Eastern Washington University’s Institute for Public Policy and Economic Analysis provides data on a variety of critical issues facing local governments, businesses and non-profit groups around the Northwest. The Executive Director, Patrick Jones, strives to make the institute a model for how EWU makes connections to surrounding communities. One example is the Community Indicators Initiative, which includes websites devoted to fostering economic development in counties throughout the region. Community Indicators provides information and trends on issues such as population, transportation, public safety, education and recreation that help leaders make important public policy decisions. “Community leaders utilize this
PATRICK JONES, PhD
information for long-range planning, grant
Institute for Public Policy and Economic Analysis
applications and key business decisions,” said Jones. The institute is one reason why the College of Business and Public Administration is such a vital component of Spokane’s University District.
EAGLE UP
A select number of EWU New Student Orientation students partnered with an EWU faculty member and orientation leader and “plunged” into the Spokane community to volunteer their time to several non-profit organizations at the start of the academic year. Heather Robinson, EWU lecturer and special faculty in communications studies, led a group of students. She teaches Communication, Community and Citizenship, a class where students perform service learning with agencies that serve marginalized populations. One of the many projects that the EWU students worked on was painting at the Women’s Hearth. Trish Hubbard, enrichment coordinator at the center said, “It’s wonderful. We don’t get a lot of volunteers in that many mass numbers. This would never have happened if they weren’t here.” Students also volunteered at Odyssey Youth Center, which provides services to LGBTQ youth aged 14 to 21 in the Spokane area. The center moved to a new location a few years ago and needed help with maintenance, painting and lawn care. The group also helped out at the EWU Community Garden and Whole Plate, and Grant Elementary School in Spokane, where EWU students did gardening. At a Cup of Cool Water, volunteers made cards for incarcerated youth and they did clean-up work and maintenance at City Gate, which provides help to people living on the streets in Spokane.