Newsletter
SUMMER COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY AT RIVER PARK SQUARE
TheFilipinoAmericanNorthwestAssociationcelebratedthe 126thPhilippineIndependenceDayonSaturday,June15,at RiverParkSquare.Thefestivitiesfeaturedavarietyofcultural exhibitsthathighlightedtherichhistoryofthePhilippines, alongsidecaptivatingperformancesbytheSilanganDancers AttendeesenjoyedashowcaseofJeepneyexhibits,whichare iconicsymbolsofFilipinoculture,andhadtheopportunityto sampledeliciousFilipinocuisine
Theeventalsoincludedinteractiveactivitiessuchasface paintingandanindoorparade,whichtookplaceintheRiver ParkSquareAtrium.Afashionshowanddanceparticipation addedtothelivelyatmosphere,withprizesawardedto participants Thiscelebrationnotonlycommemorated Philippineindependencebutalsostrengthenedthebondsof friendshipbetweenSpokaneandtheFilipinocommunity, makingitamemorabledayforallinvolved
TACOS Y TEQUILA IN SPOKANE
Thisyear,NuestrasRaicescelebratedthe4th AnnualTacosyTequilaFestivalonSaturday, August24andSunday,August25 ItwasatwodaycelebrationofLatinocultureswithfood, drinks,activities,andmusic.Thefestivalaimedto provideSpokaneresidentsandvisitorswithan opportunitytolearnaboutthisculturalheritage whilesupportinglocalHispanic-Latino-owned businesses FernandaMazcot,NRCCExecutive Director,stated,“TacosyTequilaFestivalallowed ustoshowcaseouthistoryandincreasepublic awarenessandprideinthedepthanddiversityof HispanicLatinocultureintheinlandNorthwest.”
DISH UP YOUR BEST IDEAS FOR 2025!
We’recookingupsomethingexcitingfornextyear’sLunch&Learn series,andwewantYOUtobeapartofit!Frominclusivityinthe workplacetobuildingstrongercommunityconnections,thisisyour chancetohelpshapethediscussionsthatmattermosttoyou
Gotaburningideaforatopic?Whetherit’saboutenhancingour workplaceculture,connectingwithourcommunity,orjustmakingour workdaysalittlebrighter,we’reallears!Sendyoursuggestionsto Michelleatmichellen@cowlescompany combyOctober31,2024
Let’sworktogethertomake2025ourmostinspiringyearyet,fullof conversation,connection,andcollaboration!
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
HispanicHeritageMonthiscelebratedeachyearfromSeptember15toOctober15 Itbeganasaweek-long celebrationin1968underPresidentJohnsonandwasexpandedtoamonthbyPresidentReagan20yearslater in1988.Themonth-longcelebrationprovidesmoretimetoproperlyrecognizethesignificantcontributions Hispanic/LatinoAmericanshavemadeintheUnitedStates
HispanicHeritageMonthdoesnotcoveronsinglemonthbutinsteadbeginsinthemiddleofSeptemberand endsinthemiddleofOctober ThetimeframeofthismonthissignificantbecausemanyCentralAmerican countriescelebratetheirindependencedayswithinthesedates,beginningonSeptember15withCostaRica, ElSalvador,Guatemala,Honduras,andNicaragua.Byaligningwiththeseindependencedates,Hispanic HeritageMonthhonorstheresilienceanddeterminationoftheHispaniccommunity
KeyIndependenceDayscelebratedwithinHispanicHeritageMonthinclude: September15-CostaRica,ElSavador,Guatamala,Honduras,andNicaragua September16-Mexico September18-Chile September21-Belize
CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE THROUGH DANCE
JoinRiverParkSquareonFriday,October4,from6-6:30pmforalively performanceofBalletFolkloriobydancersfromtheHispanicBusiness ProfessionalsAssociationofSpokane Thiseventisavibrant celebrationofHispanicHeritageMonth,offeringacolorfultributeto therichculturaltraditions
LATINOS EN SPOKANE
LatinosenSpokane,anonprofitestablishedin2017byExecutiveDirectorJennyferMesa,haslaunchedits PoderLegalDepartment,providingfreelegalclinicservices TheteamincludesimmigrationattorneyZaida Rivera,immigrationcaseworkerSantosHernandez,andparalegalAlexMaldonado,whoofferlegalaid, immigrationassistance,andnotaryservicestotheLatinocommunityandbeyond.
RecognizingthesignificantneedforlegalsupportinEasternWashington,Riveraemphasizedthattheregionis a“legaldesert,”makingthePoderLegalinitiativecrucialforcommunityeducationandassistance.The organizationbeganacampaignin2023toenhancecivilandimmigrationlegalsupportforlow-incomeLatinos, followingthereleaseoftheirfilm,“TheImmigrantResident ”
LegalclinicswillbeheldmonthlyattheirSpokaneoffice,withfundingfromvariousfoundations,includingThe InataiFoundationandWashingtonLegalFoundation.Riveranotedthatasubstantialportionofclients, approximately30%,comefromruralareas,withfamiliestravelingfromdistantcountiesforassistance
Mesahighlightedthegrowinginterestinimmigrationservicesasaresponsetothepoliticalclimatesurrounding immigrationpolicies Manyclientsarerecentarrivalsandasylumseekersneedinghelpwiththeirapplications Sheadvocatedforinvestinginlegalsupportratherthanbordermilitarization,stressingtheimportanceof comprehensiveimmigrationreform
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
NovemberisdesignatedasNationalNativeAmericanHeritageMonth,atimetohonorandcelebratetherich cultures,traditions,andhistoriesofNativeAmericans. ThismonthservesasanopportunityforallAmericansto deepentheirunderstandingoftheuniquechallengesfacedbyIndigenouscommunities,includingthe impactsofhistoricaltrauma,suchascolonizationandgenocide Establishedbyajointresolutionpassedby Congressin1990,thisobservanceacknowledgestheessentialcontributionsofNativepeoplestotheUnited Statesandtheworld,fromtheiragriculturalinnovationstotheirrolesinshapingdemocraticgovernance Eventsandeducationalinitiativesthroughoutthemonthaimtoenhanceawarenessandappreciationof Indigenousculturesandtheongoingstrugglesforrightsandrecognition.
CelebratingNativeAmericanHeritageMonthalsoinvolvesrecognizingtheresilienceandcontributionsof Indigenouspeoplesincontemporarysociety.Manyevents,suchasartexhibitions,concerts,anddiscussions, highlightthevoicesandtalentsofNativeartistsandactivists Themonthservesasareminderoftheongoing issuesfacedbyNativecommunities,includingtheMissingandMurderedIndigenousPeoplescrisisandthe needforgreaterrepresentationandrespectinallaspectsofsociety Byengagingwiththesethemes, individualsandorganizationscancontributetoamoreinclusiveandrespectfulunderstandingofNative AmericanheritageanditssignificanceinthebroadernarrativeofAmericanhistory
EWU STUDENTS CREATING WHEELCHAIR ADAPTABLE HALLOWEEN COSTUM
EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
ThisyearforHalloween,thephysicaltherapyandoccupationaltherapy studentsatEasternWashingtonUniversitywillstirupawitches'brewofcreative Halloweencostumesfortrick-or-treaterswhorelyonwheelchairsformobility
TheEWUoccupationaltherapystudentsinitiallystartedtheprojectto showcaseadaptionandinclusion,buttheprojecthasgrowninpopularityin recentyears ThroughthepartnershipwithSHC-Spokane,studentswereable togetreal-world,hands-onexperienceintheirchosenfield
Thesechildrenwillbetrick-or-treatingatRiverParkSquareonSaturday, October26 Therewillalsobeaparadetoshowofftheircostumes
Lookingforawaytogivebacktothecommunity? Theseorganizationsareagreatplacetostart!
UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY RECAP
RIVERFRONT PARK
AUGUST 17, 2024
Forthreedecades,theUnityintheCommunityfestivalhasgivenSpokaneresidentsachancetolearn aboutandappreciatethethingsthatmakeusalldifferent.Thefestivalisallaboutcelebratingdiversity, withperformancesonthemainstageandaCulturalVillagewherekidscanexploredifferentculturesand traditions It'svaluabletocometogetherasacommunitytosupporteachotherandhavesomefunwith ourfamilies
Theeventfeaturedover150booths,includingalivelyyouthareawithmorethan20boothsoffering resourcesandactivitiesforfamilies Highlightsincludedamosaic-makingcraftattheRiverParkSquare booth,familygames,facepainting,andasketchartistcreatingportraitsaskeepsakes.Asamemberof thecommitteeandservingasthechairoftheyouthareaforthethirdconsecutiveyear,ChelseaGaribay workeddiligentlytoensure residentswereawareofthisimpactfulevent Theresourcesandconnections availableatUnityintheCommunityareunmatched,makingitavitalassetforSpokaneandasourceof prideforeveryoneinvolved
NonStopLocalintroducedanengagingactivitywhereparticipantsdecoratedjigsawpuzzlepiecesthat werelaterassembledtocreatealargercommunitypuzzle.Thissymbolizedhowindividualdifferences contributetothecollectivestrengthandbeautyofourcommunity.Peopleofallages,shapes,andsizes cametogethertocelebratetheiruniqueness Ourlocaltalentmingledwiththecrowd,exchanging stories,shakinghands,andsharinghugs,reinforcingthemessagethatourcommunityisnotonlyherefor eachotherbutremainsTrulyLocalineverysense
UnityintheCommunity2024isSpokane’slargestmulticulturalevent,promotingdiversityandsocial justice.Theevent,whichoccurredonAugust17,atRiverfrontPark,featuredculturalperformances, educationalbooths,andinteractiveexperienceslikethe"CommunityPassport,"allowingattendeesto explorevariouscultures.Originallystartedin1995,theeventhasgrownsignificantlyandnowservesasa vitalplatformforcelebratinginclusivity Participantsareencouragedtoengagewiththeircommunities throughstories,photos,andsharedexperiences
Formoredetailsandtoreadtheexperiencessubmittedbyemployeesfromourdifferentcompanies,visit UnityintheCommunity2024
Articleandphotoscontributedby:MichelleNielsen,CowlesCompany;JenniferBruna,KHQ;Chelsea Garibay,CowlesRealEstate;andDrewKennedy,CowlesRealEstate
SUICIDE PREVENTION MONTH
SUICIDE PREVENTION: WE’RE HERE TO HELP
Aspartofourcommitmenttoemployeewell-being,wewanttohighlighttheimportanceofmentalhealthand theresourcesavailabletoyou.SeptemberisSuicidePreventionAwarenessMonth,andit'sacriticalreminder thatnooneshouldstrugglealone Ifyouorsomeoneyouknowisfacingemotionaldistress,pleaseknowthat helpisalwaysavailable
OurEmployeeAssistanceProgram(EAP)offersconfidentialsupport,includingcounselingandmentalhealth resources,tohelpyounavigatedifficulttimes Whetheryou'redealingwithstress,anxiety,depression,or otherpersonalchallenges,theEAPisheretoprovideguidanceandsupport Youcanreachoutatanytimefor professionalhelp,andit'scompletelyconfidential
HowtoAccess:GotoyourEAPwebsite:www EAPHelplink com
Enteryourcode:EAPNOWsearchforsuicideprevention
Calltoll-freeat:1-800-999-1077
Additionally,the988Suicide&CrisisLifelineisanationwideresourcethatprovidesfree,24/7supportfor anyoneexperiencingamentalhealthcrisis.Ifyou'refeelingoverwhelmed,oryouknowsomeonewhois,you cancallortext988toconnectwithatrainedcounselorwhocanofferimmediatesupport
Remember,reachingoutforhelpisasignofstrength.Youarenotalone,andbothourEAPandthe988Lifeline areheretoprovidethesupportyouneedforyourselfandforothers Let'slookoutforoneanotherand prioritizementalhealthtogether
SPEAK UP: SAVING LIVES THROUGH CONVERSATIONS (WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY)
AvailableonDemandStartingNow
Suicideremainsacriticalglobalissue,affectingindividualsandcommunitiesworldwide TheInternational AssociationofSuicidePreventionhasissuedacalltoactionwiththehashtag#StartTheConversation, encouragingeveryonetoengageinopendialogsaboutmentalhealthandsuicide SpeakUp:SavingLivesThroughConversations(WorldSuicidePreventionDay)onlineseminar SpeakUp:SavingLivesThroughConversations Thisonlineseminarisarecorded,on-demandeventandwas releasedonSeptember10,2024 Participants willbenefitbybeingableto Understandtheimportanceofopendialoginsuicidepreventionefforts Recognizetheimpactofconversationsonmentalhealthandsuicideprevention Learneffectivecommunicationtechniquestosupportindividualsatriskofsuicide Gaininsightintotheroleofactivelisteningandempathyinsavinglivesthroughconversation
YoudonotneedtoregisterinadvancetoattendOnlineSeminars.Seminarswillbepre-recordedand uploadedonasetdateeachmonth Youcanviewtheaudiovisualpresentationanddownloadtheaudio transcriptatthattime