Search The Fig Tree site for stories of people and communities making a difference in the Inland Northwest:

December 2009

Human rights integrate into lives in the region through the Human Rights Education Institute (HREI)

Family and church model sustainable options with commitment to "eat local" and host farmer's market.

Church closing gives pause for reflecting on ministry, lives,and service in community

NAACP banquet looked like the racial diversity that the organization's founders intended 100 years ago.

Celtic Christianity delights in nature and the sacred found everywhere, especially in the ordinary moments.

Calvary Soup Kitchen will feed homeless on Saturdays in Calvary Baptist Church's parsonage.

Interfaith Hospitality Network doubles its capacity to serve homeless guests in churches with addition of three units.

Women reach out locally and globally with quilts and clothing in ministry of Central Lutheran Church, Spokane.

Blue Button employs teens to silk- screen shirts and at same time teach job skills in Hillyard neighborhood.

Mobile food distributions help foodbank target pockets of poverty in eastern Washington and North Idaho.

Developer, founder of Community Frameworks, considers housng the foundation of healthy communities

Downtown church serves hot soupunder the freeway to homeless people from rolling carts on Sunday.

IWW Free Speech re-enactment stirsawareness of Spokane's past involvement in progressive issues.

November 2009

Girl Scouts "Uniquely Me" program challenges media images for girls in t he Inland Northwest.

Freeway sparks new mission for Bethany Presbyterian Church as they move to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

Ganesh Himal celebrates 25th year and helps start a village clinic in Baseri Dhading, Nepal.

Healing, prayer and community serve members with cancer at St. Andrews Episcopal Church.

Riverside extension will be named for Martin Luther King, Jr. due to hard work by Ivan Bush and Happy Watkins.

As a Christian Peacemaking Team delegate, Jesse Davis, spent two weeks in the Holy Land.

Shoes and socks ministry by Riverview Christian Center provides for low income Spokane children.

Cheney Emmanuel Lutheran Church uses barbed wireto raise funds through art contest and sale at bazaar.

October 2009

GU Institute for Action Against Hate honor local Holocaust survivor and educator for years of work in the region. . .

Deer Park church's name, Open Door' reflects its early years of leaving its door unlocked for people passing through.

Cheney school opens a Kids Cafe that provides healthful food to children in after-school program. . . .

Collaboration of area Lutheran churches led to merger to form All Saints Lutheran Church.

GOAL Project helps empower women leaving prison in Medical Lake and give them hope . .

Parent and life-skills educator Susie Weller applies four-brain theory to families, churches

Liz Moore's activism for peace began while a student in Deer Park when she volunteered with the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane

September 2009

	Human connections enrich lives. Oscar Haupt connects people in Chile, his homeland, and Spokane.
	Coaching, Sunday school, flex time help prevent substance abuse says Linda Thompson of the GSSACPC.
	Rebuilding gives Nez Perce church new energy, and life after fire destroys church on Christmas Eve, 2008.
	Movement in sacred dance expresses meaning of prayers, and scripture for Jolie Monasterio and Revelations group.
	Psychologist-minister organizes opportunities for faiths to live in peace for International Day of Peace
Feature	The Washington Association of Churches Faith Advocacy Network joined a conference call on health care
	Mother of young woman in mission seizes chance to undo stereotypes while daughter served in Colombia with Episcopal Church.
	YWCA turns its clothing bank from plain room to boutique atmosphere in new building
	Unity in the Community celebrates region’s diverse cultures in Riverfront Park in August.
Editorial	We forget that the ‘public’ is us and about real people’s experiences
Editorial	Health care, education, jobs and fair wages benefit society

June 2009

	Couple counteracts cultural losses. Maria Cuc and Felipe Gonzales work to preserve indigenous traditions.
	Church camps empower youth. Area camp managers expect scholarships and power of experience to keep numbers up.
	Mexican farmers learn techniques through a cross-border apple project supported by Catholic Relief Services/Mexico (CRS)
	Orchard practices servant leadership, finding that it enhances their business practices and engages them in ministry.
	Bishop calls for respect, dialogue among Christians, Jews and Muslims, following visit to the Holy Land this year.
	Vacation Bible schools serves West Central neighborhood. Youth from Episcopal Diocese provide leadership.
	Jubilate! celebrates 30th season of offering retreat and celebration of worship and the arts.
	83-year-old woman visits South Asia to live among buffalo herders in a small, primitive hut, to express her love and solidarity.
	Restaurant offers hospitality to poor serving women and children restaurant style and offering nutrition education.
Feature	Servant leadership is part of Hoopfest as well as it being a successful 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Spokane
Editorial	Economic downturns may bring spiritual upturn. Area faith advocates concerned about cuts, poor bearing brunt.
Editorial	Children's song calls for recognizing 'enough.' The repetition can be helpful for adults, too.

May 2009

	Couple nudges world. Rusty and Nancy Nelson retire but will continue commitment to pursue peace and justice.
	Volunteers of America persists in serving homeless people despite loss of thrift store and funding it provides.
	Clergy learn of veterans' needs Mike Ogle of Spokane Vets Center informs pastors of tools to help vets and families.
	Yom HaShaoh candles lit as reminders for people to prevent future genocide. Mary Stamp lights candle for rescuers.
	Sister church ties St. Aloysius members with people and their stories of suffering and faithfulness in El Salvador.
	Holy Temple Church of God in Christ repairs roof, damaged by snow, with funds from members and other churches.
	Rick Melin reflects on the impact of technology on churches and on the need to develop church leaders for today.
	Whitworth professor links cultures. Moses Pulei connects African and American pastors and students.
	Second Harvest expects food donations to keep up with the rising need during the economic downturn.
Editorial	The Fig Tree celebrates 25 years recognizing that it has emerged as a model of peace journalism.

April 2009

	Faith and Environment Network inspires faith community to care for creation and promote ecology.
	Office for Rural and Farm Worker Housing in Yakima addresses stereotypes, policies to develop affordable rural housing.
	Holy Names associate stirsawareness of spirituality and water issues. Sally Duffy works through Sacred Space in Spokane.
	Miriam Abramowitz-Freszt recalls memories of the Holocaust as a reminder of how some people saved her life.
	Counselor Marian Beaumier invites community support and accountability to community as part of healing.
	Linda Crowe tells about how food, smiles, buildings and outreach speak of a church's welcome to people.
	Food is integral to University of Idaho Campus Christian Center's ministry to students in Moscow, Idaho.
	Father Dean Brackley, SJ, believes global solidarity invites pilgrims to discern their vocational calls.
News	New building expands New Hope Center.
News	Tri Cities churches join in ShareFest.
Editorial	Newspapers may benefit from becoming nonprofit corporations, like The Fig Tree.
Editorial	Careful Word choices create more trust.

March 2009

	Learning English at Barton School opens doors for immigrants, refugees and the volunteer tutors who teach them.
	Immigrant teacher understands needs of students. Wardé Bayyuk grew up in Lebanon and taught in Syria.
	Teaching English engagestutors in lives of immigrants and refugees at Country Homes Christian Adult Language School.
	Religious leaders challenge state leaders as they develop budget and decide policies in the 2009 legislative session.
	Walking and praying through West Central Spokane opens eyes of church and community members.
	Colfax churches join together in community worship as they prepare for common mission in Colfax.
	District Methodist leader matches pastors leadership skills with congregations to facilitate mission outside the walls.
	Orthodox youth minister identifies with the struggles and questions of youth. Kevin Scherer heads national youth ministry.
Editorial	Economically challenging times call for churches to be churches, serving their congregations and communities.
Editorial	People deserve recognition when they are able to restore trust.

February 2009

	Martin Luther King Rally and March draw record crowd to celebrate dream and African American President.
	Spokane Islamic Center includes about 1,000 Muslims from many cultural and national backgrounds.
	Spokane Alliance Assembly promotesgreen jobs, green building and energy efficient retrofits.
	Elder Jimmy Pierce challenges people to recognize that these times may be the time they are called to act for justice.
	Rockwood chaplain listens to stories of lives of people living in the retirement community and shares her insights.
	Medical team seeks to rebuild medical system in Rwanda years after 1994 genocide, said Adie Goldberg.
	Bob Peeler visits people on streetsthrough his work with the Spokane Neighborhood Action Program.
	Mission Outreach Center responds to emergency needs of low-income people who come for food, clothes and assistance.
Editorial	How and what we choose to do in our time makes all the difference. - Steve Blewett - Fig Tree Board
Editorial	We will suffer less if we share our wealth in money, goods and love.

January 2009

	Yvonne Morton advances human rights motivated by her Hispanic and French heritages.
	Listening to colleagues at Lambeth brought more unity that legislating, said Bishop Jim Waggoner and Gloria Waggoner
	Life mentors inspire Wallace Williamsto a life of mentoring children and youth through work with schools and WSU.
	Metaline Falls pastor, mayor and theatre director, the Rev. Tara Leininger, responds in three roles to mine shutting down.
	Energy consumption issues permeate Juliet Sinisterra's work at Community Minded Enterprises and her personal life.
	Cross-cultural exchange in Romania with Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ stretches Barb Borgen's faith
Feature	As needs rise with economy in flux, Our Place Outreach Center donors keep up with the needs.
Editorial	In economic downturns and upturns we can care and share. Mary Stamp, Editor