There are millions of Indigenous peoples worldwide, and amongst those numbers are thousands of different cultures that make each and every tribe unique. Before we learn how to celebrate Indigenous heritage, let’s begin with the term Indigenous and its meaning. According to the Oxford dictionary, Indigenous means originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; …
Tag: community
Apr 08
Day of Silence, 2022
Annually, April 8th honors the LGBTQ+ students who are regularly silenced in the classroom. Their stories and authenticity are stifled by anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ legislation that too often infiltrates the public school curriculum. Recently, the Florida government signed into law their “Don’t Say Gay Bill.” This bill prohibits teachers from discussing gender identity or sexual orientation …
Jun 28
The Pandemic Created a Perfect Storm for Washington’s Most Rural Counties
The Coronavirus crisis has sharpened existing disparities along lines of race, class, industry, geography, and so much more. At the onset of the pandemic, much was made of the widespread trend of people – especially the most wealthy and mobile Americans – looking to “flee” cities in favor of less dense and consequently more rural …
Jun 27
Marblemount Food Bank: Volunteering in Rural Communities
Marblemount Washington, located in Skagit County, is a beautiful small town surrounded by forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife. It is a breathtaking area that any sightseer would love. Known for its hiking trails, motorcycle touring, and sasquatch conference and festival, Marblemount is the home to approximately 250 people. Marblemount is 21 miles out from Concrete, another …
May 26
The Disparities and Inequalities of COVID-19: How coronavirus has impacted the BIPOC community
The narrative that the coronavirus does not discriminate based on race, gender, or class is a false concept that needs to be addressed. While in theory, yes, the coronavirus does not discriminate, our systems do. A year into the pandemic, the coronavirus has deepened the consequences of pre-existing inequalities that are placed on BIPOC (Black, …
May 25
Amplifying Youth Voices: WA COVID Response Corps Addresses Food Insecurity
In October 2020, The SISGI Group had the opportunity to partner with The Shultz Family Foundation to support 125 AmeriCorps members who opted to serve in the Washington COVID Response Corps. During an uncertain time in our world, young people in Washington state stepped up in a big way to serve their communities and individuals experiencing …
Jan 21
Bridging Social Capital for your Community
The United Nations is currently developing comprehensive assessments of the impact of social capital in communities and purports that volunteerism is the heart of social capital. As such, it is significant for volunteers and those creating volunteer opportunities to be mindful of the approaches and opportunities being created. To create bridging social capital requires a …
Jan 22
Acquiring a gun should be a “DMV” experience
Just four short weeks after 20 children and six adults were massacred in Newtown, , the sale of guns continue to spike . This surprises me, because the horror of Newtown was felt and seen across the globe. The massacre rocked the nation to its core. My immediate reaction was there has to be a …