2020 WOA Community Enhancement Award Honoree

Bonnie Bush

2020 Women of Achievement Honoree

~ Community Ehhancement Award ~

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Congratulations Bonnie!

Thank You For Living Out YWCA Spokane’s Mission

In her 39 years of service to Spokane County, Bonnie Bush has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of marginalized youth. As the Juvenile Court Administrator, Bonnie brought innovative, proactive, inclusive, and positive change to the juvenile justice system. Her aspirations were twofold: preventing youth from entering the court system in the first place and building a more equitable system overall.

Bonnie’s career with the Juvenile Court began in the 1970s, and by 2004 she became the first female Director of Spokane County Juvenile Court. She soon implemented the eight core strategies of the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative, which helped reduce the use of secure detention by 50% and promoted community alternatives instead. She also became a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory and received a grant for a Racial and Ethnic Disparities Site Coordinator, which brought diversity and implicit bias training to Juvenile Court.

In 2008, Bonnie partnered with the West Valley School District and wrote and received a grant to organize Community Truancy Boards. This model helped interrupt the school to prison pipeline by focusing on early and strategic intervention, working to prevent youth from entering the court system. It was so successful that Community Truancy Boards are now legislatively required in most Washington school districts.

In 2015, she partnered with Spokane Public Schools (SPS) and co-wrote a Washington Partnership Council grant, which led to a team from Spokane competing in Georgetown University’s Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities Certificate Program, with the Juvenile Court participating in two Georgetown University Capstone Projects. In 2016, in collaboration with the Spokane Police Department, Child Welfare Services, and SPS, the Capstone team launched Project READY (Reducing Exclusionary Actions and Disparities for Youth) to reduce schools’ reliance on exclusionary discipline actions and address inequitable treatment of minority students. In 2017, another Capstone team entitled Supporting LGBTQ Youth implemented elements of the Center for Children and Youth Justice Protocol for Safe and Affirming Care. This project helped implement more inclusive policies and procedures in Juvenile Court.

Bonnie represents character, strength, and grace. Her kindness, humor, and creative ingenuity are staples of her career. All of those who had the privilege of working closely with Bonnie say they were professionally and personally inspired by her devotion to our community and youth. One of Bonnie’s mentees, Nicole Jenkins-Rosenkrantz (2020 Carl Maxey Racial and Social Justice Award Honoree) noted how Bonnie taught her “how to lead in strength and confidence while laughing at awkward situations.” Bonnie utilizes her voice and stays true to her personal doctrine, teaching others—like Nicole—to do the same.

A week before retiring, in August of 2018, the Board of County Commissioners of Spokane County honored Bonnie for her 39 years of service to Spokane County. Over her career, Bonnie has created and adapted programs to meet the needs of our at-risk youth. Through all of the pushback and roadblocks that come with system reform, Bonnie remains dedicated and passionate about improving Juvenile Court.

Bonnie has been an influential leader and an agent of change. She is truly deserving of this recognition as her life’s work has been to enhance our community. YWCA Spokane is honored to present Bonnie Bush with the 2020 Women of Achievement award for Community Enhancement.

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YWCA’s New ONE MISSION CAMPAIGN

A two month celebration of those who live out YWCA’s mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.

This campaign will honor our 2020 Women of Achievement award winners and invite the community to take YWCA’s Learn & Give challenge focused on inspiring change during Domestic Violence Action Month.

September 1st through October 31st, 2020, YWCA’s ONE MISSION campaign will serve to celebrate women leaders in our community, raise awareness about the compounded experiences of domestic violence survivors, and look to raise $275,000. Proceeds raised support YWCA Spokane’s services for domestic violence victims and their children, including emergency shelter, counseling, legal services, job readiness, child care, and Pre-K programs for low income children and their families.

Please join us as we celebrate Bonnie and the other 2020 award honorees through this new campaign. 

Learn More

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Donate in Honor of Our Women of Achievement Award Honorees

Consider making a donation in honor of the outstanding women we acknowledge at this inspiring celebration. As our biggest, most critical fundraiser of the year, the Women of Achievement Awards benefit our programs and services directly, allowing our reach to grow further and our mission to be realized. Simply put, we cannot do this work without you!

DONATE TODAY

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About YWCA Spokane

For 117 years, YWCA Spokane has been helping women and children overcome social, economic, and personal barriers in order to accomplish their goals and achieve healthier and more fulfilling lives. Today, areas of focus include supporting victims of intimate partner domestic violence, promoting early childhood education, and confronting racial and social justice issues that negatively impact our clients and our community.

In 2019, YWCA served over 17,000 women, children, and families. Services include a continuum of wrap-around support: 24-hour Helpline and Safe Shelter, Counseling Center, Mental Health Services, Child Advocacy, Civil Legal Assistance, Legal Advocacy, and Economic Empowerment Advocacy. YWCA’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) provides 3- and 4-year-old children with the social and learning skills necessary for successful entry into kindergarten.

By working at the intersections of inequality, poverty, and domestic violence, YWCA Spokane is able to disrupt longstanding societal patterns of trauma. To learn more, take a look at our 2019 annual impact report.

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THANK YOU TO OUR DEEPLY VALUED 2020 Campaign SPONSORS!

This awards celebration would not be possible without the incredible support of our 2020 sponsors. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities contact Dana Morris Lee, YWCA Spokane Chief Philanthropy Officer, at danam@ywcaspokane.org or call 509-742-0111.

SIGNATURE SPONSOR

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KEYNOTE SPONSOR

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HONOREE SPONSOR

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2020 Mission Partner

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VIDEO PRODUCTION SPONSOR

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Innovation SPONSOR

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CHAMPION SPONSOR

 

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TRAILBLAZER SPONSORS

 

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PIONEER SPONSORS

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Corporate Sponsors

Columbia Bank

Global Credit Union

The Spokesman-Review

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To learn more about sponsorship opportunities contact Dana Morris Lee, YWCA Spokane Chief Philanthropy Officer, at danam@ywcaspokane.org or call 509-742-0111.