A Place to Call Our Own
Since 1998 APOYO, Central Washington University has supported us by providing a space to serve the community. In exchange APOYO has always offered students food and volunteer opportunities, and supported faculty and graduate student research. Our partnership facilitates cultural exchange and brings educational opportunities to families in the Latinx community. However long APOYO exists, we will cherish this partnership.
As our capacity to serve grows and we expand our programing, we need a facility that will enable us to serve our broader mission: APOYO’s mission is to empower by providing vital resources, education, and opportunities to grow community. We share and celebrate the presence, history, and cultures of im/migrants and Latinx people of Central Washington and beyond.
The APOYO Community Outreach Center will be a gathering place for the Latinx community and others, too. There is nothing like it in Kittitas County. Community members will be able to work together to provide food and other material support, offer and receive education through classes and workshops on topics relevant to the community, host multicultural events, and provide activities and care for children and elders. This project addresses the need for safe spaces for marginalized people to meet their own needs and will help build social justice and racial equity in Kittitas County. Community involvement guides our planning and assures APOYO’s success.
Over time APOYO has outgrown our space at the APOYO “house” and a long term objective is building a community outreach center where we can use the resources we have to their fullest extent.
APOYO is very fortunate to have the support of the Inatai Foundation. APOYO received their President’s Fund Award in 2021. We have received other generous gifts to help make it possible to open the doors of the Community Outreach Center, but we still have a long way to go to raise the funds we need to complete the project.
Help us make it happen!
As we bring this dream to life, we have worked with advisors and architects. The budget for this project is $2,000,000. If you are interested in helping us with our fundraising efforts or making a donation of your own, please contact APOYO Executive Director Stefanie Wickstrom to learn more. Email apoyocommunity@gmail.com or call 509-201-1820.
