Latinos En Spokane
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. 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 Workshops, Community Forums, and Cultural Events to date
2023:
June
1st: Loteria Night
3rd: Community Walk @ Kendall Yards
5th: ESL class (Shailynn Bray)
6th: ESL class
Tenants' Rights
8th: Immigration Clinic (VLP)
10th: Driving Class (Sueno Driving School)
12th: ESL class
13th: ESL class
20th: ESL class
21st: Free Legal Clinic
22nd: DMV Driving test for class participants.
23rd: DMV Driving test for class participants.
24th: El Mercadito
26th: ESL class
27th: ESL class
30th: Resource Fair (SNAP)
May (Sponsored by Golden Handle)
2nd: Tenants Rights
5th: Loteria Night
Golden Handle Anniversary Night
6th: Land Co-op meeting
7th: AANHPI Booth @ Fair
8th-12th: Free Mother’s Day gifts for kids
9th: Financial Workshop (Luzy King)
11th: Immigration Clinic (VLP)
17th: Free Legal Clinic
23rd: Land Co-op meeting
25th: ITIN
27th: El Mercadito
April
3rd: Business Clinic (Erin P)
4th: Tenants Rights (Salvador R)
7th: Loteria Night
13th: Immigration Clinic (VLP)
15th: Empoderate Mujer Women’s Conference
19th: Free Legal Clinic
22nd: Bankruptcy Clinic (VLP)
25th: Virtual - Mely’s Kitchen
27th: Resource Fair @ Roger’s High School
28th: Dominoes Night
29th: El Mercadito
March
4th: Free Tax Prep
9th: Immigration Clinic
11th: Working Families Tax Credit event @ Choo Choo Tortas
12th: Working Families Tax Credit event @ Comunidad Cristiana
15th: Free Legal Clinic
18th: Working Families Tax Credit event @ Choo Choo Tortas
Land Co-op meeting
19th: Working Families Tax Credit event @ Comunidad Cristiana
22nd: ITIN
25th: El Mercadito
27th: Business Clinic
29th: Virtual- Mely’s Kitchen
February
1st: Virtual- Mely’s Kitchen
4th: Tax Prep (Jasmin Group)
6th: Business Clinic (Alex Barrouk)
9th: Immigration Clinic (VLP)
15th: Legal Clinic (VLP)
23rd: Land Co-op meeting
25th: El Mercadito
27th: Business Clinic (Alex B)
28th: Virtual- Mely’s Kitchen
January
9th: Business Clinic (Emprendete)
12th: Immigration Clinic (VLP)
14th: ITIN
18th: Legal Clinic (VLP)
23rd: Business Clinic (Emprendete)
24th: Reparenting Ourselves
28th: El Mercadito
30th: Business Workshop (Lu Hill)
Other Past 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
-
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.
-
Tamalada : Community cuisine event with over 600 tamales Latin America 9/28/19
-
Hágase contar/2020 Census- Comunidad Cristiana 9/15/2019
-
Ethnic, Race, and Indigenous People’s Conference, Gonzaga University 9/13/2019
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
ACLU-WA Flights & Rights: Immigration issues in Spokane County 4/18/2018
-
TPS Immigration Forum: Understanding changes to TPS and Asylum 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
Publications of our work in the Spokane Community