Spokane Slavic Association
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What we do — 05

Communications & Community Engagement

Inform. Connect. Participate.

Strong communities depend on access to information, meaningful relationships, and opportunities to participate.

SSA's Communications & Community Engagement pillar helps connect people with resources, opportunities, organizations, businesses, events, and one another.

Through multilingual communication, community outreach, storytelling, publications, events, and partnerships, we work to make useful information easier to find while creating more opportunities for people and organizations to engage with the community.

Connecting Community Through Communication

SSA works with a diverse and multilingual community where information does not always reach everyone through traditional channels.

Our role is not simply to promote SSA.

We help create connections between:

  • Community members
  • Nonprofits
  • Government agencies
  • Businesses and professionals
  • Employers
  • Schools and educational organizations
  • Healthcare organizations
  • Community groups
  • Volunteers
  • Sponsors and partners

Sometimes the connection begins with an announcement. Sometimes with a story. Sometimes with an event. Sometimes with a conversation.

The goal is the same: help people become more informed, connected, and engaged.

An SSA staff member shares community news with a small group of adults in a bright community center.

Community Information & Outreach

Helping People Find Information, Resources & Opportunities.

SSA shares useful information about community resources, programs, events, employment, education, businesses, health initiatives, volunteer opportunities, and other topics relevant to the community — including for organizations that need help reaching multilingual and immigrant communities.

Explore Community Information & Outreach
An outreach volunteer hands a printed guide to a young family at a community information tent.

Stories & Interviews

Every Community Has Stories Worth Sharing.

Behind businesses, organizations, programs, and community initiatives are people whose experiences can inform, inspire, and connect others — community members, entrepreneurs, professionals, volunteers, and partner organizations.

Explore Stories & Interviews
A cultural celebration moment.

SSA Community Magazine

In Development — Community Information in One Place.

SSA is developing a community publication that will bring together useful information, community stories, businesses, employment opportunities, events, resources, education, healthcare information, culture, and community announcements.

Explore the SSA Community Magazine

Community Engagement & Events

Bringing People Together.

SSA creates opportunities for community members, organizations, businesses, professionals, volunteers, and leaders to meet, exchange information, discuss community issues, and build relationships — including the Slavic Leaders Town Hall and larger organization-wide community events.

Explore Community Engagement & Events
Community members gathered together at an SSA community event.

A Community Information Network

SSA's communication platforms are designed to work together rather than operate independently.

A community organization can submit an event to the Community Calendar.

A business can join the Business Directory.

A professional can participate in an interview.

An employer can share an opportunity.

A government agency can partner with SSA on multilingual outreach.

A community member can discover a resource through social media.

A volunteer can learn about an event and decide to participate.

A story can introduce someone to an organization they did not know existed.

Each connection strengthens the broader community information network.

Representatives of local organizations share information around a table with laptops and printed materials.

Discover what's happening

Community Calendar

SSA's Community Calendar provides a central place to discover events, workshops, activities, programs, and other opportunities throughout the community.

It can include both SSA activities and relevant events organized by other organizations. This allows SSA to connect people with opportunities across the community—not only those provided directly by SSA.

Explore the Community Calendar Submit an Event
A mother and two daughters pouring tea from a samovar hung with dried bagels.

Multilingual Communication

Language should not unnecessarily prevent someone from accessing useful community information.

Depending on the initiative and available resources, SSA may communicate in:

  • English
  • Russian
  • Ukrainian
  • Other languages when appropriate and available

Our goal is to make important information not only available, but understandable and relevant to the people receiving it.

An interpreter helps an older couple understand information from a healthcare worker.

Connecting organizations with the community

A Bridge to the Communities You Serve.

SSA's community relationships and communication channels also create opportunities for organizations that need to reach the populations we serve.

We may collaborate with:

  • Government agencies
  • Nonprofits
  • Healthcare organizations
  • Schools
  • Employers
  • Businesses
  • Foundations
  • Cultural organizations
  • Community groups

Partnerships may involve multilingual outreach, public information campaigns, events, educational initiatives, community feedback, content distribution, or other forms of engagement.

Partner With SSA
An agency representative presents to community members while an SSA staff member translates.

Communication Works Both Ways

Community engagement is not only about distributing information.

It is also about listening.

SSA may gather community input through surveys, feedback forms, community meetings, events, social media, conversations with participants, partner feedback, and community listening activities.

This helps us better understand community interests, emerging needs, opportunities, and gaps.

What we learn can help shape future programs, partnerships, communications, and organizational priorities.

A community member shares feedback while an SSA staff member listens and takes notes.

Opportunities for businesses

Businesses Have a Role to Play, Too.

Businesses and professionals are also an important part of community engagement. Depending on the opportunity, businesses may:

  • Join the SSA Business Directory
  • Participate in Stories & Interviews
  • Share employment opportunities
  • Sponsor programs or events
  • Advertise through future SSA publications
  • Participate in community events
  • Provide professional expertise
  • Become community partners

These relationships can create value for businesses while helping sustain community programs and expand opportunities available through SSA.

Explore the Business Directory Corporate Sponsorships
A café owner hangs a community event poster in her window as a customer looks on.

From Information to Participation

The purpose of communication is not simply to generate views, followers, or impressions.

We want communication to lead somewhere.

Inform Connect Participate Collaborate Strengthen Community

Someone discovers an opportunity. They participate. They meet another person or organization. They build a relationship. They volunteer, collaborate, start a business, find employment, share knowledge, or help someone else.

That is how communication becomes community engagement.

Families sign up at a volunteer table while teens set up chairs at an outdoor community event.

Get connected

Ways to Get Involved.

Stronger Communication. Stronger Connections. Stronger Community.

SSA's other pillars create resources, services, education, employment pathways, business opportunities, and activities. Communications & Community Engagement helps people discover those opportunities—and helps connect SSA with the broader network of organizations, businesses, professionals, volunteers, and community members around us. Because creating an opportunity is only the beginning. People also need to know it exists, understand how to access it, and have a way to participate.

Explore Community Information & Outreach View Community Calendar Get Involved Partner With SSA