Intveld
THE LODGE AT CARLIN BAY, Carli Osika
J MAJESTIC PARK, Soul Proprietor
MILLIE’S, Loose Gazoonz
MOOSE LOUNGE, Laketown Sound
PARALLEL 47, Son of Brad
They say there’s no business like show business, and Spokane’s own Rachae Thomas can confirm it. The East Valley High School grad spent 14 years in the Los Angeles theater and screen acting community, appearing in off-Broadway productions and popping up on shows like How to Get Away with Murder and Lie to Me. While she’s not given up the acting game, she did move back to Spokane to be closer to her family during COVID times. The thespian and singer has now put together her first solo self-produced cabaret show, Rachae Re-Vitalize Me, which will debut at Hamilton Studio. Thomas will be singing a collection of pop tunes and Broadway favs from shows like Ragtime and Hamilton (very fitting for the venue).
— SETH SOMMERFELD
Rachae Thomas: Rachae Re-Vitalize Me • Sat, Aug. 24 at 6 pm • $25 • All ages • Hamilton Studio • 1427 W. Dean Ave. • hamilton.live
WJ REPUBLIC BREWING CO., Jeff Crosby & the Refugees
hile the Garland District isn’t exactly a popping musical hotspot most days, that changes when Revolver North opens up its parking lot for Rock the Block. The one-day mini-fest stretches from the afternoon till well past sundown and ropes in a ton of great local musical talent including singer-songwriter Justyn Priest, rising jazz fusion group Time Baby, the always goofy Gorilla Rabbit Chicken and homegrown Grateful Dead cover band, Spokane is Dead. There’s also a hopping beer garden, area vendors, the Fuji Fuji food truck and customizable pint glasses. Rock the Block offers a great way to get in one last megadose of outdoor music before the summer fades away.
— SETH SOMMERFELD
Rock the Block 3 • Sat, Aug. 24 from 2-10 pm • $6-$10 • 21+ • Revolver North • 633 W. Garland Ave.
BOLO’S BAR & GRILL, Agents of Rock THE CHAMELEON, BRANDEN ALL CAPS, C Grimm, Timeworm, Zeedee CHAN’S RED DRAGON ON THIRD, The Bobby Patterson Five CHINOOK STEAK, SEAFOOD & PASTA, Kosh
IRON HORSE (CDA), Heather King Band KNITTING FACTORY, Gimme Gimme Disco
J LIVE AT ANDRE’S, Luke Bulla MILLIE’S, Loose Gazoonz MOOSE LOUNGE, Laketown Sound
ZOLA, Brittany’s House J = THE INLANDER RECOMMENDS THIS SHOW
J PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Weibe Jammin’ RED ROOM LOUNGE, Live DJs
J THE BIG DIPPER, Spooky, Drop of Honey, Stasi, Carapace Siphon
NEATO BURRITO, Generifus, David Plell, Fossil Fire Fossil Blood, Balonely NOAH’S CANTEEN, Rusty Jackson
J NORTH HILL ON GARLAND, Just Plain Darin
J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, Midland
J ONE SHOT CHARLIE’S, 32 Flavors
J PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Mike Wagoner and Sadie Sicilia
J PONDEROSA BAR AND GRILL, The Philosopher’s Daughte RED ROOM LOUNGE, Live DJs
J REVOLVER NORTH, Rock the Block
ROCKET MARKET, Ben Vogel SCHWEITZER, Lauren Whitehorse, Chris Lynch
SPOKANE VALLEY EAGLES, Sharky and the Fins
WHISPERS LOUNGE, Live on the Lake: AP Collective
ZOLA, Sugar Bear
Sunday, 8/25
ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS, Alexa
Wildish and Lennon VanderDoes
BIGFOOT PUB & EATERY, Karaoke with DJ Sterling
J CRAFT & GATHER, The Jackson Roltgen Trio
HOGFISH, Open Mic
MOOSE LOUNGE, Rusty Jackson
J ONE SHOT CHARLIE’S, Gil Rivas
J SOUTH HILL GRILL, Just Plain Darin
WHISPERS LOUNGE, Live on the Lake: AP Collective
ZOLA, JoJo Knox
Monday, 8/26
EICHARDT’S PUB, Monday Night Blues Jam with John Firshi
RED ROOM LOUNGE, Open Mic Night
J REPUBLIC BREWING CO., Luke Bulla
J STELLA’S ON THE HILL, Rhythmic Collective
Tuesday, 8/27
THE DISTRICT BAR, Artikal Sound System
OSPREY RESTAURANT & BAR, Ron Greene
J PEND D’OREILLE WINERY, Sean Bostrom
SWING LOUNGE, Swing Lounge Live Music Tuesdays ZOLA, The Zola All Star Jam
Wednesday, 8/28
THE DRAFT ZONE, The Draft Zone Open Mic
IRON HORSE (VALLEY), PJ Destiny
J KENDALL YARDS, Rock the Nest: Jessica Haffner, Rachae Thomas Trio, Katie Marabello, Dave Long
MILLIE’S, Keanu
J NORTHERN QUEST CASINO, KALEO, Chance Peña
OSPREY RESTAURANT & BAR, Son of Brad RED ROOM LOUNGE, Red Room Lounge Jam
J RIVERFRONT PARK, Front Porch Rockers
J TIMBERS ROADHOUSE, Cary Beare Presents
J TRUE LEGENDS GRILL, Dallas Kay ZOLA, SideStep, Eric Kegley
Just Announced...
THE CHAMELEON, JUL!ET, Sept. 28.
J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Paul Cauthen, Oct. 25.
J BING CROSBY THEATER, Shoot to Thrill, Oct. 26.
J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Mr. Speed, Nov. 2.
J KNITTING FACTORY, BLP Kosher, Nov. 8.
THE CHAMELEON, Will Wood, Nov. 9.
J SPOKANE TRIBE CASINO, Gavin Adcock, Feb. 21.
MUSIC | VENUES
219 LOUNGE • 219 N. First Ave., Sandpoint • 208-263-5673
ARBOR CREST WINE CELLARS • 4705 N. Fruit Hill Rd., Spokane Valley • 509-927-9463
BABY BAR • 827 W. First Ave. • 509-847-1234
BARRISTER WINERY • 1213 W. Railroad Ave. • 509-465-3591
BEE’S KNEES WHISKY BAR • 1324 W. Lancaster Rd.., Hayden • 208-758-0558
BERSERK • 125 S. Stevens St. • 509-315-5101
THE BIG DIPPER • 171 S. Washington St. • 509-863-8098
BIGFOOT PUB • 9115 N. Division St. • 509-467-9638
BING CROSBY THEATER • 901 W. Sprague Ave. • 509-227-7638
BLACK DIAMOND • 9614 E. Sprague Ave. • 509891-8357
BOLO’S BAR & GRILL • 116 S. Best Rd., Spokane Valley • 509-891-8995
BOOMERS CLASSIC ROCK BAR • 18219 E. Appleway Ave., Spokane Valley • 509-368-9847
BUCER’S COFFEEHOUSE PUB • 201 S. Main St., Moscow • 208-596-0887
THE BULL HEAD • 10211 S. Electric St., Four Lakes • 509-838-9717
CHAN’S RED DRAGON • 1406 W. Third Ave. • 509-838-6688
THE CHAMELEON • 1801 W. Sunset Blvd.
CHECKERBOARD • 1716 E. Sprague Ave. • 509-443-4767
• Incorporate the words “Lilac Bloomsday Run” (or “Bloomsday”), “Spokane, Washington,” “2025” (or ‘25) and “Finisher.”
• Size: No larger than 13 inches high and 11 inches wide.
• Artist’s name, postal address, email address and phone number must be on the back of each design.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
• Provide a hard copy of your
Do not send thumb drives, PDFs or other electronic files.
• Multiple designs can be submitted and are encouraged.
• Artwork cannot be returned.
FOOD PIGGIN’ OUT
One of Spokane’s biggest annual events is finally here, bringing music, food and more to Riverfront Park for six straight days. Along with Pig Out’s 65 food booths, the event also features a market showcasing jewelry, crystals, candy and clothing from vendors like Zambalha, Bath by Bex, Mountain Rose Traveling Emporium and Hidden Springs Candle Co. And if that wasn’t enough to convince you to stop by, hit up one of the five adult beverage gardens or one of the 150 concerts taking place this year. It’s easy to get lost in the booths and the awe of pigging out, but it’s the perfect way to spend a free day or grab a bite to eat while getting involved in the community. For a complete list of vendors — including, of course, food — and the entertainment schedule, visit the link below.
— MADI OSWALT
Pig Out in the Park • Wed, Aug. 28 through Mon, Sept. 2; daily from 11 am-10 pm • Free admission • All ages • Riverfront Park • 507 N. Howard St. • pigoutinthepark.com
WORDS THIRTY, WORDY, THRIVING
Since 1994, the MFA in Creative Writing program at the University of Idaho has been churning out incredible writers, authors and poets. Thirty years of success is something to celebrate. That’s why this weekend, a host of program alumni are gathering in Moscow to share their work and revel in the pride they share for their alma mater. The event features alumni and emeritus faculty readings and panels featuring Cameron McGill, Sean Prentiss, Lauren Westerfield and regular Inlander columnist CMarie Fuhrman, among others. BookPeople of Moscow will be there, too, selling over 100 alumni publications, so you can catch up on your local reading.
— MADISON PEARSON
UI MFA Program 30th Anniversary • Fri, Aug 23 from 6-7 pm and Sat, Aug. 24 from 4-7:45 pm • Free • All ages • Moscow, locations vary • uidaho.edu/english
COMMUNITY GEEKS, RISE UP
The Coeur d’Alene Public Library is putting on its own comiconstyle event for the region’s book, movie, games, manga, comics and anime lovers. Celebrate the many avenues of geek culture with a cosplay contest, a Mario Kart tourney and a craft zone for all ages to get their hands busy. Local artists and businesses will be outside the library selling and showcasing their goods. Bring the whole family, dress up in your best cosplay, or just come and bask in the community of fellow enthusiasts. The best part? It’s all free. Head to Coeur d’Alene for a fun day celebrating everything geeky!
— CASSANDRA BENSON
Coeur d’Con • Sat, Aug. 24 from 10 am-4pm • Free • All ages • Coeur d’Alene Public Library • 702 E. Front Ave., Coeur d’Alene • coeurdcon.com
GET LISTED!
Submit events online at Inlander.com/getlisted or email relevant details to getlisted@inlander.com. We need the details one week prior to our publication date.
OUTDOORS FISH & FRIENDS
In remembrance of Brayden Bahme (above), a Cheney High School student who died in a tragic P.E. class accident last year, the Isaac Foundation is hosting its first-ever youth fishing event. Aptly titled “Fish Pockets” after Bahme, who loved fishing and would often come home with his catch in his pockets, this free event aims to connect neurodivergent youths with peer mentors who can help them learn to fish, too. This mentoring takes place at a handful of event stations that teach certain aspects of the hobby, such as how to be safe on the water, choose the right bait, cast a rod and clean fish. Plus, there are prizes available for participating youth. Attention parents: Make sure to check your children’s pockets before coming home — there might be a fish in there.
— COLTON RASANEN
Fish Pockets Youth Fishing • Sat, Aug. 24 from 9 am-5 pm • Free • Clear Lake Military Resort • 14824 S. Clear Lake Road, Cheney • fishpockets.org
SPORTS GLOW UP
Unless you’re one of those people who experience runner’s high, most of us need some motivation to go on a run. What’s better motivation than glowing neon lights and a foam party? Run the Night Glow Run 5k transports participants from one illuminated world to the next with extravagant lighting effects, various methods of glow and plenty of music. Once you cross the finish line in your best neon ’fit, jump straight into the end-of-race party featuring foam cannons, giveaways, prizes, DJs and food vendors. Light up the night and run (or walk) to your glowing heart’s content!
— MADISON PEARSON
Run the Night Glow Run • Sat, Aug. 24 from 5:30-10 pm • Spokane County Fair & Expo Center • 404 N. Havana St. • $25-$30 • All ages • runthenight5k.com
DENVER AIRPORT - SPOKANE - MOSCOW I met you changing flights in Denver. I told you about Africa. I’d like to show you my pictures.
I SEE YOU NOW I just wanted you to know that I see you now. I truly see you now. I’m sorry my mental illness caused this rift between us. I wish I could take back the last few years, but I can’t. I wish I could take away the pain I caused you, but I can’t. I wasn’t aware of the pain I was causing you, but I’m painfully aware of it now. I hope one day you can forgive me. I hope one day you can separate me from my mental illness. I hope one day you can find it in your heart to forgive me and give me another chance. I stuck with you during your darkest days, ignoring what other people said. I walked you back from darkness countless times. I only wish you would now walk with me during mine. I love you more than you’ll ever know.
TRAGIC LOSS ON NORTH DIVISION When Will Traffic Laws Be Enforced Again? I’ve watched over the last five years as traffic law enforcement has dwindled throughout the county, city, and valley. Now, it seems like I’m constantly reading headlines like the one in this post: “Man and dog die after being struck by pickup on North Division Street Friday night.” How many more people have to be killed, how many more cars destroyed, and how high do insurance premiums have to climb before the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane Valley Police, and Spokane City Police will
resume enforcing traffic laws? I’m pleading with you — please take action before more people are killed.
LUVNMD I miss you. I miss your soft giggles when I arrive and melt into you. I miss your sensual kisses. I miss how you always pull your chair close to mine. I miss you MD. I hope you find your way back to me because I only want to do this with you, only if you want this too. I am waiting for you...
BETTY SHAW I saw you stand tall through the struggles, and your amazing ability to manage three girls alone without losing your ambition is outstanding. You deserve to feel like the most successful mother and friend in the world because of the consistency and magnitude of the unconditional love you have taught me to have and that I have taught my daughter to have as well. You are a wonderful woman and deserve to be treated like a queen. Thank you for following your mother’s legacy and donating so much time to helping senior companions. I want to one day do the same kind of volunteer work. You deserve to be celebrated. I am so thankful for you. Love, Your baby girl Teresa
CHEERS
SPOKANE ZEPHYR AND VELOCITY MASCOTS
The mascots should be named after and represent something strong and powerful because soccer is a physically demanding, highly skilled game. How about The Zephyr Suns and the Velocity Pacers. I suggest we stay away from using the garbage goat as a mascot for either team. I don’t think either soccer team has any relationship to garbage or the personality of a goat.
TO THE FRENCH PEOPLE You did a fine job of hosting the Olympics. Well done. The network didn’t do a great job, and you couldn’t tell when something was live, recorded, or happened at a previous Olympics, but Big Cheers to NBC for using Snoop Dogg. Still hard to believe he did such a good job.
JEERS
WHY BRO, WHY... To the drivers with the big aggressive trucks, loud bikes at night and those crap cars w/ the “bap, bap, bap” mufflers: Only YOU think it’s cool to drive like that and disrupt everyone else’s lives.
Your tiny-d is showing... Just saying, “Bro”...
FIREWOOD I have lived in Spokane for 21 years, and moved from Colville where they have firewood cutters that know what 16 inches is, what a cord of wood is, 48x48x8 feet, and they know what kind of wood they sell. Out of 21 years, I have yet to find a wood cutter that comes close to being honest here in Spokane. What used
responders which has a clause that it can be used for other purposes. We have lost near nature, near perfect.
RE: RE: RICH HA HA. You must be a dude. I’d say you should try being stalked sometime, but I bet people stay far away from you.
LOCAL TRIVIA Chris, the host, is a madman. An absolute madlad. In what conceivable
technology. That’s absurd. This quote must be making a few contractors smile.
BUY AMERICAN I noticed at my grandparent’s house everything was made in USA. Tools, fixtures, appliances, hardware, furniture, etc. Everything. And it all still works. Why did manufacturing go away? Greed. Corporations hate the American workforce, government
to be considered honest and upright is now considered wrong. What used to be considered lies, cheating, and dishonesty is now right. As the saying goes, one bad apple spoils the whole barrel, but here in Spokane the whole barrel is spoiled.
OFF LEASH DOG WALKERS To the women who walk their two dogs off leash in the Audubon-Downriver neighborhood. This isn’t about you, your dog, or your dogs’ recall. This is about every other person and animal trying to enjoy the neighborhood. Adults and children with a fear of dogs, rescue dogs on leash trying their best to learn and heal. If you want to run your dogs, take them to a designated off leash park. Stop treating every public street, park, and front yard as your personal space. Not to mention the leash laws and posted signs. P.S. I saw your dog chase after a bunch of ravens in Webster Park - your dog doesn’t have perfect recall.
DOWNFALL OF SPOKANE Anyone getting off at the Division Street exit and traveling north is exposed to the real Spokane anymore. It is an embarrassment of what Spokane has become. So much time and money to house those who are homeless, which obviously hasn’t worked, but the same response is tried over and over again. We are told not to water our lawns because of river levels, but all it takes is to go to Post Falls Dam to see what controls the river level. Our council members brag about creating gun ordinances for Spokane that have been Washington state laws for years. Now we are asked to vote on a levy for first
reality could someone hope to understand any of your round 4 questions? Some of us already feel belittled in our online dating life and our soul sucking corporate job. We come to you for escapism. We come to you for joy. Now I’m fiending like dracula in a blood bank waiting for my opportunity to dethrone you. You sadistic lunatic. I consider myself well versed and traveled in trivia, but you have stolen the last vestige of solace I had in my intellect. I will not rest until I wipe that smug smile off your face. I have never experienced a more challenging and absolutely bat$@#% crazy roster of questions in my many years. Thank god the drinks are top quality and the people there all seem to hate you as much as I do. Consider this your warning. I will win. Even if it kills me, I will beat you. There’s nothing you can do about it. I’ll see you Monday at 7.
MARY’S HOUSE DEMOLISHED FOR PARKING
This historic house sat and watched over us while receiving care at the hospital. The beauty of the trees and the windows kept our minds occupied. A hidden jewel! Now, it is flattened, with about 50 parking spots, and only one scraggly tree. What a shame. A silver tear is shed for Mary’s house.
YOU CAN DO BETTER, SNAP $26,666 for a heat pump, because it’s new technology? That newfangled appliance originally invented in 1858 and commonplace by the 1970s, you mean? These must be the “new” special government program kind. A full system with duct work modifications and possible electrical upgrades might be near this price, but don’t say it’s because it’s new
regulations and taxes. I buy Americanmade and secondhand goods whenever possible. Give greed the finger.
TRAFFIC I don’t want a car. That’s why I use the bus. The bus station is in the center of the city so people from all over the city can use the bus to GET all over the city. The same is true with airports but on a much bigger scale, and with roads on a scale that SHOULDN’T be as big as it is. Y’all complain about construction and traffic, but we wouldn’t have either if cars didn’t exist. Multiple downtown streets are one-way and THREE LANES WIDE. Quit complaining about something you contribute to. You want a faster commute? Tell the city leaders we need better public transit. Invest in bike lanes instead of more PARKING. And lastly, get out of your car, and get in a bus! n
EVENTS | CALENDAR BENEFIT
BARN SALE A sale benefitting two horse rescues and a dog rescue. Items include saddles, bridles, blankets, halters and more. Aug. 23, 9 am-5:30 pm and Aug. 24, 9 am-4 pm. $5. Spring Hill Grange, 8717 N. Brooks. spokanewienerdogs.org
BENEFIT FOR JOSH PAINE A night of music, comedy and auctions in honor of Josh Paine, who was killed in the Garland District. Ages 21+. Aug. 24, 4-8 pm. $5. Garland Drinkery, 828 W. Garland Ave. app.galabid.com/justiceforjosh/items
COMEDY
DC YOUNG FLY A comedian, actor, social media influencer, musician and podcast host. Aug. 22-23, 7 & 9:45 pm. $45-$55. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com
HALF AND HALF In the first half of the show, Blue Door improvisers play a series of short-form games driven by audience suggestions. For the second half, they delve into more in-depth scene work. Fridays at 7:30 pm through Aug. 30. By donation. Spokane Children’s Theatre, 2727 N. Madelia. bluedoortheatre.org
LOL OASIS A night of comedy featuring Amy Barnes. Proceeds benefit Helping Captives, a Spokane Valley anti-trafficking ministry. Aug. 23, 7 pm. $35-$60. Turning Point Open Bible Church, 11911 N. Division. lodgelovers.com
MULTIPLE CHOICE Audience choices and suggestions drive the twists and turns of this improvised adventure. Fridays at 7:30 pm through Aug. 30. $9. Spokane Children’s Theatre, 2727 N. Madelia. blue-
doortheatre.org (509-328-4886)
GREAT OUTDOORS COMEDY FESTIVAL
An outdoor comedy festival featuring multiple stages, local, regional and bigname comedians. Featured comedians include Shane Gillis, Tom Segura, Kevin Hart and Spokane’s own Kelsey Cook. Aug. 23-25. $49.50-$249.50. ONE Spokane Stadium, 501 W. Gardner Ave. greatoutdoorscomedyfestival.com
CASEY MCLAIN, CHARLES HALL JR. McLain is a Tacoma-based comedian and the host of two podcasts, Nobody Likes Casey McLain and Poor Sports Podcast Aug. 24, 7 & 9:45 pm. $10-$15. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com (509-318-9998)
SAFARI The Blue Door Theatre’s version of Whose Line with improv short comedy skits from audience suggestions. Every Saturday at 7:30 pm. 7:30 pm through Dec. 28. $9. Spokane Children’s Theatre, 2727 N. Madelia. bluedoortheatre.com
FOR YOU Seven local comedians share stories, weird facts and outright lies via powerpoint presentation. Aug. 28, 8-10 am. Pay what you can. The Grain Shed - Cedar Tap House, 111 S. Cedar St. thegrainshed.coop (509-863-9035)
SAMMY OBEID The writer and stand up comedian is best known for his 1,001-day streak of consecutive performances. Aug. 28, 7 pm. $29-$39. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com
ALI SIDDIQ Siddiq is stand-up comedian, public speaker and writer out of Houston. Aug. 30-31, 7 & 9:45 pm. $30-$40. Spokane Comedy Club, 315 W. Sprague. spokanecomedyclub.com (509-318-9998)
COMMUNITY
DRIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM: 1970S CARS Learn about the changes in the world that heralded a new era of auto making in the U.S. through automobiles of the 1970s. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through Sep. 14. $8-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org
IT HAPPENED HERE: EXPO ’74 FIFTY YEARS LATER This 50th anniversary exhibition revisits the historical roots of Expo ’74’s legacy. It incorporates recognizable elements from Expo’s built environment with museum artifacts and archival materials. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through Jan. 26. $7-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org
NORTH IDAHO STATE FAIR This year’s fair theme is “Fun Galore,” and features a variety of family-friendly entertainment and attractions. Aug. 16-25; open daily. Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way. NISFair.Fun
MILLWOOD DAZE This annual celebration in the Millwood neighborhood features a car show, breakfast, a street fair, live music, food and more. Aug. 24, 9 am-3 pm. Free. Downtown Millwood. millwooddaze.millwoodnow.org
AIRWAY HEIGHTS DAY A day of community activities like watermelon races, a cornhole tournament, live music and more. Aug. 24. Free. Sunset Park, 924 S. Lawson St. airwayheightsparksandrec. org (509-244-4845)
COEUR D’CON This comic convention celebrates books, movies, games, manga and many other avenues of geek culture
with activities, crafts and games. Aug. 24, 10 am-4 pm. Coeur d’Alene Public Library, 702 E. Front Ave. coeurdcon.com
LEARN TO SEW: GET TO KNOW YOUR SEWING MACHINE Experts from the Mend-It Cafe teach how to get started using a sewing machine, from threading to maintenance. Plus, leave class with a finished project. Aug. 24, 2:30-5:30 pm. $30. Art Salvage Spokane, 610 E. North Foothills Dr. spokanezerowaste.org
SUMMER DANCE MARKET Watch and learn dances from expert and enjoy a variety of foods, crafts and local vendors. Saturdays from 5-9 pm through Sept. 28. Free. Downtown Spokane, Wall Street Alley. downtownspokane.org
PAPERBOUND BOOKS OPENING The soft opening of a new used bookstore in Cheney with a make-your-own bookmark station, book signings with Jen Schultz, raffles and more. Aug. 30-31, 10 am-3 pm. Free. Paperbound Books, 107 F St. paperboundbooks.com
PAUL BUNYAN DAYS An annual community celebration featuring vendors, a carnival, parade, junior Olympics, logging events and a demo derby. Aug. 30-Sept. 2. Free. St. Maries, Idaho. saintmariespaulbunyandays.com
UNDER THE FREEWAY FLEA MARKET
A market of 80+ vendors with various wares for sale including collectibles, antiques and more. Aug. 30-Sept. 2. Free. Northern Pacific Depot, 201 N. Third St., Wallace, Idaho. wallaceid.fun
COASTER CLASSIC CAR SHOW A twoday car show with multiple categories for guests to vote in. Aug. 31-Sept. 1. $35$40. Silverwood Theme Park, 27843 U.S. 95. silverwoodthemepark.com
FILM
EXPO ’74: FILMS FROM THE VAULT A selection of recently digitized film footage from the 1974 World’s Fair. Tue-Sun from 10 am-5 pm through Sep. 8. $7-$12. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org
GARLAND FREE KIDS MOVIES Screenings every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 11 am. See website for details. Free. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org (509-327-1050)
MOVIE BOOK CLUB: MISERY After a famous author is rescued from a car crash by a fan, he comes to realize the care he’s receiving is only the beginning of a nightmare. Aug. 22, 7-9 pm. $8. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org
SUMMER OF STUDIO GHIBLI: PRINCESS MONONOKE An English-dubbed screening. Daily at 2 pm through Aug. 24, 2 pm. $5. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org (509-327-1050)
STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE
The MAC’s annual outdoor movie night. Aug. 23, 8-10 pm. $5. The MAC, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org
GARLAND FREE SUMMER MOVIES Free movies every Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm through Sept. 15. See website for details. Garland Theater, 924 W. Garland Ave. garlandtheater.org
MOVIES AT THE PAVILION: DREAMIN’ WILD A screening featuring special guests Donnie and Nancy Emerson. BYO seats, snacks and beverages. Aug. 24, 8:30 pm. Free. Pavilion at Riverfront, 574 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.com (509-625-6000)
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EVENTS | CALENDAR
DECISION TO LEAVE A detective must wrestle with romantic feelings for the prime murder suspect. Aug. 27, 7-9:15 pm. Free. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. uidaho.edu/class/hias/asiapop
THE BIG LEBOWSKI ON GLORIOUS VHS See The Big Lebowski on VHS. Ages 21+. Aug. 29, 8 pm. $10. The Chameleon, 1801 W. Sunset Blvd. chameleonspokane.com
FOOD & DRINK
RIVER REUNION Try the new Upstream Lager brewing with certified salmonsafe grains and hops. Live music from Vika and the Velvets, lawn games and more. Aug. 22, 4-10 pm. Free. Brick West Brewing Co., 1318 W. First Ave. fb.me/ e/3F7IEXxiS (509-279-2982)
BBQ & BANDS Live music by Brittany’s House. Dinner is barbecue chicken sandwiches. Aug. 23, 5-7 pm. $20. The Culinary Stone, 2129 N. Main St. culinarystone.com
L’ECOLE WINERY 5 COURSE WINE DINNER A five-course dinner by Chef Steven Swanson. Each course is paired with a L’Ecole wine presented by the winery and Nectar owners Josh and Katie Wade. Aug. 23, 6-10 pm. $90. Fête - A Nectar Co, 120 N. Stevens St. nectarcateringandevents.com (509-951-2096)
SOURDOUGH STARTER BASICS Learn about sourdough starter, from how to keep and feed it, how to properly measure and weigh ingredients, to what to do with leftover starter from Jeff Halfhide. Aug. 23, 3-4:30 pm. $65. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon Ave. thekitchenengine.com (509-328-3335)
TACOS Y TEQULIA FESTIVAL A festival featuring tacos, tequila, traditional Spanish dance and performances and acitivites to raise funds for Nuestras Raíces. Aug. 24, 1-10 pm and Aug. 25, 11 am-7 pm. Free. Downtown Spokane, corner of Lincoln and Spokane Falls Blvd. tacostequilaspokane.com
WASHINGTON WINE POP-UP TASTING Ten vendors from around Washington pour three of their favorite wines. Ticketholders get access to tastings, raffles and a grazing table. Aug. 24, 12-4 pm. $30. Fête - A Nectar Co, 120 N. Stevens St. fetespokane.com
LOUISIANA BOIL Enjoy crab, shrimp, crawfish, clams, sausage, red potatoes and corn on the cob in a Louisiana broth. Tickets are limited. Aug. 25, 4:30-8 pm. $50-$55. Coeur d’Alene Casino, 37914 S. Nukwalqw. cdacasino.com
SALMON BARBECUE DINNER PICNIC
Dinner includes salmon, potato salad, green salad, baked beans, a dinner roll and an ice cream cup. Coffee, iced tea and milk provided. Aug. 25, 12-4 pm. $12$17. Western Dance Center, 1901 N. Sullivan Rd. SquareDanceSpokane.org
SEASONAL CHILI RELLENNOS Vira
Redman-Meledez teaches how make chili relleno with fresh hatch chiles. Aug. 26, 12-1:30 pm. $60. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon Ave. thekitchenengine.com
LEONETTI CELLAR WINE DINNER A five-course dinner featuring dishes created to enhance and complement the flavors of Leonetti Cellar’s wines. Aug. 28, 6-9 pm. $200. Beverly’s, 115 S. Second St. bit.ly/3M9cvql (208-292-5678)
PIG OUT IN THE PARK A food and music festival with over 60 food booths, 35 public market booths and 130 free concerts. Aug. 28-Sept. 2, daily from 11 am10 pm. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St.
spokanepigout.com (509-625-6600)
POP-UP RESTAURANT NIGHT Chef Al Batson and Jamie Aquino prepare a brisket dinner for pick-up. Meals include brisket, and choice of sides like mac and cheese, jalepeo cornbread, elote or collard greens. Aug. 29, 3:30-6 pm. $55$132. The Kitchen Engine, 621 W. Mallon Ave. thekitchenengine.com
BBQ & BANDS Live music by Dallas Kay. Dinner is pulled pork. Aug. 30, 5-7 pm. $20. The Culinary Stone, 2129 N. Main St. culinarystone.com
MUSIC
GENTE BOA & ANDRÉ FRANÇA A night of traditional forró pe de Serra, a style of dance music from the northeast of Brazil featuring the talents of André França, Adrian Crookston and Diego Vilas Boas. Aug. 23, 7-9 pm. $10. The Kenworthy, 508 S. Main St. kenworthy.org
RACHAE THOMAS: RACHAE REVITAL-
IZE ME An evening of memorable Broadway songs and beloved pop tunes by vocalist and actor Rachae Thomas. Aug. 24,6 pm. $25. Hamilton Studio, 1427 W. Dean Ave., hamilton.live
ANNIE WELLE Welle performs jazz selections on the grand piano. Aug. 28, 5-7 pm. Free. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St. powine.com (877-452-9011)
LUD CRAMER MEMORIAL CONCERT The full Spokane Symphony orchestra plays popular classics and favorites from Hollywood and Broadway. Aug. 31, 6 pm. Free. Pavillion Park, 727 N. Molter Rd., Liberty Lake spokanesymphony.org
GROWN FOLKS OLD SCHOOL NIGHT
This monthly event for mature crowds features old school Top 40s, hip-hop, and R&B music by DJ Black Bart. Last Saturdays of the month, 7 pm-2 am. $10. Lyyv Entertainment, 8712 E. Sprague Ave. fb.me/e/1kam3ybgn (509-557-3999)
SPORTS & OUTDOORS
GEM STATE STAMPEDE This annual rodeo event includes bull riding, full rodeos, mutton bustin’ and more. Aug. 22-25; Thu-Sat from 6:30-9 pm, Sun from 1:30-3 pm. $7-$10. Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way. nisfair.fun (208-765-4969)
MOVEMENT & MUSIC: YOGA, LIVE MUSIC AND WINE A yoga class led by instructor Larkin Barnett with live music by Spokane musicians Chris Kohut and Danny McCollum. Aug. 22, 5:30-8 pm. $35-$40. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-363-5357)
RIVERFRONT MOVES: BARRE Barre3 North leads a 1-hour total body workout featuring small- and large-range movement sequences. Aug. 22, 6-7 pm. Free. Riverfront Park, 507 N. Howard St. riverfrontspokane.com (509-625-6600)
SUNSET PADDLEBOARDING Tour the Spokane River from Upriver Dam toward the Argonne Bridge on a paddleboard. Meet at Spokane Upriver Dam Facility. Aug. 23, 5:30-7:30 pm. $39. my.spokanecity.org/parksrec
FISH POCKETS YOUTH FISHING A free youth fishing event, pairing special needs youth with peer mentors to navigate fishing stations and learn how to fish, all in memory of Brayden “Fish pPockets” Bahme. Aug. 24, 9 am-5 pm. Free. Clear Lake Military Resort, 14824 S. Clear Lake
Rd. Fishpockets.org (509-325-1515)
FRIENDS OF MANITO FALL PLANT SALE
Choose from a selection of plants including tropicals, houseplants, shrubs, vines and more. Aug. 24, 8 am-3 pm. Manito Park, 1800 S. Grand Blvd. thefriendsofmanito.org (509-456-8038)
MAXEY LAW OFFICE GOLF TOURNA-
MENT A golf tournament benefitting Carl Maxey Center with prizes for longest drive and closest to the pin. Aug. 24, 10 am. $130. Creek at Qualchan Golf Course, 301 E. Meadowlane Rd. mxeylaw.com
RUN THE NIGHT GLOW RUN A race course filled with lighting effects and illuminated fun. Aug. 24, 5:30-9 pm. $25$30. Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, 404 N. Havana St. runthenight5k.com
PAWS IN THE POOL Dogs six months and older with up-to-date vaccines are invited to swim in the pool. Aug. 25, 10 am-2 pm. Free. Valley Mission Pool, 11123 E. Mission Ave. spokanevalleywa.gov
SPOKANE INDIANS VS. TRI-CITY
AMERICANS Promos during this sixgame series include Spokane County Interstate Fair Night (8/27), Halloween Night (8/28), Fireworks Night (8/31), Season Finale Fireworks (9/1) and more. Aug. 27-31, 6:35 pm and Sep. 1, 1:05 pm. Avista Stadium, 602 N. Havana St. milb. com/spokane
A WALK THROUGH THE NIGHT GAR-
DEN This talk focuses on how to create a night garden, including fragrant plants, white flowers, lighting and moon gardening. Aug. 28, 6:30-7:30 pm. Free. Spokane Valley Library, 22 N. Herald Rd. scld.org (509-893-8400)
THEATER & DANCE
SHIBARI & FLOW: EDM NIGHT A night of burlesque, aerial and drag performances set to EDM music. Ages 21+. Aug. 22, 7 pm. $30. The Chameleon, 1801 W. Sunset Blvd. chameleonspokane.com
BYE BYE BIRDIE Teen heartthrob Conrad Birdie has been drafted, so he chooses All-American girl Kim MacAfee for a very public farewell kiss. Fri-Sat at 7 pm, SatSun at 3 pm through Aug. 25. $15-$20. Kroc Center, 1765 W. Golf Course Rd. cytnorthidaho.org (208-667-1865)
FUNDAMENTALS OF SOCIAL TANGO A class for improving tango movement and connection. Experience required. Dropins welcome; no partner needed. Every Tuesday from 5:40-6:40 pm. $17-$20. Sinto Activity Center, 1124 W. Sinto Ave. fb.com/events/447904090938300/
VISUAL ARTS
THE ART OF FOOD A collection of work showcasing how prominent artists depict food beyond sustenance and how food connects us through experiences and societal issues. Tue-Sat from 10 am-4 pm through March 8. Free. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU, 1535 NE Wilson. museum.wsu.edu
BETWEEN BORDERS: FOLKLIFE THROUGH THE COEUR D’ALENES An exhibition featuring folk and traditional artists. Wed-Sat from 9 am-3 pm through Sep. 4. Free. Chrysalis Gallery, 911 S. Monroe. theartchrysalis.com
CHONNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY ART FACULTY & GRAD STUDENT EXHIBIT Featuring art by Jeimin Kim reflecting the plant world’s resistance to human control and work by other fac-
ulty and artists. Mon-Fri from 9 am-5 pm through Sep. 13. Free. Ridenbaugh Gallery, 1022 Nez Perce Dr. uidaho.edu/ class/hias (208-885-7110)
THE GREAT NORTHWEST WOOD SHOW & SALE An open exhibition and retail event for established and emerging wood artists. The show presents a range of wood pieces, from traditional to avantgarde, including wall art, turned bowls, kitchen utensils, furniture and decorative items. Thu-Sun from 10 am-6 pm through Sep. 29. Free. Dahmen Barn, 419 N. Park Way. artisanbarn.org (509-229-3414)
HAYOUN KWON’S “489 YEARS” Seoulbased virtual reality artist Hayoun Kwon’s meditation on the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Korea. Mon-Fri from 9 am-5 pm through Sep. 13. Free. University of Idaho Student Union Building (ISUB), 875 S. Line St. uidaho.edu/class/hias
IN THE MEAN TIME Artists Carrie Scozzaro, Daniel Kytonen, Emma Noyes, Helen Parsons, Kay O’Rourke, Lance Sinnema, May Kytonen and Tracy Poindexter-Canton showcase art incorporating words and language inspired by literature and current events. Thu-Sat from 4-7 pm through Aug. 31. Free. Terrain Gallery, 628 N. Monroe St. terrainspokane.com
JAMIE ROME CRAIN & TERREN WEIRICK Jamie Rome Crain displays oil paintings; Terren Weirick displays ink drawings. Tue-Sat from 10 am-6 pm through Sep. 14. Free. Emerge, 119 N. Second St. emergecda.com (208-930-1876)
TRACKSIDE STUDIO SALE Gallery partners Chris Kelsey, Mark Moore and Gina Freuen clean off their shelves and showcase pieces old and new. Wed-Fri from 11 am-5 pm through Aug. 30. Free. Trackside Studio, 115 S. Adams St. tracksidestudio.net
VAN GOGH: THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE A 360-degree digital art exhibition featuring the work of Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh. Thu-Mon from 10 am-7 pm through Sep. 30. $21-$41. Exhibition Hub Spokane Art Center, 808 N. Ruby St. vangoghexpo.com/spokane
VEILED NOTIONS A group show featuring Helen Parsons, Susan Mattson, Mary Frances Dondelinger, Randy Palmer and Chris Bivins delving into the complexities of hidden truths and unspoken narratives. Wed-Sun from 11 am-6 pm through Sep. 1. Free. The Art Spirit Gallery, 415 Sherman Ave. theartspiritgallery.com
YOUR COLLECTION: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS EXHIBITION An exhibition examining the museum’s evolution through a carefully curated selection from the permanent collection charting the evolution of visual culture since 1890, contextualizing pivotal moments in art history and honoring the generosity of donors. Tue-Sat from 10 am-4 pm through Dec. 13. Free. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU, 1535 NE Wilson. museum.wsu.edu
TOBE HARVEY & LOUISE KODIS Harvey showcases recent work; Kodis displays textile-based mixed media. Fri-Sat from 4-8 pm through Aug. 31. Free. Saranac Art Projects, 25 W. Main Ave. sapgallery.com
ART & GLASS FEST An annual arts festival featuring 50+ art vendors working in media including glass, painting, sculpture and more. Aug. 24-25; Sat from 12-5 pm, Sun from 12-4 pm. Free. Arbor Crest Wine Cellars, 4705 N. Fruit Hill Rd. arborcrest.com (509-927-9463)
PAINT & SIP Local artist Megan Perkins leads the painting of an scene of Riverfront Park. Includes a complimentary glass of wine. Aug. 28, 5:45-7:45 pm.
$20-$25. The MAC, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)
CREATE A WATERCOLOR LANDMARK ACCORDION BOOK Create your own Spokane street front with favorite iconic buildings and landmarks. Learn how to draw and paint them in a fun and whimsical style. Led by artist Megan Perkins. Registration is required. Aug. 31, 1-5 pm. Free. North Spokane Library, 44 E. Hawthorne Rd. scld.org (893-8350)
WORDS
POETRY RISING Hear poets Kenn Nesbitt, Trishanna Marie, Stephen Pitters and blues singer and musician Dwight Emerson. Aug. 22, 6 pm. Free. South Hill Library, 3324 S. Perry. spokanelibrary.org
JARED PECHAČEK: THE WEST PASSAGE WITH TRAVIS BALDREE Author Jared Pechaček discusses his new book The West Passage with local author Travis Baldree. Aug. 24, 7-8:30 pm. Free. Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com (509-838-0206)
PAGES IN PROGRESS: LOCAL AUTHOR SHOWCASE Meet 20 local authors who are selling and signing their books and merchandise. Aug. 24, noon. Free. Page 42 Bookstore, 2174 N. Hamilton St. page42bookstore.com (509-202-2551)
STORY AND CRAFT A read-aloud of a popular children’s book is followed by an optional craft related to the story. Ages 3-7. Saturdays from 11 am-noon. Cost of admission. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)
UI MFA PROGRAM 30TH ANNIVERSARY A celebration of the works that have come out of the University of Idaho’s MFA program featuring alumni readings, panels, live music, food and more. Aug. 23-24; Fri from 6-7 pm, Sat from 4-7:45 pm. Free. 1912 Center, 412 E. Third St. bookpeopleofmoscow.com
SANDPOINT STORYMAKERS A group focused on helping creative people achieve their dream whether it’s a novel or a video game. Tuesdays from 5-6:30 pm. Free. Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St. ebonnerlibrary.org
TEEN WRITE CLUB Teen writers are invited to get feedback on their work and explore all things prose and poetry. Every Tuesday from 5:30-7 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. sparkcentral.org (509-279-0299)
BROKEN MIC A weekly open mic reading series. Wednesdays at 6:30 pm; sign-ups at 6 pm. Free. Neato Burrito, 827 W. First Ave. bit.ly/2ZAbugD (509-847-1234)
POETRY AFTER DARK EWU MFA students lead discussions about craft elements, style and form in poetry. Every second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 7-8 pm. Free. Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Pkwy. spark-central.org
STORIES FROM THE VAULT: DYNAMITE, SPIES AND BULL PENS Learn about subjects like the 1899 Bunker Hill mine explosion that led to Martial Law in the Silver Valley of Idaho. Aug. 28, 6 pm. Cost of admission. Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. northwestmuseum.org (509-456-3931)
AUNTIE’S BOOK CLUB: QUEER & WEIRD Discuss The West Passage by Jared Pechaček at the August meeting. Aug. 31, 6-7 pm. Free. Auntie’s Bookstore, 402 W. Main Ave. auntiesbooks.com n
Preroll Party
Preroll joints made right here in the Inland Northwest are the ultimate in simplicity when it comes to smoking cannabis
BY WILL MAUPIN
The idea that cannabis users are lazy stoners is nothing more than a stereotype. What is true, however, is that everyone is lazy once in a while. Who among us hasn’t thrown in the towel at dinnertime and ordered a pizza? So, for those times when you do feel like a lazy stoner, turn to the ordering out of cannabis consumption: the preroll.
Swing by a dispensary, pick up one of these locally made products, and you’ll have yourself the simplest single serving of cannabis known to man. With a preroll, the path to a buzz is just three steps long — purchase,
unpackage and puff.
Here are two Inland Northwest-made prerolls to make your lazy days as easy as possible.
OG CHEM BY PHAT PANDA
If you’re feeling lazy and you want to blast yourself out of that mindset and into something very active, Spokane Valley producer Phat Panda’s OG Chem 1 gram preroll will certainly do the trick. At roughly 26% THC in a 1 gram joint it is perfect for sharing, as this sativa-heavy strain will keep everyone involved for as long as you
want the night to last.
An ideal sharing-around-the-circle kind of joint, this mid-20% sativa is perfect for those times spent around a late summer bonfire (if burn restrictions allow) or an August house party. On its own, it’s a lot, but among some friends it’s well balanced.
Find OG Chem prerolls for $10 at The Vault.
HAPPY TRAILS BY DEWEY CANNABIS
There is more that grows on the Palouse than just wheat and legumes. Lately, some quality cannabis comes from there as well.
Pullman-based Dewey Cannabis’ Happy Trails is a strong — between 22% and 26% THC — strain that has an energy-driven, sativa-dominant effect. It’s potent, but as it is sold in half-gram joints, it’s relatively easy to handle compared to the traditional full-gram joints most other brands offer.
With an exceptionally easy serving size, it only takes a few puffs to go from start to finish. Whereas many other brands prioritize excess, these stubby little joints are both quick and easy without compromising flavor or quality.
Find two joint packs for $8 at Primo Cannabis. n
Just roll with it.
GREEN ZONE
BE AWARE: Marijuana is legal for adults 21 and older under Washington State law (e.g., RCW 69.50, RCW 69.51A, HB0001 Initiative 502 and Senate Bill 5052). State law does not preempt federal law; possessing, using, distributing and selling marijuana remains illegal under federal law. In Washington state, consuming marijuana in public, driving while under the influence of marijuana and transporting marijuana across state lines are all illegal. Marijuana has intoxicating effects; there may be health risks associated with its consumption, and it may be habit-forming. It can also impair concentration, coordination and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. Keep out of reach of children. For more information, consult the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board at www.liq.wa.gov.
This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit forming. Cannabis can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of the reach of children.
NOTE TO READERS
Be aware of the differences in the law between Idaho and Washington. It is illegal to possess, sell or transport cannabis in the State of Idaho. Possessing up to an ounce is a misdemeanor and can get you a year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine; more than three ounces is a felony that can carry a five-year sentence and fine of up to $10,000. Transporting marijuana across state lines, like from Washington into Idaho, is a felony under federal law.
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