I have never Interviewed the owners but I have visited 2 to 3 times per week for many years. This is where the First Thursday Coffee group meets. I would
not like to put words in the owner’s mouth. From what I have seen and felt these local people support community building. I like the idea of unsolicited
public support. I just want to tell my friends about good folks in our community.
907 W Boone, Suite B Spokane WA 509.838.4999 AvenueWestGallery.org
February 2017 Hours: Tues – Fri 11 am – 6 pm Sat 11 am – 5 pm
Protester’s sign read stand up! speak up! and these protesters did it this cold Spokane winter day. Some who were lucky made it to inside halls standing and sitting in the warmth and could hear the messages from the Ballroom. Others filled sidewalks for blocks east and west and entertained each other with songs, music, chatter. The Davenport Hotel Coffee and Bar was a hit place to keep warm.
Marchers continued on to the Community Building where they shared chili, soup, music, poetry, speakers, a movie, action tables, creative activities for kids and adults, and began networking to take action.
Something You Can Do Personal Actions You Can Take
Martin Luther King Day Celebration 2017
OK, we had our celebration with speeches and the march.
Now Let’s Commit Ourselves
Since 2008 news and social media have done nothing but complain about what politicians did and did not do. If they have not accomplished goals and objectives it is no one’s fault but your own. If you are not satisfied with the 2016 election I suggest that you step up and do something about it.
From the list below, choose the issue you feel needs action, list the issue and the name of an organization that works on that issue in the comment box below and fill in your contact information. If you do not know of an organization, volunteer to start such an organization. I will pass your contact information on to the appropriated organization. Also I will collate the information everyone contributes and post the results at this site 4comculture.com. To stay aware of current posts at this site in the right hand side bar SUBSCRIBE to receive an email notifying you of new posts (a couple per week).
What Will You Commit To
Protest (Civic Disobedience, Non-violent direct action, Go to jail), Government service, Social justice, Political action, Political parties (Democratic, Republican, Independent, Progressive), Employment (Jobs and training), Housing, Healthy food production, Education (K12, College), Environment (Climate change etc.) Community organizing, Social justice, Community service, Social services, Health and safety, Drug abuse prevention, Community security, Reproductive rights, Hunger, Homelessness, Race relations, Human relations, Art and culture, International affairs, Belief systems (Humanism etc.).
Learn from others in other countries. Keep up your friendships abroad, or make new friends abroad. The present difficulties here are an element of a general trend. And no country is going to find a solution by itself. Make sure you and your family have passports.
I spent this summer renewing a relationship with a friend from Japan, staying with his family, and getting to know his country. You can look forward to seeing more photographs from Japan on the Gallery page.
Living in the Inland Empire of the Pacific Northwest we hear President Obama talk about hope and we see glimpses through the national media and online communications that a change is coming but it has not yet hit our corner of the northwest. The Democratic Party, progressives, the Socialist Alternative and churches have little to show in the way of diversity other than tokenism. Seeing the Republican Party’s convention and their choice of Donald Trump as presidential candidate makes one lose hope in the future of America.
The 2016 Democratic Convention showed what democracy can be when color is added. Taking these pictures inspired this visual communicator and I hope looking at them will inspire you too.
Follow How I See It: the 2016 Presidential Election. Visit the page to view more pictures and share your responses.
I dedicate these images to Anderson Stoakley Lloyd, my 8 year old grandson. I want to thank Diane Lloyd, my wife, my support and technical assistant; Sandy Williams and the Black Lens News; Pastor Percy Happy Watkins and New Hope Baptist Church; and Philadelphia cousins Ramona Rousseau-Reid and Joseph Reid.
Part one was Black Lives Matter / All Lives Matter.
Part two was Police Lives Matter.
Part three was Spokane showed how to handle a person when he tries to disrupt your non-violent protest/vigil/rally.
Don’t let anyone hijack your non-violent protest.
