June RSJ Spotlight | Mujeres in Action

Racial & Social Justice Spotlight Series

Each month, our Equity Coordinator, Lara, sits down with an organization or individual in our community to spotlight the work they do to create real and lasting change for a more equitable Spokane.

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June Spotlight

Ana Trusty, Director of Communications; Jesús Torres, Policy Advisor & Community Organizer – Mujeres in Action

Mujeres in Action (MiA) is the first organization in the Spokane region dedicated to serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence in the Latino/a communities. MiA provides culturally responsive, life-saving services and resources to Latino/a survivors and their families, as well as educating the community from a Latino/a perspective to end family violence. Their staff of 8 continues to grow to meet the already high demand for services.

Over the past year, MiA has been working with the courts and county sheriff’s department concerning language access for limited English proficiency (LEP) speakers and how it impacts a client’s access to justice. MiA has put together a very diverse coalition of organizations that serve communities for whom language access is a priority.

Since YWCA Spokane also works with domestic violence (DV) survivors, we have sent a letter of support to join MiA in asking the county to develop and implement a county-wide language access plan. Language is an essential component of any effort to improve communication, equity, and access to critical government services.

View the video below to learn more about MiA’s work.

LISTEN HERE

Learn more:

Title XI | Civil Rights Act of 1964 – Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.

[blog post] Domestic Violence & Racism | Day 11: 2020 Racial Equity & Social Justice Challenge

May 30 | Spokane County Commissioner Meeting – Spanish Testimony

June 6 | Spokane County Commissioner Meeting – Arabic Testimony

Want to testify for an upcoming commissioner meeting? Please contact Jesús Torres at jtorres@miaspokane.org. Review testimony tips and tricks here: Language access testimony tips.

YWCA Spokane’s Racial & Social Justice Learning Community

Our vision is to strive to be a consistently accurate resource for information on racial, ethnic, and cultural awareness to promote diversity, equity, and inclusivity in employment, in business practices, and in the care and services provided throughout the communities we serve.

The generative discussions during monthly meetings allow for:

• • calls to action (CTAs) campaigns
  • community-building space
  • discussions related to the work and mission of YWCA
  • think tanks & brainstorming
  • volunteer opportunities
  • workshops & webinars
  • and much more!

Join the conversation with our Facebook Group and learn more about our RSJ Learning Community at ywcaspokane.org/racialjustice.

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER SPOTLIGHTS

• JANUARY | 2023 Washington Legislative Session
• FEBRUARY | If You Could Save Just One
• MARCH | Latrice Williams
• APRIL | Tracy Poindexter-Canton
• MAY | Naghmana Sherazi

Find past RSJ Spotlights here.

If you or someone you know should have their advocacy work highlighted through our RSJ Spotlight series, please email our equity coordinator at larae@ywcaspokane.org.