Spokane Alliance

Covenant United Methodist Church is a dues-paying member of the Spokane Alliance, a broad-based organization of local institutions representing faith-based, labor and civic organizations.

Primary Goals

The Spokane Alliance is a countywide organization of diverse religious institutions, education associations, unions and other interested groups representing over 30,000 local residents. It is driven by the belief that these Mediating Institutions must be strong because they are the cornerstones of a vibrant democratic society and hold the key to mending and reweaving the social fabric essential for strong families, healthy communities and a just world. The Alliance, therefore, has two primary goals:

1.    To help strengthen each member organization. This involves fostering organizational cultures that are Relational, Action-Oriented ~ Reflective / Learning.

2.    To serve as a vehicle for member groups to act in the public, arena with sufficient power for justice and the common good.

Background & Purpose

The Spokane Alliance was launched as a public organization in May 2002 with thirty-six dues-paying Alliance leaders are continuing to recruit new members plan to reach over 50 participating institutions representing cultural, religious, racial, economic and geographical diversity of the county.

The Alliance’s first “Agenda for the Common Good” was formed through conversations with nearly 1,000 people from member institutions. Over 100 people currently participate in Research-Action Teams that develop concrete action proposals in the following areas:

•    Sustainable Jobs

•    Youth & Education

•    Health Care & Drug Costs

•    Diversity & Human Rights

Accomplishments Of The Spokane Alliance

To date the Spokane Alliance has:

Convinced the Bonneville Power Administration to include contractual incentives in their $1.5 billion power line upgrade project that rewards contractors for local hiring

Marshaled resources to create a community development corporation, Stewardship Works, that will retro-fit non-profit institution build with energy efficient modifications

Mounted a campaign for passage of state of to lower prescription drug costs, bring health coverage to employees previously uninsured and minimize cuts in the State Basic Health Plan.

Engaged over 150 people in the Stand Up & Charge walk, canvassing of 5 lower income neighborhoods across Spokane that resulted in: 81 people registered or re-registered 287 people pursuing unclaimed Earned Income Tax Credits; and, 331 uninsured or people are pursuing health coverage for themselves and their families

Organized 3 “Strangers to Neighbors” events that have brought together members of the majority culture with Japanese-American, Muslims and members of the disabled community.

The Spokane Alliance is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization directed by a team of leaders drawn from its member institutions and served by a professional organizing staff. The current Covenant Alliance Core Team co-chairs are Twila Slind and Tom Robinson.

Members

A.F.S.C.M.E. Local 270, Amalgamated Transit Local 1015, Building & Const. Trades Council, Cement Masons & Plasters Local 72, Centenary United Methodist Church, Central Baptist Church, Central United Methodist Church, CWA Local 7818, Covenant United Methodist Church, Eastern Washington Association for the Education of Young Children, HERE Local 8, Highland Park United Methodist Church, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, IBEW Local 73, Iron Workers Local 14, Kateri NW Ministry Institute, Laborers Local 238, Liberty Park United Methodist Church, Mead United Methodist Church, Operating Engineers Local 370, SEIU Local 1199, Sheet Metal Workers Local 66, Sheridan Elementary PTA, Spokane Education Association, St. Aloysius Catholic Church, St. Ann’s Catholic Church, St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Colbert, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, United Steelworkers Local 329, United Steelworkers Local 338, UFCW Local 1439, Veradale United Church of Christ, VOICES. WEA Eastern Washington, Westminster United Church of Christ.

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