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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 [...]

Announcing our 2020 Annual Dinner! Save the Date November 15 for a new way of celebrating the year together - our program will be completely online this year in light of COVID-19, with some live elements. Depending on which phase of reopening your area is in, we are hoping some regions will be safe enough to gather in small groups - think about who you might like to host at your table. Stay tuned for more! Congressional Relief Package - Take Action In May, the House passed the HEROES Act for the next phase of Coronavirus relief. The Senate is creating [...]

These summer days, we are grateful for all the work being done at local levels to address police brutality and accountability. Last night, the Governor’s Task Force on Independent Investigations of Police Use of Force met for the first time. FAN is very involved with a new policing reform coalition called WA Coalition for Police Accountability (WACPA) that is led by impacted family members who have lost loved ones due to use of deadly force by police. Both taskforces will be bringing forth legislation to the next legislative session in January. Meanwhile, FAN joins our partner coalitions in multiple meetings this summer [...]

There were many events last Friday to celebrate Juneteenth, the anniversary of June 19, 1865 when enslaved people in Texas were told of their freedom - the final state to hear the proclamation. We know that so much more work is needed for Black communities to experience true economic, cultural, and systemic freedom, and we are grateful to the many organizations that led marches and teach-ins to help us achieve that reality. Top left - the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and A. Philip Randolph Institute Seattle hosted a rally and march to accompany the shutdown of Pacific coast ports [...]