A conference will be held at Gonzaga University in early December to provide citizens with the tools to fight bigotry and hate in the Spokane community.
The Good Neighbor Conference: Addressing Hate through Advocacy and Action will be held Saturday, Dec. 3 from 6-9 p.m. in Jepson Center, E. 330 DeSmet Avenue in Spokane.
The event is open to all, though attendees are asked to register in advance.
Conference organizers include SpokaneFāVS, the Spokane Interfaith Council, Gonzaga’s Institute for Hate Studies and the Spokane County Human Rights Task Force. Attendees will benefit from a fast-paced series of discussions, workshops and seminars designed to equip community members with tools to be better advocates for themselves and their neighbors.
The event is free and open to all, though a $20 suggested donation is requested at the door. Proceeds collected will go directly to the Gonzaga Institute of Hate Studies Eva Lassman Student Research Award, the Spokane Interfaith Council’s Meet the Neighbors Campaign and SpokaneFAVS operations.
For more information, please contact Skyler Oberst at [email protected] or 360-989-8217.
Good Neighbor Conference: Addressing Hate through Advocacy & Action Tentative Schedule
Dec. 3, 6-9 p.m.
Gonzaga University, Jepson Center, 330 DeSmet Avenue, Spokane
Preliminary Schedule and Speakers
Coffee/Tea Service in Lobby donated by Umpqua Bank
6:00 PM Welcome and Opening Wolfe Auditorium
Spokane Mayor David Condon
Skyler Oberst, Spokane Interfaith Council
Dean Lynch, Spokane County Task Force on Human Rights
Tracy Simmons, Spokane FAVS/Gonzaga University Integrated Media
Kristine Hoover, Gonzaga Institute of Hate Studies
6:20 p.m. Session One
- Hate Crimes Panel Discussion: Reporting Strategies: Chief Meidl, Spokane Police Department, Center for Justice, Tony Stewart of Kootenai County Task Force Fore on Human Relations. Wolfe Auditorium
- Social Media & Addressing Hate Online: Tracy Simmons, Spokane FāVS Classroom 122
- LGBTQ Community & Advocacy: Michael Jepson, INBA. Classroom 123
- Dear World Project. Classroom 124
7 p.m. Session Two
- Spokane Rising Panel Discussion: Mark Richard, Downtown Spokane Partnership, Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart, John Lemus, Spokane Human Rights Commission? Wolfe Auditorium
- Addressing Anti-Semitism: ADL Pacific Northwest Region Regional Director. Classroom 122
- Your Muslim Neighbor & Addressing Islamophobia: Arsalan Bukhari, CAIR-WA, Brian Siebeking, Gonzaga University. Classroom 123
- Cultural Competency: Tara Dowd, D&F Consulting. Classroom 124
8 p.m. Session Three
- Gracism Panel Discussion: Pastor Joe Wittwer of LifeCenter Church; Phil Tyler, President of NAACP Spokane; Rodney Mcauley, Spokane Youth for Christ. Wolfe Auditorium
- Beside the Golden Door: Immigrants in America: Gloria Ochoa, Multicultural Affairs Director for City of Spokane. Classroom 122
- Sikhs in America: Gurwin Ahuja, CoFounder, National Sikh Coalition OR The Threats We Face: Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich. Classroom 123
- Courageous Conversations & Listening to Respond: Tracy Simmons, Spokane FAVs & Kem Gambrel, Gonzaga University. Classroom 124
8:40 p.m. Closing Wolfe Auditorium
- What’s Next? Announcements and SpokaneFAVs/Spokane Interfaith Council Video
9 p.m. Adjournment
Atrium Displays
- Neighbors Creed (Organization/Individual Pledge Signings)
- Dear World Project
- Chase Youth Commission
- One Peace Many Paths
Organized By
Spokane Interfaith Council, Gonzaga Institute for Hate Studies, Spokane FAVs, Spokane County Task Force on Human Rights
Participating Groups / Supporters
Anti-Defamation League, Pacific Northwest Region
CAIR-WA
Center for Justice
Chase Youth Commission
City of Spokane Multicultural Affairs
D&F Consulting
Dear World Project
Downtown Spokane Partnership
Greater Spokane Association of Evangelicals
Inland Northwest Business Association [INBA]
Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations
LifeCenter Church
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Spokane [NAACP]
National Sikh Coalition
One Peace Many Paths
Peace and Justice Action League – Spokane
Spokane City Council
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Spokane Human Rights Commission
Spokane Police Department