Initiatives & Projects

With funding by local, state, and federal governments, and from grants awarded by national foundations, Community-Minded Enterprises pursues initiatives and projects that demonstrate some of the best ways to overcome community challenges. Our model programs strengthen neighborhoods and local economies; develop resources for families, youth, and those with disabilities; explore community-based alternative energy; provide health access for those who need it; and offer digital media training and television access for all community members.

Community-Based Agriculture Initiative  
      Projects:

• Community-Based Biodiesel  A regional educational and job development project that will stimulate small-scale biodiesel processing and create incentives for growing oilseed crops on marginal agricultural land.

Community-Based Economic Development Initiative 
      Projects:

• AHANA  Minority and small business support, planning, and neighborhood development. Facilitator of annual Unity in the Community multi-cultural event.
• Sustainable Communities Action Plan A state-wide, multi-ethnic, collaborative partnership based upon the Community-Minded Enterprises model.  Provides technical assistance and capacity building services. 

Community-Minded Energy Initiative    
      Projects:

• Community Biodiesel Project A regional educational and job development project that will stimulate small-scale biodiesel processing and create incentives for growing oilseed crops on marginal agricultural land.

Community-Minded Media Initiative
      Projects:

• Community-Minded Television Locally-produced television programming that focuses on community strengths and solutions.
  

Community Health Initiative 
      Projects:  

• Health For All  Individualized advocacy for those without health insurance, providing access to healthcare resources.
• Integrated Access Model that creates coordinated referral processes among community service organizations.
• Medical Reserve Corps of Eastern Washington Organizing medical professionals in their readiness and response to regional health emergencies and disasters.
• Rwanda Community Medical Team Supporting American medical team's involvement with this Rwandan-based initiative to promote health and development in disadvantaged, rural communities.

Equity & Diversity Initiative
      Projects:

• Plan to Work Individualized benefits planning for people on SSI or SSDI who want to work.
• Project MOVE  Mentoring youth with disabilities by providing encouragement and guidance while they transition from high school.
• Green Jobs Inclusion Initiative A recruitment-based green jobs program that helps employers find qualified applicants from our region's untapped workforce.

Family Resources Initiative 
      Projects: 

• Born Learning of Northeast Washington A national campaign to provide information to parents about what young children need everyday to ensure quality learning.
• Child Care Assistance Program Provides low-income parents in outpatient substance abuse programs with access to quality licensed child care.
• Child Care Business Development Micro-lending and guidance for child care providers and start-up businesses. 
• Child Care Resource and Referral Child care referrals and training for child care providers.
• Family, Friends and Neighbors Establishes partnerships for informal child play groups.
• Inland Northwest Alliance for Early Learning Building a sustainable system for early learning that prepares children for success in school and life.
• Our Kids, Resilient and Ready A collaborative grant through Spokane County's United Way to provide training for child care professionals. 

Youth Development Initiative 
      Projects:

• Youth Sustainability Council Empowering young people to enact positive change in their communities by developing solutions to the challenges they identify.
• Greener Youth Community-Minded Enterprises is working with diverse community partners to engage youth and facilitate their pivotal role in strengthening the local green economy. 
• Partners for Empowered Youth Training, technical assistance and capacity building for youth-serving agencies.

Core Initiatives

• Sustainable Spokane A series of articles that examine what community resources are available and what is needed to achieve a greater degree of community sustainability.
  
• Sustainable September  An annual month-long series of events dedicated to promoting sustainability in the Spokane community.
  
• Sustainability Report Card  A measure of the capacity of Spokane, involving our economy, ecology, and social equity, to become locally self-sufficient and self-sustaining over the long term.