FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 14, 2021 Jill Johnson Chief Public Relations Officer Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 822-8040 jillj@community-minded.org Hands Across the Falls Marks its 5th Year Celebrating Recovery with a Two-Week Event Adapting to Current Health Conditions Spokane, Wash.  -- Hands Across the Falls 2021, is poised for a two-week celebration kicking off September 17 and continuing through September 30.  “Same great event, same heart, same spirit, just packaged differently this year,” said Christine McMackin, Manager of Recovery Café Spokane. after thoughtful consideration, the planning committee made the decision to shift the event from in-person to virtual. “The team looked at the data, and with a desire to keep...

On July 14, The Spokesman-Review published an article which read, "A Grand Experiment: With the first monthly payments to parents set to arrive Thursday, Democrats push to make them permanent.” In the piece there are several statements from economists related to child care supply, workforce, and parents use of stimulus allowing them to pay for child care. I wish to clarify those statements as they do not accurately reflect what is happening in child care in our community. Child care issues are very complex, both from the point of view of the child care businesses and the families. Families count...

The 32-hour workweek. A blog by Lee Williams, CEO of Community-Minded Enterprises 06/16/2021 May 25, 2021, was a historic day for Community-Minded Enterprises. Historic is not a word I use lightly, but for this announcement it definitely applies. On May 25th the CME Board approved the 32-hour workweek/64-hour pay period. Can I get a hallelujah? Some jazz hands? A happy dance? Well, that's how I was feeling at least, and I know many in our company felt the same way when the announcement was made internally. As I pause and reflect, I go back to a year ago, when it was just an...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2021 Jill Johnson Chief Public Relations Officer Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 822-8040 JillJ@community-minded.org   Child Care Aware of Eastern Washington Gears Up to Celebrate Child Care Provider Appreciation Day with a Virtual Event to Honor These Essential Workers  Spokane, Wash.  – Child Care Aware of Eastern Washington – a program of Community-Minded Enterprises (CME) is recognizing child care providers as part of Child Care Provider Appreciation Day on May 7. “We are excited to be hosting a Child Care Provider Appreciation night again this year. The celebration will be via Zoom, but the sentiment is the same. Child care providers are heroes,” said Suzanne...

As we have processed the guilty verdict on all counts in the Derek Chauvin trial for the murder of George Floyd, the impact of this decision highlighted the ongoing deep racial injustices in our country, especially towards the Black community and those who have been historically oppressed. Following George Floyd’s death, systematic racism and acts of violence against marginalized and BIPOC people persist. This guilty verdict represents justice in one incident. As we move forward, Community-Minded Enterprises remains committed to addressing the conversation about race, equity, and inclusion in the communities we serve towards peaceful and nonviolent solutions. We must act...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 17, 2021 Sara Desautel Chief Philanthropy Officer Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 496-3685 SaraD@community-minded.org Community-Minded Television Launches the CMTV Academy and a New Website to Meet the Demands of Spokane’s Digital Community  Spokane, Wash.  --   Since its inception in 2007 Community-Minded Television (CMTV14) has been committed to providing video training to the greater Spokane area. In May the station steps up its game with the debut of the CMTV Academy, a five-week targeted course to give anyone the skills they need to succeed in video production.  “With all the growth CMTV14 has seen recently, the time was right to bring the CMTV Academy to...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 25, 2021                                              Jill Johnson Public Relations Officer Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 822-8040 Jillj@community-minded.org   Child Care Aware of Eastern Washington - Pasco – Community Assessment Underway to Explore the Need for Expansion of Child Care Hours.  Pasco, Wash.  – Child Care Aware of Eastern Washington – Pasco, a program of Community-Minded Enterprises (CME) is calling on community partners to help increase access to child care in the Tri-Cities area. “Supporting quality child care is at the heart of what do here at CME’s Pasco office,” said Suzanne Suyama, Child Care Aware Supervisor – Southeast Washington. “We need the community’s help to learn more about what...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 10, 2021                                             Sara Desautel Chief Philanthropy Officer Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 496-3685 SaraD@community-minded.org   Community Grants Expand Play & Learn Program for Parents in Recovery Spokane, Wash.  – For parents recovering from substance abuse, access to healthy, engaging activities with their children can positively contribute to promoting sobriety and family stability. In 2020, Community-Minded Enterprises (CME) developed Recovering Families Play-and-Learn groups to connect parents in recovery with peers and equip them with activities and resources, designed to encourage positive social and emotional development with their children. The program is being expanded in 2021 with the support of community partners; Department of Children, Youth, and...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2021                                     Jill Johnson Public Relations Officer Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 822-8040 Jillj@community-minded.org Child Care Aware of Eastern Washington - Pasco Rings in the New Year with $275,000 in Grant Awards to Support Early Learning  Spokane, Wash.  -- Community-Minded Enterprises (CME) is thrilled to announce grant awards totaling more than a quarter of a million dollars from All In Washington the Washington State Department of Commerce and the Washington State Department of Health. The funds will support Child Care Aware of Eastern Washington - Pasco a division of Community-Minded Enterprises. CME’s Pasco office and its team of 14 focuses exclusively on early learning. “The...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 16, 2020                                                  Jill Johnson Public Relations Officer Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 822-8040 JillJ@community-minded.org   Remote Learning Improved for School Age Children in Spokane, Thanks to a Partnership Connecting Child Care Providers to Free Internet   Spokane, Wash.  -- A new program is bringing reliable internet to school age children, allowing them to better connect to online learning.  After months of planning Community-Minded Enterprises is pleased to announce a partnership with Spokane Public Schools (SPS), the Washington Childcare Centers Association (WCCA) and Comcast to bring Lift Zones to Spokane County child care providers. The initiative will help thousands of school age students with distance learning...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 1, 2020                                                  Jill Johnson Public Relations Officer Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 822-8040 JillJ@community-minded.org   Final Days for Child Care Providers and Families to apply for CARES Act Funding in Spokane County Spokane, Wash.  -- CARES Act funding is immediately available to cover the cost of child care for families and to help licensed child care programs in Spokane County. This is new funding available to families and child care businesses in Spokane County. Previous CARES Act funding distributed by Community-Minded Enterprises supported families and child care business in the City of Spokane. “We are thrilled to be able offer this assistance,” said Kathy Blair, who...

5pm - Monday, November 16, 2020 In light of new COVID-19 guidelines from the State of Washington, Community-Minded Enterprises is making some changes in services effective from midnight on Monday, November 16 through Monday, December 14.  In some cases, there is no change. Here is a complete list. Recovery Café will provide virtual services. Food service is suspended. Recovery Community Services will provide virtual assistance to clients. ECEAP at both our South Hill and Division locations is not impacted by the new guidelines and will remain open. Click here to read a letter from our ECEAP Director. Early Learning services...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 13, 2020                                                  Jill Johnson Chief Public Relations Officer Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 822-8040 Jillj@community-minded.org   Child Care Aware of Eastern Washington - Pasco Recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work in the Inland Northwest”  Spokane, Wash.  -- Child Care Aware of Eastern Washington - Pasco has been a leader in early learning in the Tri-Cities area since 2014.  On October 7, its parent company Community-Minded Enterprises was honored as a finalist by Spokane’s Journal of Business, making the list as one of the Best Places to Work in the Inland Northwest. The Best Places to Work Inland Northwest list is created by...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 1, 2020 Traci Logan-Demus, SHRM-CP Chief Human Resources Officer Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 960-7455 tracil@community-minded.org   Community-Minded Enterprises Named a Top Three Finalist, on the “Best Places to Work in the Inland Northwest” List Spokane, Wash.  --   For the third consecutive year, Community-Minded Enterprise (CME) has been named one of the Best Places to Work in the Inland Northwest. The Best Places to Work Inland Northwest list is created by the Journal of Business and Best Companies Group. Each year the Journal recognizes 35 businesses. “It is an honor to be recognized as an employer of choice,” said Lee Williams, CEO of Community-Minded Enterprises, “we...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 11, 2020 Jill Johnson Chief Public Relations Officer Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 822-8040 JillJ@community-minded.org CARES Act Funds Immediately Available to Pay for Child Care or Support Child Care Businesses in Spokane Spokane, Wash.  -- When the City of Spokane received $6.6 million in CARES Act funding, it identified child care as one of its priorities, awarding Community-Minded Enterprises money to cover the cost of child care for families and to help struggling child care centers.  “COVID-19 hit the child care industry hard,” said Lee Williams, CEO of Community-Minded Enterprises and home of Child Care Aware of Eastern Washington.  “Enrollment dropped, but expenses went up...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 8, 2020 Jill Johnson Chief Public Relations Officer Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 822-8040 JillJ@community-minded.org Community-Minded Television’s Production Manager Recognized as a Rising Star by the Journal of Business Spokane, Wash.  -- Community-Minded Television’s Production Manager DaShawn Bedford joins a short list of young professionals recognized as 2020 Rising Stars by the Journal of Business. “We are excited, but not surprised,” said Lee Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Community-Minded Enterprises, the station’s parent company.  “DaShawn has a great knowledge of television production, is committed to serving the community and is a great leader.” The award will be presented during a virtual celebration on September 10,...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 3, 2020 Jill Johnson Chief Public Relations Officer    Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 822-8040 JillJ@community-minded.org Spokane, Wash.  -- Hands Across the Falls 2020 is a go despite COVID-19. The popular community event hosted by Recovery Café Spokane has gone virtual. “We’ve certainly had to pivot,” said Lee Williams CEO of Community-Minded Enterprises, the non-profit home of the Café.  “If Bloomsday can be virtual, so can Hands Across the Falls.” The past three years the event has been held on the last Saturday of September, on the Monroe Street Bridge with participants holding hands in a show of support for recovery.  Concerns over COVID-19 meant...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 9, 2020 Sara Desautel Chief Philanthropy Officer Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 496-3685 SaraD@community-minded.org Spokane, Wash.  --   It has been twelve years since Community-Minded Television (CMTV14) entered the cable television market, providing original programming, offering classes, and giving local access to the citizens of Spokane. From a tiny office to a state-of-the-art studio, the station has grown without compromising its mission to give a voice to the voiceless and empower people through digital media. “We are committed to the mission and serving Spokane,” said Lee Williams, Executive Director of Community-Minded Enterprises, the station’s parent company. “But late last year we realized that something had...

Community-Minded Enterprises Once Again Recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in the Inland Northwest  Spokane, Wash.  --   For the second year in a row, Community-Minded Enterprise (CME) was named one of the Best Places to Work in the Inland Northwest. The Best Places to Work Inland Northwest list is created by the Journal of Business and Best Companies Group. To determine the Best Places to Work Inland Northwest list, companies from across the region participated in a two-part survey process. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems, and demographics. The second...

Record Turnout Expected for Hands Across the Falls, Despite Road Construction Impacting the Monroe Street Bridge   Spokane, Wash.  --   Working with the City of Spokane, Hands Across the Falls is poised for its biggest year ever, with more than 600 people expected to attend and nearly 40 organizations taking part in the Resource Fair. The event will be held on Saturday September 28. “The City of Spokane and the Spokane Police Department have been wonderful throughout the entire planning process,” said Lee Williams, Executive Director of Community-Minded Enterprises, the non-profit behind the event.  “Even with some roadwork, attendees of the...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 20, 2019                                                   Jill Johnson Communications Director Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 822-8040 JillJ@community-minded.org   Two Milestones for Recovery Café Spokane in February  Spokane, Wash.  --   Recovery Café Spokane celebrates its two-year anniversary in Peaceful Valley in February.  In 2017, the café transformed an abandoned city building into what is now a thriving center where people can maintain their recovery, reduce relapses, fulfill their potential and reclaim their lives. “It is exciting to see how the café has grown in just two years,” said Georgia Butler, Director of Recovery Community Services at the café. “When we opened the doors, we had a handful of members. Today...

Community-Minded Enterprises welcomes Lee Williams as its new Executive Director We are pleased to let you know that Lee Williams is the new Executive Director of Community-Minded Enterprises.  Lee replaces Kathy Thamm who retired after 14 years with CME. Lee takes on the job of Executive Director, after nearly five years at CME as the Early Learning Initiative Director, for Child Care Aware of Eastern Washington, a program of Community-Minded Enterprises.  She was selected after an extensive search led by the CME Board of Directors. Lee’s first official day was December 1. Since then she has worked with outgoing Director Kathy Thamm...

After 14 years with Community-Minded Enpterises, Kathy Thamm is retiring.  Read about her time at CME and her reflections on her career in this article originally published in the Spokesman Review. Kathy Thamm retires from Community-Minded Enterprises

Community-Minded Enterprises’ Executive Director Announces Retirement after 14 Years of Service Spokane, Wash. -- Community-Minded Enterprises’ Executive Director will be stepping down at the end of the year. Kathy Thamm informed the CME Board of her retirement earlier this summer. “Kathy has done a fantastic job as Executive Director, leading CME through lean times, rebuilding our core initiatives, and leaving us well positioned for the future,” said Chris Kelly, Board Chair. “Although we're sorry to see her go, we wish her all the best as she pursues her retirement plans”. Thamm started at CME in 2004, as the Early Learning Initiative Director....

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 25, 2018                                             Jill Johnson Communications Director   Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 822-8040 JillJ@community-minded.org   Community-Minded Enterprises Recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in the Inland Northwest Community-Minded Enterprise one of 35 companies to be honored September 26th   Spokane, Wash.  --   Community-Minded Enterprise (CME) has been named one of the Best Places to Work in the Inland Northwest. The Best Places to Work Inland Northwest list is created by the Journal of Business and Best Companies Group. To determine the Best Places to Work Inland Northwest list, companies from across the region participated in a two-part survey process. The first part consisted of...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 12, 2018 Jill Johnson Communications Director Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 822-8040 JillJ@community-minded.org   Hands Across the Falls Returns to Spokane, Saturday, September 29th Hundreds expected to line the Monroe Street Bridge to Celebrate Recovery Spokane, Wash.  --   Hands Across the Falls (HAF) returns to Spokane Saturday, September 29 on the iconic Monroe Street Bridge. Recovery Café Spokane, the host for the event, created HAF as a public show of support celebrating recovery. This event is for anyone - those touched by addiction or not. “Recovery should be celebrated,” said Georgia Butler, Director of Recovery Community Services at the Café. “Seeking help is a sign of strength...

Combating America’s Opioid Crisis Here in Spokane  According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse more than 115 people in the United States die every day after overdosing. It is an epidemic. An epidemic Spokane’s Recovery Café (RCS) is battling, offering peer-to-peer mentoring, weekly support groups and education to those in recovery. In the midst of this crisis, lawmakers are looking for solutions.  Representative Cathy McMorris Rodges is one of them.  She visited the Café and has been a champion of its work ever since. In a June 26, editorial in The Spokesman-Review entitled “We’re Working to Combat America’s Opioid Crisis” the...

Peer Support Counseling One of the things that sets Recovery Café Spokane (RCS) apart is that it offers peer counseling.  That means clients receive help from recovery coaches who have been there. RCS coaches are in recovery themselves, and it’s that peer-to-peer mentoring that is crucial in helping clients maintain their sobriety. But it doesn’t stop there.  Most people who come to the café also have mental health issues. That’s why staff get an extra level of training. The café has three staff members who are Certified Peer Counselors with the Washington State Department of Mental Health. The certification process requires 40...

It has been a busy year for Recovery Café Spokane. In September, the Café hosted its first annual Hand Across the Falls event and was the recipient of a makeover courtesy of KXLY’s Extreme Team. Now, more exciting news to share. The Café was awarded a grant worth up to $50,000 from the Seattle based Recovery Café Network. “We are honored to be chosen, and are grateful to the Recovery Café Network for its support of our work” said Georgia Butler, Recovery Community Services Director. “This year has truly been one of blessings for the Café.” The money is earmarked for general...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 26, 2017 Jill Johnson Communications Specialist Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 822-8040 JillJ@community-minded.org   Spokane, Wash.  --   Recovery Café Spokane is bringing Hands Across the Falls to Spokane Saturday, September 30. The event is designed as a public show of support celebrating recovery. “This is the first of its kind in Spokane,” said Kathy Thamm, Executive Director of Community-Minded Enterprises, the parent organization of Recovery Café Spokane. “We want this event to be a way for members of the community to show their support for those who have overcome addiction.” Organizers expect several hundred attendees. The first 500 will receive a commemorative medal. Family, friends and individuals who support recovery...

In 2015, Community-Minded Enterprises launched Access to Recovery (ATR) providing free and low cost assistance to men and women recovering from drug and alcohol addiction in Spokane. In 2017, Recovery Café Spokane opened its doors in Peaceful Valley, offering people in recovery a place to drop in and get support  - whether that is a meal, a friendly ear to listen to, job training or a life enriching class. Statistics taken from the Life in Recovery Survey, conducted by Alexandre Laudet, P.h.D. in collaboration with Faces & Voices of Recovery.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 13, 2017                                            Traci Logan-Demus Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 960-7455 Tracil@community-minded.org   For the 5th Consecutive Year Community-Minded Enterprises is Recognized for Innovative and Effective Workplace Practices Spokane, Wash.  -- Community-Minded Enterprises (CME) has once again been honored with the “When Work Works” award for exemplary workplace practices by the Society for Human Resource Management. The award recognizes employers that offer flexible scheduling and transition to parenthood programs as well as opportunities for learning, a culture of respect and trust, and job autonomy. Community-Minded Enterprises was singled out for its workforce flexibility with 2/3 of its staff regularly working in the field. CME also scored high...

Go Beyond Facebook and YouTube Air your video on Community-Minded Television FREE! Since 2008, Community-Minded Television (CMTV14) has been a place where local video storytellers could share their work, their passion, their point of view. We are dedicated to providing cable access to the people of Spokane. Right now, we’re accepting video submissions. And we need you! We’re looking for videos that: Entertain Inform Educate Uplift Frequently Asked Questions Who can submit a video?  Anyone. You will need to fill out a little paperwork. What kind of videos are you looking for? Here are some examples, but don’t be limited by this...

Spokane’s Recovery Café didn’t look like itself when “Breast Intentions” borrowed the space for a bra fitting session for women in need. Usually, the Recovery Café is a place to visit with a recovery coach, connect with services or just have a cup of coffee and spend a moment to recharge. But on the evening of April 20 it looked more like the women’s undergarment section of a department store: it was overflowing with racks of bras. Spokane-based Breast Intentions provides women in need with a bra that fits, and the nonprofit and its volunteers teamed up with the Recovery Café to...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 8, 2017                                                   Jill Johnson Community-Minded Enterprises (509) 960-7459 JillJ@community-minded.org Community-Minded Television (CMTV14) Opens State of the Art Studio to the Public and Expands Class Offerings in Partnership with AltLens Spokane, Wash.  -- CMTV14, Spokane’s nonprofit community access television station has a new home. CMTV14 recently moved into a custom-built production studio, located at 104 West 3rd Avenue on the corner of Third and Browne in Spokane. The move coincides with the launch of new classes offered by...