Immigration committee co-chair Susan Hales, left, introduces Rumyana Kodeva, presenter of Saturday’s Cultural Awareness workshop, which was sponsored by the Spokane League and Eastern Washington University’s School of Social Work.

Looking for how they might best support the Spokane area’s immigrant population as it faces increased distress, more than 30 League members participated in a three-hour “Cultural Awareness” workshop Saturday morning.

“Sometimes volunteers don’t know how to be with people of a different culture,” said Louise Chadez of the Spokane League’s Immigration committee. “And so we wanted to learn more about how to understand other cultures, whether people are citizens or not.”

Chadez, who co-chairs the Spokane committee with Susan Hales, said workshop presenter Rumyana Kudeva, a doctoral-level social worker from the Spokane Regional Health District, emphasized the importance of both “maintaining cultural humility” and recognizing differences exist from culture to culture and within cultures. 

 “There is still much to be learned,” Chadez said, adding plans are for additional workshops in the future.

The Spokane Immigration committee, which has about 12 members, began forming in February this year, motivated by the increased presence of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in the area and the LWVWA's "Welcoming Immigrants to Washington" study led by Susan Martin.

“We took Susan’s information to heart,” Chadez said.

The workshop was held in collaboration with the Eastern Washington University School of Social Work.

One of the main takeaways of the workshop for Chadez? 

“Remember to exhibit compassion for others rather than empathy. And be true neighbors, rather than just allies, to those of cultural differences.