top of page

Past

IMG_8299.JPG

Present

Latinos en Spokane was founded in September 2017, by three Latino advocates from the Spokane community. Jennyfer Mesa, Misael Vences and Alberto Alberty. The intention to form a group was to connect with local Latino residents from all backgrounds and create a sense of community. We created an online space through social media to hold conversations, share information on local events, and provide information on local resources for businesses, immigration processes, community workshops, and to learn more about the Spokane community. The group was launched with 70 members, and in 2018 we grew exponentially to over 2000 members of the Latino community in the Spokane area.

Our social media space has allowed us to connect to the Latino community and gain an insight of community needs. Throughout this year we have partnered with local organizations like World Relief, Catholic Charities, Spokane Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, ACLU, local Latino businesses, and churches to provide outreach. We’ve held multiple immigration workshops on Know Your Rights, citizenship applications, scholarships, and Temporary Protective Status. In addition, we provide translations on local events and community resources. Many Latino businesses and organizations advertise their events and promotions in our group page. Moreover, our online group has become a trusted space where community members can ask for help, guidance, report BP/ICE activities and arrests, can inform of us on wage theft, and discrimination. Our group also serves as a safe space for community members to ask questions, inquire about employment opportunities, and where people can express concerns and provide recommendations. 

Present

Latinos en Spokane works to support the Latino population in their integration, civic participation, and community development. Through our community events and workshops, we work with local organizations and service providers to help support the self-sustaining and empowerment of the Latino community in Spokane.

 

Our Mission is to build capacity within Latino immigrant families and support the advancement of Latino community members, leaders, business-owners, and organizations in Spokane; to address the needs of the growing Latino population through arts, culture, inclusive community engagement, and connections to local resources;  to create physical, digital and cultural spaces to empower underrepresented community voices; and to serve as catalyst for immigrant rights, inclusive planning, and social/racial/economic/environmental justice for a more equitable Spokane County.

 

 

Latinos en Spokane Workshops, Community Forums, and Cultural Events

 

  • Preguntale al Districto Escolar/Ask the School District- 5/8/2020

  • Interview with Gabirel Munoz from Latino Civic Alliance – 5/6/2020

  • Cosechando Esperanza Food Bank, collaboration with HBPA – 4/19/2020 and 4/25/2020

  • Nuestro Bien Estar/ Our Well-Being, Lantinx Mental Health Collaboration webinar – 4/20/2020

  • Commercial Kitchen workshop – Kitchen Spokane 3/11/2020

  • Commercial Kitchen workshop- Sweet Box Kitchen 3/4/2020

  • Census Public Forum – Shadle Park High School 2/6/2020

  • Scholarship workshop by Maura Ruiz 2/25/2020

  • Posada/Christmas holiday event – 12/11/2019

  • Small Business Start Up Workshop- 11/20/2019 and 12/4/2019

  • Reforesting Little Spokane- 11/17/2019

  • FASFA Workshop – 10/30/2019

  • Hagase contar/2020 Census- St. Joseph Catholic Church 10/10/2019

  • Tamalada : Community cuisine event with over 600 tamales Latin America 9/28/19

  • Hagase contar/2020 Census- Comunidad Cristiana 9/15/2019

  • Community futbol: Drop in soccer, open to Latinos en Spokane community members 9/20/2019

  • Ethnic, Race, and Indigenous People’s Conference, Gonzaga University9/13/2019

  • Mi Tianguis de Cuentos y Canciones: Bilingual story time 9/7/2019

  • Journal of Gratitude workshop – 8/24/2019

  • Latino Youth Empowerment: Mentorship and youth identity workshop8/18/2019

  • Unity in the Community: Information booth on Census 2020 and Latinos en Spokane8/14/19

  • How to avoid immigration fraud – 7/9/2019

  • Latinx Mental Health Collaborative – Focus group with community members and Latinx mental health therapist 7/10/19

  • Homebuyers workshop – How to apply to loans and buy a home 5/22/2019

  • Scholarship Workshop – How to write scholarship essays and apply to scholarships 2/15/2019 &1/16/2019

  • Tax listening session:Understanding WA Taxes10/27/13 & 11/13/2018

  • Praxis KYRS Jennyfer Mesa & Breean Beggs on Border Patrol in Spokane 11/18/2019

  • Immigration Action Week at EWU: Latinos en Spokane- Grassroot community organizing10/18/2018

  • ACLU-WA Flights & Rights : Unlawful searches and arrest by Border Patrol at the Spokane Intermodal Station 7/23/2018

  • The Easterner: Volume 102, Issue 8 , Greyhound SearchesProvoke Immigration Concerns, Erick McCormick, Published on Nov 6, 2018

  • Know Your Rights Workshop:7/15/2018

  • ACLU-WA Flights & Rights : Immigration issues in Spokane County 4/18/2018

  • TPS Immigration Forum: Understanding changes to TPS and Assylum Process3/8/2018

  • Citizenship instructor workshop: How to support citizenship applicants 10/28/2017

 

State and Local policy support

  • Keep Washington Working Act

  • CBP in Spokane Public Schools

  • Protecting Passenger Rights For A Safer Spokane - Spokane City Ordinance C35681

 

Latinos en Spokane – 2019 Local candidate interviews in Spanish

 

City of Spokane

Ben Stuckart, Spokane City Mayoral Candidate

Cindy Wendell, Spokane City Council President

Breanne Beggs, Spokane City Council President

Naghmana Sherazi, Spokane City Council- North District

Michael Cathcart, Spokane City Council- North District

Lori Kinnear , Spokane City Council- South District

Tony Kiepe, Spokane City Council- South District

 

Spokane Valley

Michelle Rasmussen , Spokane Valley City Council

Lance Gurel , Spokane Valley City Council

Bo Tucker , Spokane Valley City Council

 

Spokane School District 81

Nikki O. Lockwood , Spokane Public Schools Board

Jenny Slagle, Spokane Public Schools Board

Kellilin “Kelli” MacFarlane , Spokane Public Schools Board

Kevin Morrison, Spokane Public Schools Board

 

Publications of our work in the Spokane Community

The Spokes-man Review, “Area groups come to aid of immigrant families left out of federal stimulus program. April 29, 2020.

The Inlander, “As the student population grows more diverse, Spokane teachers are overwhelmingly white. School leaders want to change that”. November 27, 2019.

The Spokanes-man Review, ‘Who else is helping?’: Latinos en Spokane works for safe, thriving community. July 14, 2019.

 

The Intercept, “Spokane vs. the Border Patrol: How Immigration Agents Stake Out a City Bus Station”. December 10, 2019

 

The Daily World, “Washington bill would limit state assistance to federal immigration enforcement”. February 13, 2019

 

ACLU-WA, “New law requires federal agents to get a warrant to conduct searches in the boarding areas of the city’s bus station”. October 23, 2018

bottom of page