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The 2021 FAN Advocacy Days RSVP links are live! Join us in Eastern WA on January 30, Olympia on February 11, or Central WA on February 20, all held virtually, as we talk about the 2021 legislative session, hear from speakers and discuss in breakout groups the issues on FAN's agenda, and meet with legislators as part of the Olympia-focused event. We hope to see you there! Week One The 2021 Legislative Session began in-person as it has every year, but legislators kept social distance, wore face masks, and are planning to work virtually for much of the session in light [...]

We hope you will join us for our 2021 Advocacy Days, all held virtually this year! Registration links are coming soon - learn more and RSVP at fanwa.org/interfaith-advocacy-day/. Announcing the Retirement of Co-Director Rev. Paul Benz As FAN prepares to celebrate our tenth anniversary this coming year, we are moving into a time of leadership transition. Our beloved Co-Director Paul Benz, leading our policy work since 2011 (and the Lutheran Public Policy Office before that), is retiring at the end of 2021. In his letter to the Board, Paul writes: It’s been a great ride these past 20 years of advocating [...]

TWO DAYS LEFT TO APPLY! The Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund was created when advocates urged the Governor to protect our immigrant neighbors during the global pandemic. Please share widely about this important resource - you must apply by December 6 to receive benefits at immigrantreliefwa.org! Announcing FAN's 2021 State Legislative Agenda Please find our 2021 Legislative Agenda (fanwa.org) where you can also download and share a copy. Each year the FAN Governing Board and staff, in collaboration with our coalition partners and input from our Spring Summit attendees and the FAN Program Committee, approves FAN’s Legislative Agenda that guides our [...]

FAN has been part of statewide Mourning Into Unity vigils to honor those who have died from COVID-19 and stand together to protect our democracy. On the right, Zahra Roach, Central WA Regional Organizer, led an event in Richland last week - see the NBC video coverage here. First AME Church in Seattle also hosted an event and will continue these vigils through the election under the title Pray the Ballot, Mondays 10/26 and 11/2. Protecting the Integrity of the Election Concern is widespread that either civil unrest will occur following the presidential election next Tuesday, November 3, and the Trump [...]

Image by Yorlanda Walls, Pink Tetris Designs. Your Faithful Vote As ballots arrive in households across Washington, we encourage you to get them in quickly. We will celebrate Vote Early Day next week on October 24 and urge you to submit your vote early to an official ballot box or via the U.S. Postal Service. In some areas of the state, ballot boxes are located in faith community parking lots. If you see people tampering with ballot boxes, please report it immediately. Are you having a physically distanced and masked ballot party? Take a photo, we’ll share it on social media! [...]

Register for FAN's Annual Dinner November 15! We have seen FAN faith communities and individuals in all corners of Washington rise up during the challenges of this year. Together we have risen up in the face of multiple pandemics: COVID-19, systemic racism, economic uncertainty, and environmental devastation. You have risen up to learn to be community in new ways, take care of neighbors, build mutual aid efforts, non-violently vigil, march and rally for Black Lives, stand with essential workers who provide healthcare and harvest our food, and more. And now you are rising up to encourage others to VOTE their values [...]

In early 2020, FAN received a generous $50,000 gift from University Christian Church in Seattle as it closed, and members helped create Journey Christian Church in Lake City. Pictured here presenting the check to FAN Co-Director Elise DeGooyer are FAN advocates Rosemary Blakemore and Lanny Shuman, who with members of the committee Shirley Towner, Nancy Irvin, and Carl Johnson, chose to support social justice efforts through FAN. Because of this gift, FAN’s Governing Board has recently decided to move forward a long-held dream of regional organizers who will work in other parts of the state to build relationships and momentum for [...]

The Faith Action Network Governing Board has unanimously endorsed Referendum 90 that will appear on your November ballot. We want to tell you about it and invite your endorsement and participation today. During the 2020 legislative session, a coalition of parents, educators, medical professionals, and advocates passed SB 5395 (Sen. Claire Wilson) in Washington state focused on sex education that keeps young people safe and healthy. This law requires all public schools to teach age appropriate, inclusive, comprehensive sexual health education to K-12 students. This law was backed by a large statewide coalition and has strong support from a majority of [...]

Breaking news! Gov. Inslee responded to months of advocacy in creating a $40M fund for undocumented workers for relief during COVID-19, a vital resource that has been left out of federal stimulus packages. Thank you for your advocacy to make sure these essential workers who are keeping us fed are supported! Above, workers in Yakima show off their masks donated by the community (photo courtesy of Yakima Immigrant Response Network). Making an Impact on Policing Reform FAN's primary engagement regarding substantive policy change in policing is currently through the newly formed Washington Coalition for Police Accountability (WCPA). This coalition’s goal, led by impacted families, is [...]