Welcome to the S-B Fund Archives! To see our current and recent efforts HERE.
Northeast Community Center
Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund Supported Organization!
The Northeast Community Center Association is a neighborhood organization that strives to improve the quality of life for residents of northeast Spokane, with emphasis on social, health, economic, education and recreational needs.
The Center will serve anybody in need of our services in Spokane County, but the primary service area is West of Division, North of the Spokane River, South of Magnesium Rd., and East of Beacon Hill. This area has among the highest rates of domestic violence and child abuse in the region. The unemployment and underemployment rates are high and schools in the northeast area report 83.4% of the enrolled children in the school year 2011-12 were utilizing free and reduced lunch.
In the Center’s service area:
*Median worker income in Spokane County $27,455
The Center works to:
- Promote a community center atmosphere which honors human dignity through respect, compassion and justice.
- Assess and respond to quality of life issues.
- Empower all individuals through support, advocacy and services.
- Facilitate and support the work of service providers who are meeting identified needs in the area.
- Promote and coordinate collaboration among community members.
- Provide responsible and effective management of the Center and its resources
Quick facts about Northeast Community Center:
- 680 meals per month are provided to senior citizens through the senior nutrition program, and the Center also offers emergency food bank services.
- 2,274 coats and other clothing items were received by children and adults to keep them warm.
- Free tax assistance programs at the Center have helped families with annual incomes of less than $22,000 receive refunds that totaled more than $1.6 million over the last two years.
- 308 preschoolers attend Head Start and the Northeast Child Development Center.
- The medical and dental clinic provides services without regard to an individual’s ability to pay. In 2012 there were 8,691 medical patient encounters and 6,406 dental patient encounters. With the opening of the clinics 38 new jobs were created.
Farm Bill 2013
Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund Action Alert!
Highlights of the 608-page farm bill:
- Eliminates the food stamp program, (SNAP) which was roughly 80% of the original bill’s cost.
- Saves about $20 billion by consolidating or cutting numerous farm subsidy programs, including $5 billion paid annually to farmers and landowners whether they plant crops or not.
- Money saved would be directed into the $9 billion crop insurance program, and new subsidies would be created for peanut, cotton and rice farmers.
- Adds money to support fruit and vegetable growers. Restores insurance programs for livestock producers (expired in 2011).
- Made changes to a dairy program that sets limits to the amount of milk produced and sold in the United States.
- Repeals a provision called “permanent law” that causes farm programs to revert to 1949 price levels if a new farm bill is not passed. Congress has traditionally maintained the provision to prod lawmakers into passing a farm bill or face large increases in farm program expenditures. Without the provision, many lawmakers and farm groups fear there would be no incentive for Congress to pass a farm bill on time. The provision author said it was meant to protect farmers “from being hit with more costly regulations” by requiring additional economic and scientific analyses before a 2010 law to improve the food safety system goes into effect. Food safety advocates say this would effectively halt implementation of the law, which gives the Food and Drug Administration greater authority over food production.
- Click HERE to see the full bill.
KYRS MUSIC FEST 2013
Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund Sponsored Event!
Updated 10/29/13: Recap video of the first of many KYRS Music Fests!
Community radio lends a critical public voice and the Inland NW is so fortunate to have a dedicated and professional team at KYRS Thin Air Radio. LISTEN HERE or tune into 92.3FM or 88.1FM and we know you’ll agree.
July 13th at Glover Field
Sun-splashed and solar-powered! The KYRS Music Fest is coming to Spokane on July 13th from noon until 11PM. The northwest’s only solar-powered music festival features a great line-up of local and regional bands, Ninkasi beer garden, food court, bike corral, and much more.
Hope for Zambezi
Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund Sponsored Project!
Updated 11/10/13: All good things must come to an end while other things continue on.
Updated 8/6/13: Alex builds the coop while the students have flown it!
Gonzaga seniors were instrumental in launching this effort but as expected, they’ve moved on to their own new life adventures since graduation. Many thanks to these great students for their vision and commitment to bring critical needs to Zambezi!
Below are photos of brick kiln and molding for the chicken coop, the bricks on the coop site and the second month of food distribution. The coop should be constructed in about two months!
From Alex: “We are also well with the 50 Families of PLHIV we are feeding enjoying good health and quality of life as they take ARVs Drugs with food in their stomachs; Thanks a million times!”
Updated 7/16/13: More people are now living positively
In addition to a great update of activities, Alex provided very detailed accounting of the funds for which he was responsible. This info will be very helpful when determining future goals, needs and accomplishments.So now that the immediate need — getting food to people who need it to continue living positively — we’re on to phase 2 of the project. Alex has received another installment and as we write, they are busy building the chicken coop! Stay tuned for more updates!
Updated 6/8/13: The hope continues
Procurement is the current priority on the ground in Zambezi. It’s a laborious project with minimal internet, transportation and phones. Heck, it took lots of hoop-jumping just to get them the funds. But the funds are there and they are being put to good use.
- Men’s ward in Zambezi hospital.
In a recent email Alex said, ” … besides the drought & poor harvest that have kept food commodity prices sky rocketing, it is worrisome that our government has stubbornly removed fuel & Maize corn subsidies despite protests from Civil Society Organizations, Church Mother Bodies, and riots by Students Public Universities and other institutions of higher learning against the Policy … Prices of all (basic commodities) goods and services are uncontrollably increasing. This is also couple with HIV/AIDS Drugs Stock Outs in government hospitals the most & worst affected are People Living with HIV/AIDS and in a space time of two (2) weeks we lost seven (7) persons who are members of our Support Groups through death.”
- Lunda Chief, a Northwest Zambia leader, held a presentation to thank Erik and Hope for Zambezi for helping his people.
Yes, it’s tragic and seems overwhelming, but its working and the Food Bank is on its way. In a letter received just after our first infusion of funds Alex wrote, ” …each of the two benefiting Support Groups has selected 6 persons making a total of 12 members who form the Procurement Committee and begin buying the food stuffs for our Food Bank.”
To the many generous donors who gave, please share in the Zambia peoples’ heartfelt gratitude. As Alex wrote in a recent letter, ” … you successfully struggled to get the time to greatly contribute to Hope for Zambezi .. all for the benefit of vulnerable People with HIV/AIDS in Zambezi; you generously hosted me and, you were moved with pity and opened your hearts to make a contribution in saving the lives of my people and you were willing to share. We are immensely grateful to you and we will continue celebrating the gift of your life. … On behalf of People living with HIV/AIDS and the Orphans & Vulnerable Children in Zambezi- Zambia, my family and indeed on my own behalf I wish to say thank you very much for the support you, and your Institution rendered to us during my recent fundraising tour I undertook to your Great Nation with the help of the Hope For Zambezi.”
See! The hope really does continue!
Updated 5/17/13: Look who’s watching the hen house
Thanks to many generous givers, Erik and Alex are in Zambezi beginning work!
As anticipated, they’ve already experienced their share of “adventures” and “opportunities”. So far banks have proven the biggest obstacle but we think there’s a system now so they have access to the funds they need.
Another surprise was the rise in maize prices. As Erik wrote in an email, ” … corn prices have gone through the roof, nearly doubling in the past several months and still climbing … severe drought during their rainy season … will cut in half the amount of maize budgeted. We’ve been explaining the situation in meetings with the support groups — they are grateful but worried.”
Some other things Erik shares, “… It’s a very conservative, traditional, “proper” society. People emerge from their huts in the morning wearing suits & ties, nice dresses for their work day. Alex is still talking about [his trip to the U.S.] … Alex is still talking about the same-sex couple he met … [and] … how people have dogs for companions, and in some cases prefer them to people! I’ve been playing basketball every day with the kids here, visiting homes of people too weak to attend support groups, touring the hospital today which is usually the end of the line for people who are sick.”
And so it begins — Hope For Zambezi on Zambezi time!
We beat our goal to sustain the project for a year but as Erik mentioned, commodity prices have doubled! Donations are still being taken for this important effort on our Donate page.
Erik working with the baby chicks so they grow up big and strong.
Lizzie (one of the orphaned daughters Alex & Sarah raise) holding the *gulp* snake she removed from where the chickens are kept.
Park Tower
Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund Project!
Food, shelter, clothing. To some of us these are a given, but to many people, these basic needs cannot be met.
For many low-income, senior or disabled people living independently, finding affordable, quality and conveniently located housing is a real challenge. The Foundation is proud to own one such project in downtown Spokane. Under the expert management of Kiemle & Hagood Company, Park Tower Apartments provides conveniently located, quality, easy-maintenance living with a host of on-site services and facilities.
The Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund is committed to advancing quality housing projects in strategic locations and creative ways. The Foundation looks forward to growing our work with great community stewards like Kiemle & Hagood to broaden our region’s affordable housing options.
Park Tower is self-sustaining so no new donations go toward this project.
