“I think the Alliance is the best thing that has happened for labor in this town, and is the best platform to advance labor from. I want to help the Alliance as a whole, whatever they are working on, because I know if I had an issue I felt was important, they [the Alliance] would get their hands on it.”

Mel Fitzpatrick, 

Iron Workers Local 14, Vice President 

At Westminster we are proud of our tradition of outreach ministries. We have been active for years with the Food Bank, Crop Walk, the Tree of Sharing and Life Feed to name just a few.  Each of these missions helps to relieve some of the suffering in our community.  We make a vital difference in the lives of a lot of people through our work there.   Our work with the Spokane Alliance though, goes beyond providing relief.  Through the Alliance we can actually change public policies that impact the lives of these citizens.  We could never do that by ourselves. By helping us build relationships with other member institutions and by giving us the training and leadership neccessary to act in the public arena, the Spokane Alliance has enabled us to take a place at the table where actual policy decisions are made.  By changing detrimental policies, we are able to multiply the effect of our work toward the common good.  That is very, very powerful.

Steve Paulson, Westminster United Church of Christ Member

“I am very pleased with how some of our Catholic parishes have involved themselves in the Spokane Alliance. I have heard first hand from members of the parishes who have been tremendously energized and had a change of heart in regards to their role in the community.  Catholic social teaching calls us to participation in the community… and this is a wonderful way we might work together to serve the common good in our area.”

 The Most Reverend William Skylstad
Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Spokane

“This organization is serving as a catalyst for the renewal of mission in three Lutheran congregations...It is the only genuinely multi-cultural, multi-class civic organization in Spokane…I am very enthusiastic about this effort.”

 Reverend Martin Wells
Bishop, Eastern WA-Idaho Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
 

“It is indeed a joy to see so many United Methodist Churches participating in the organizing effort. I can see the future and the future is great. You will be a voice of the city, a power that will bring many good changes. I encourage all the United Methodist Churches to join in the effort.”

Reverend Elias Galvan
Retired Bishop, United Methodist Church - 
NW Conference

“The involvement of labor in the Spokane area with the Alliance has been a great experience.  It has already created change and the support of the other organizations were instrumental in furthering some of labor's initiatives.  I look forward to working with the Alliance in the future and would recommend it to any or all of our organizations."

Alan O. Link
Secretary-Treasurer
Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO