Spokane Alliance

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. Developed 33 new volunteers for leadership positions through active participation in local campaigns, actions programs. A total of 110 volunteer leaders participated in 1 of 2 Delegate Assemblies average attendance 55. Trained 35 people from numerous different institutions at 2 Foundations of Organizing trainings. Mobilized over 60 volunteer shifts to knock on 1000 doors citywide to encourage underrepresented unlikely voters to vote in Fall 2022. Sent 1 leader to a 5-day IAF Training in Denver, CO. Trained about 40 health science students in health equity organizing over an 8-week period. This training is open to post-secondary students in medical other health science professions at WSU, UW EWU undergraduate students at Gonzaga University. Have 1 new member organization Operative Plasterers Cement Masons International Association Local 72.

CHILDCARE. The Childcare Team continued its efforts to pursue American Rescue Plan Act ARPA dollars from Spokane County after successfully obtaining allocations of ARPA funds from the City of Spokane and Spokane Valley in the prior fiscal year. In fall of 2022, 2.2 million from Spokane County was allocated towards workforce development within childcare, and 316,000 was used to fund a pilot program for the behavioral health of kids in childcare settings, which was funded from money collected through Spokane Countys Mental Health Sales Tax.

HOUSING EQUITY. We mobilized over 40 faith, union nonprofit members to attend Spokane City budget hearings in support of protecting housing levy funds for their original purpose, and supported 20 people giving testimony. Our Housing Equity Action Research Team of 13 plus volunteers focused on researching and addressing issues of housing affordability in the West Central neighborhood of the City of Spokane. The team conducted numerous research action meetings with housing experts, developers, policy makers non-profit leaders. Through this process, we identified a vacant County-owned property in West Central and have been meeting with County Commisioners to ask them to enact a state law that would allow surplus land to be used for affordable housing devleopment.