Founding Assembly a Huge Success

Over 1200 leaders from 80 institutions gathered at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center on Sunday, June 1 for the Founding Assembly. The following Sunday, Pastor Kim Latterell of Creator Lutheran Church in Lake Tapps shared with his congregation: “I think as a faith community Creator is a great, growing, faithful church. But last Sunday I got a glimpse of what Jesus thinks church should be like: A congregation of thousands who breathed in and out the gift of mercy, the gift of solidarity - the gift of loving neighbors not just by compassion but through change.”

Top representatives from the labor, education, Jewish, Protestant, and Catholic traditions laid the foundation for the Assembly with powerful interpretations of how this work is grounded in the values and history of their institutions. In a procession up to the stage, leaders from over 45 institutions enthusiastically voted to found the Alliance; another 38 institutions participated as observers.

Six storytellers from Spokane and Sound Alliance then seized the stage with moving testimonies about the pressures they face regarding Health Care, Education, Sustainable Jobs & Environment, Housing, and Immigration & Civil Rights; co-chairs subsequently presented the visions set forth by the Research-Action Teams for these 5 issues.

Negotiations:

Governor Chris Gregoire congratulated and formally recognized the Sound Alliance.

Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown committed to meet with Alliance leaders by August 1 to develop a strategy for funding pilot projects of residential and small-commercial energy retrofits.

Speaker of the House Frank Chopp committed to arrange meetings by September 1 with CEOs of key corporations in Washington to expand the business community’s commitment to the health care debate.

These negotiations were preceded by the signing of an agreement between Bethel Public Schools and the Washington Sheet Metal Joint Apprenticeship Training Council to provide direct entry into apprenticeships for Bethel high school students.

Congratulations to all the leaders who have seen this through from the beginning!

Media Team Wins Coverage in Major News Outlets

Click on name of publication below to read article.

Tacoma News Tribune

Seattle Times

Seattle PI

Organization-Building Continues through Summer

Observing institutions are encouraged to send a team to the Cluster Orientations and Local Leadership Institutes (check website soon for dates & location) and begin a small-scale Listening / Solidarity Campaign that will build a Core Team and move forward the internal membership decision-making process. Member institutions are encouraged to do further Listening / Solidarity Campaigns, expand their Core Teams, and invite their members to get involved with one of the five Research-Action Teams.

Upcoming Events

CLUSTER ORIENTATIONS:

Pierce: Tuesday, June 17, 7:00-8:30pm
    Soundview UniServ Council, 6132 Motor Ave SW W-1 - Lakewood
Seattle: Tuesday, June 24, 7:00-8:30pm
    University Unitarian Church, 6556 35th Ave NE - Seattle
South King: Tuesday, June 24, 7:00-8:30pm
    St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 30525 8th Ave S - Federal Way
Thurston: Wednesday, July 9, 6:00-8:00pm
    St. Michael Catholic Church, 1021 Boundary St SE - Olympia
 
RESEARCH-ACTION TEAMS (all at 649 Strander Blvd, Bldg E, Suite B – Tukwila):

Immigration & Civil Rights: Friday, June 20, 5:30-7:30pm
Housing: Monday, July 7, 7:00-8:30pm
Education: Tuesday, July 8, 7:00-9:00pm
Health Care: Wednesday, July 9, 7-9pm
Sustainable Jobs & Environment: Thursday, July 10, 7:00-9:00pm

For more information, call (206) 575-2252.