Hello Cultural Sector of Southeast Washington!

My name is Jessi Wasson and I am the Programs and Operations Manager for Inspire Washington, your state-wide advocacy organization for the cultural sector including science, heritage, and the arts. We aim to lift up your vital programs in science, heritage, and the arts and champion more financial resources as you tackle the tremendous challenge of reopening and sustaining your work during these turbulent times. We just had a historic State Legislative Session in virtual Olympia, securing $50 million dollars for cultural businesses and passing critical legislation to support cultural work. We are so excited to spread the world and ensure you know how to claim your funding. Every organization will be able to apply for up to $75,000 from the state by the end of the calendar year.

We are hitting the road and heading to communities across the state with our Cultural Futures share and listening tour! We will break down the wins from Legislative Session and ensure you know how to claim funding for your cultural organization, business, or program. At Cultural Futures, we aim to provide you with news you can use. From funding sources and new program opportunities to advocacy opportunities, Inspire WA will share all the information you need to know right now. We are also preparing for next year’s Legislative Session and we want to hear from you! What do you need? How can we help? And how can you be more involved?

We will be coming to your community at the REACH Museum in Richland on Wednesday, May 25 at 6:30pm. We envision this to be a wonderful event where the cultural sector of Southeast Washington can gather together and rally around new and life-changing funding. This event is FREE and open to the public. Please share this invite with anyone you believe would benefit.

Thank you for all that you do for your community and I hope to see you at REACH!

Warmly,

Jessi

Click to Register!

Land Acknowledgement

Inspire Washington acknowledges that we and our partners statewide are on the homelands of Native peoples, who have lived in this region from time immemorial. We pay respect to their elders past and present. We acknowledge their stewardship, their forced removal, and their continued fight to live on their ancestral lands.

We acknowledge that Richland is on the ancestral homelands of the Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Cayuse peoples, and throughout the region are the traditional lands of many different Tribes of the Columbia River Basin.

Richland and the REACH Museum

We are very grateful to be hosted by the REACH Museum! We encourage you to go to the REACH and experience the geological impact of the Ice Age Floods and basalt lava flows. You can learn about the Manhattan Project and its continuous influence on White Bluffs, Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco. Take a walk along the waterfront and enjoy the wondrous scenery of the Columbia River and Badger Mountain.

There are so many amazing organizations in Southeast Washington doing incredible work to improve and enrich the lives of their communities. To name a few... Arts Center Task Force, Mid-Columbia Mastersingers, Fort Walla Walla Museum, Gesa Power House Theatre, and so many more!

Virtual Schedule

Can't make the in-person event ? Not quite ready for in-person events? Your comfort and safety are important to us. We've got you covered with our three virtual sessions at a variety of times.

Virtual One: Wed, May 18 at 7pm

Virtual Two: Wed, June 8 at 9am

Virtual Three: Tues, June 21 at 12pm

Click to Register for a Virtual Session

Meet your Inspire WA presenters,

Manny Cawaling and Jessi Wasson

Executive Director

My name is Manny and I'm so honored to champion greater support for cultural programming on your behalf. As a child in Seattle, my sisters and I loved watching old movies with our dad and recreating our favorite scenes from musicals.

Over a long and colorful career, I have made community impact through theatre, arts education, heritage programming, and by leading organizations embedded in communities of color.

My family is spread throughout the state but lives primarily in King, Chelan, and Grant counties. I'm especially excited about Cultural Futures because I love road trips across our beautiful state. I'll likely bring my tent and bicycle along.

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Programs & Operations Manager

Hello! My name is Jessi and I grew up on Tiger Mountain, outside of Issaquah. As a kid, I spent most of my time doing theatre, raising Guide Dogs for the Blind, and playing outside.

My professional background is in stage management, non-profit fundraising, and community programming. I love to paddle board, run, Crossfit, bake bread, and enjoy live music!

My family is spread across our state including the beautiful Methow Valley and Walla Walla! I love visiting rural places and exploring our many landscapes! I am so excited to meet all of you and hear about the amazing cultural programs in your communities!

About Inspire Washington

Inspire Washington nurtures the human spirit and strengthens communities by increasing access to science, heritage, and arts programming through advocacy, resource development, education, and coalition building.

Inspire Washington

[email protected]

P.O. Box 806, Seattle, WA 98111

InspireWashington.org

Manuel R. Cawaling, Executive Director

Jessi Wasson, Programs and Operations Manager

Madeline Dalton, Outreach Coordinator

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