The Spovangelist

Our community communication outlets are all over this one. As you probably already know if you are reading RiverSpeak, the Arts Commission newsletter, Jon Snyder’s blog, or listening to KYRS, the City and the Art and Wastewater Departments have sponsored a design competition for people 18 and under that will resurface the way we look [...]

There once was a rag tag group of young folks that sought to carve out a bit of quality time to share updates about their mutual interests. They often felt overwhelmed with obligations to multiple jobs, transitions between living situations, the impossible number of worthwhile community events that take place in Spokane on any given [...]

I detested the history of local discrimination that prompted the creation of the Spokane Human Rights Commission way back in the day. I was disheartened to learn of the Mayoral smackdown that occurred within the last decade when certain commissioners were too outspoken on the issue of gay rights. I was discouraged upon volunteering for [...]

Since 1985 Crosswalk has provided a safe place devoted to “breaking the cycle of youth homelessness”. Over time a suite of services have co-located in their facility, including an Early Head Start (EHS) program of Volunteers of America that keeps young parents in school by providing daytime care for their children. Prior to this arrangement, [...]

Just one year ago a handful of Spovangelites cemented my resolve to start a (mostly) young women’s group called the Spokane Shrinking Violet Society. It is startling what has grown in its place since that time. Hundreds of participants, dozens of lifelong friendships, and nearly 80 events later, we have firmly established what we set [...]

Recession be damned. Young entrepreneurs in Spokane are taking the opportunity to switch gears, plan smart, and open up the small businesses they’ve always dreamed of running.  And why not? Retail space is plentiful and relatively affordable in downtown Spokane, offering a variety of price points that make starting a new business a bit less [...]

Collectives, whether they identify as such or not, are the lifeblood of a vibrant scene. While local music has reshuffled in preparation for another boom, local art has grown steadily to include more and more opportunities for young artists to showcase their work and build a following. The next four months are packed with more [...]

When I worked as an annual fund caller at my alma mater, I dreaded asking people close to my own age for their money. Every once in a while a recent grad would get incredulous. “Are you kidding me? I already owe that school over $70,000, and you’re asking for more?” But what is an [...]

This year Trick or Vote went down in Spokane and enjoyed a respectable showing for such an unconventional first time event. Despite the descriptive title,  most people’s first reaction is “Trick or what?” The idea of adding political engagement into a holiday festivity is just not intuitive for most. Once people grasp the novelty and [...]

Today is worldwide Blog Action Day, an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance. Blog Action Day 2009 will be one of the largest-ever social change events on the [...]