Manzanita House

10/15/2026

In 2025, our legal aid team provided free or reduced-cost legal services to 1,520 clients, and Manzanita House answered over 14k calls from community members looking for information, resources, and support.

Behind every call is always a neighbor with a question that matters: Can I work while my case is pending? How do I apply for citizenship? What are my rights? How can I be reunited with my family?

We’re grateful for the trust our community places in us. When people have clear information and someone to turn to, they can better understand their options, protect their rights, and take their next steps with greater confidence and stability.

10/14/2026

Just a few words can lead to connection.

In Spokane Public Radio’s recent story on our Community Language Clubs, one participant shared how practicing Arabic helped him connect with an Iraqi driver: “I said the three words I knew in Arabic, but it made for a special moment, like a connection with another person.”

That’s what our Community Language Clubs are all about - learning language while building relationships, sharing food and culture, and making room for one another.

Thank you to Spokane Public Radio and reporter Lisa Leinberger for sharing this story about the connections happening in our community.

➡ Want to join a spring Community Language Club? Follow us here or sign up for our newsletter to stay updated: https://buff.ly/3R9B6hs

Plus, the city of Spokane will offer a free permit pre-screening service for wildfire survivors rebuilding damaged homes. And Maddie’s Place, a nonprofit recovery nursery for substance-exposed newborns, celebrates its fourth anniversary amid a budget shortfall.

10/13/2026

📣GOOD NEWS!

After many months of no movement, Naturalization interviews and oath ceremonies are beginning to be scheduled again!

If you're looking for citizenship, naturalization, or green card support, come visit us at our FREE Citizenship Day Event!

People who receive means-tested benefits, including food stamps, SSI, TANF, or Apple Health, may be eligible for free legal representation throughout the citizenship process. Limited free application assistance may also be available to people who do not receive these benefits.

Please come prepared to spend several hours at the event and bring snacks, water, and any required documents.

📆 October 24th
📍 The Hive, (Spokane Public Libraries) 2904 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane, WA 99202, STA Bus Route 9
⌚️ 9am - 5pm

10/13/2026

📣¡BUENAS NOTICIAS!

¡Tras muchos meses de inactividad, se están volviendo a programar las entrevistas de naturalización y las ceremonias de juramento!

Si busca ayuda con la ciudadanía, la naturalización o la tarjeta de residencia permanente (green card), ¡visítenos en nuestro evento gratuito del Día de la Ciudadanía!

Las personas que reciben beneficios sujetos a requisitos de ingresos (como cupones de alimentos, SSI, TANF o Apple Health) podrían optar a representación legal gratuita durante todo el proceso de ciudadanía. También podría haber asistencia gratuita limitada para completar la solicitud dirigida a personas que no reciben dichos beneficios.

Por favor, prepárese para pasar varias horas en el evento y traiga algo de comer, agua y todos los documentos necesarios.

📆 24 de octubre
📍 The Hive (Bibliotecas Públicas de Spokane), 2904 E. Sprague Ave., Spokane, WA 99202; ruta de autobús STA n.º 9
⌚️ 9:00 a. m. – 5:00 p. m.

10/12/2026

Staff meetings are always better with a shared meal. 🍽️

Last month, our team gathered for a potluck featuring everything from homemade biryani to themed deviled eggs.

We’re grateful for the people, dishes, and stories that filled our office tables - and for the chance to listen, learn, and get to know one another.

10/08/2026

Feeling supported means having somewhere to turn when the path ahead is unfamiliar. For immigrants and refugees navigating the legal system, access to trusted legal help is an important part of that support.

But finding help is not always simple. Distance and limited availability can create barriers, especially in eastern Washington. Washington’s immigration courts are in Seattle and Tacoma, with no immigration court in Spokane.

Manzanita House is one of nine organizations supported by Washington’s Legal Aid for Immigrants program to help expand access to legal services. We’re grateful to be part of this shared effort to bring trusted guidance closer to the communities we serve.

Historical Washington immigration court data offer a glimpse of why access matters: about 67% of represented children’s cases ended in an outcome allowing them to remain in the U.S., compared with about 13% of cases without representation.

Legal representation cannot guarantee an outcome. But having someone to help explain the process, prepare for hearings, and navigate next steps can make a meaningful difference.

10/07/2026

Every piece of the Manzanita House puzzle brings something meaningful to our shared work. For Kelly Johnson, our Communications Specialist, that piece is storytelling.

From photojournalism and videography to liaison work and case management, storytelling has been a common thread throughout Kelly's career. At MH, those experiences come together in the opportunity to share the care our team brings to our work and the voices, experiences, and strengths of the communities we serve.

“I believe stories are one of the most meaningful ways to help people see one another more fully," shared Kelly.

Through photos, newsletters, social media, and more, Kelly works to help people understand our programs and feel connected to our mission - nurturing the relationships and support that keep our work going. All of our communication is also critical to making resources and critical information easily accessible to our immigrant community.

“Communications is one small part of a much larger, shared effort. I’m grateful to contribute in a way that helps us continue welcoming and uplifting immigrants and refugees in Spokane and beyond.”

Kelly's work is an important piece of the Manzanita House puzzle.

10/06/2026

📣 WE ARE HIRING a Community Education & Implementation Program (CEIP) Director!

Join our team to help us provide strategic leadership, vision, and oversight for the development, implementation, and long-term sustainability of Manzanita House’s Community Education & Implementation Program. CEIP strengthens the capacity of private and public institutions to intentionally, effectively, and culturally responsibly engage immigrant and refugee communities in Spokane and surrounding regions.

Interested? Email your resume, cover letter, and two professional references to [email protected].

➡️ View the full job description: https://www.manzanitahousespokane.org/volunteer-job-positions/ceipdirector

10/02/2026

When young people feel confident in their heritage language and culture, they are better able to stay connected to their families, their roots, and their sense of self.

That is why we do this work.

Thank you, MultiCare Health System, for your support in helping youth ages 6–18 build pride in who they are, where they come from, and the communities they call home. Your partnership helps young people show up as their full selves - in their homes, at school, and throughout our community.

10/01/2026

In immigration court, people have the right to be represented by an attorney or accredited representative - but, unlike in criminal court, the government generally does not provide one.

For immigrants and families navigating an already complex system, finding trusted legal support can take time. Yet that support can make a meaningful difference: it helps people understand their options, prepare for hearings, and participate more fully in their own cases.

Access to legal representation is about more than any one case. It is about dignity, due process, and a court system that gives people a fair opportunity to be heard.

At Manzanita House, we're grateful to be able to provide information, support, and trusted guidance for those we serve - ensuring fewer people have to endure this process alone.