FāVS News is excited to present “Uniting the Inland Northwest,” a free community gathering focused on bridging regional divides, April 27 at the Montvale Event Center, 1019 W. 1st Ave. in downtown Spokane.
Itohan Idumwonyi, of the Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau, and a Gonzaga University professor, will deliver the keynote address. She’ll discuss Ubuntu philosophy.
“Ubuntu emphasizes community building, a way to re-approach our relationships so we can break the artificial borders that separate us and look out for one another,” she wrote, “directing one’s own humanity to others helps us navigate beyond superficial solutions to rethink, adapt, and foster human interconnectedness.”
The event will feature six breakout sessions addressing regional issues. (Note the panels are still being finalized.)
Uniting the Inland Northwest Breakout Sessions
- Walking in Their Shoes: Understanding Homelessness in Our Community
- Confirmed for this panel so far are representatives from Transitions and Spokane Area Jewish Family Services
- Understanding LGBTQ+ Faith Experiences
- Confirmed for this panel so far is Professor Traci Gillig of the Washington State LGBTQ Survey
- Interfaith Dialogue in Polarized Times
- Confirmed for this panel so are representatives from the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Faith Leaders and Leaders of Conscience of Eastern Washington and North Idaho and Sravasti Abbey, moderated by Naghmana Sherazi, Pro-Equity Consultant
Office of Equity in the Office of the Governor
- Confirmed for this panel so are representatives from the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Faith Leaders and Leaders of Conscience of Eastern Washington and North Idaho and Sravasti Abbey, moderated by Naghmana Sherazi, Pro-Equity Consultant
- How Food and Faith Unite Communities
- Confirmed for this panel so are representatives from Feast World Kitchen, and food writer Adriana Janovich (moderator)
- The Next Generation’s Vision for Unity
- Confirmed for this panel so are representatives from Odyssey Youth Movement and River City Youth Ops
- Building Bridges with Refugee and Immigrant Neighbors
- Confirmed for this panel so are representatives from Thrive International and Refugee and Immigrant Connections Spokane.
Doors open for the Uniting the Inland Northwest event at 3:30 p.m. with the keynote beginning at 4 p.m. Food will be available for purchase on site from The Steam Plant. The event will conclude around 7 p.m.
The program builds on FāVS News’ previous Good Neighbor Conference at Gonzaga, which attracted hundreds of participants from various faith backgrounds.
FāVS is grateful for support from the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane and Humanities Washington in helping fund Uniting the Inland Northwest. We are still seeking additional community sponsors to support marketing and event costs. To become a sponsor, contact Bob Stout at [email protected]
