Members of the Eastern Washington University Community:
Sarahi Gutierrez, Nydia Martinez and I have combined our expertise to assemble a brief list of scholarships and organizations that support students of color, their families and their communities. By no means is this an exhaustive list, however it is meant to pull together in one place a variety of well-established avenues for channeling our energies and financial resources toward racial justice at EWU and in our area.
Over the past month, we in the EWU community have spoken out, protested and made countless gestures of kindness in an effort toward stopping the systemic violence against African Americans and all people of color in our country. But we know that for our individual actions to have a lasting impact, they will have to continue and intensify for months—even years—to come. And that’s overwhelming.
The resources below are all a click away. Next time you want to do something, but are daunted by the thought, please consider taking actions such as donating, signing up, “liking,” or just bookmarking these sites. The list is organized with resources for EWU students of color first, and then by organizations (with their donation pages) at the local, state and national levels, in that order. Each entry includes a summary taken from the organization’s site.
Please note that the only EWU scholarships and funds listed below are those that are currently active and being awarded to students of color or the programs that support them. Many worthy scholarships and endowment funds were left off the list because they do not meet the limiting criteria.
Finally, if you have good suggestions for scholarships or organizations not on this list, please email Ann at alebar@ewu.edu. Based on response, we will send out an updated list later in the summer or early fall.
Thank you!
In peace and solidarity,
Ann Le Bar, Chair, Department of History
Sarahi Gutierrez, Chicana/o/x Studies, Bi-lingual Programmer
Nydia Martinez, Chicana/o/x Studies Director
EWU Scholarships and Funds for Students of Color
Diversity Scholars Fund
A key strategy to promote diversity at EWU is the support and awarding of scholarships to diverse populations. It is the intent of the Diversity Scholars Fund to better market, cultivate, solicit and steward gifts in support of diverse students.
Eagle Pride Fund
The Eagle Pride Fund provides an individual scholarship for eligible students who are enrolled full time and in good standing at EWU, with demonstrated financial need. Preference is given to students who are giving back to the university through diversity outreach and engagement with the LGBTQ+ community, as well as first-generation college students.
American Indian Studies Fund
Established in 1965, the American Indian Studies Program serves Native American students interested in a degree from EWU. Through the AISP’s support, EWU has educated a large number of students. Many of these alumni have chosen to return and work in their Indian communities. Our alumni include educations, healthcare providers, social workers, business executives, tribal leaders, planners, writers, artists, and more.
Dreamers’ Fund
Meets the needs of first-generation college students who qualify for the 1079 program. They or their parents must have worked in the fields. This is an emergency fund, distributed on an as-needed basis with the goal of maintaining continuing enrollment at EWU.
F5 Networks Women in STEM and Diversity Scholarship
The F5 Networks Women in STEM Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to up to five women students who have declared a major in STEM and have demonstrated financial need. Scholarships are awarded to students with diverse backgrounds, including students of color and students with disabilities, demonstrating financial need.
Stephen and Ruth Jordan Scholarship honoring Dr. Perry Higman
Scholarship awarded to undocumented students (DACA or WA House Bill 1079 eligible) with a 3.4 GPA or higher. Preference given to students enrolled in the EWU honors department and/or with financial need.
Hispanic Legacy Scholarship Endowment
Scholarship for a student of Hispanic/Latino(a)/Chicano(a) descent who is a full time undergraduate student with a minimum 2.8 GPA and demonstrated financial need.
For additional information on scholarships and application details, please visit the EWU Financial Aid website.
To support EWU students by giving to a scholarship fund, please visit the Giving to EWU website or contact Kaarin Appel, kappel@ewu.edu.
Community Resources for Students of Color
Hispanic Business/Professional Organization of Spokane
- Scholarship program open to Spokane area high school seniors and college students.
DACA Renewal Fund for EWU Students
Organizations Involved in Racial Justice
Spokane NAACP
The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. We envision a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race.
Martin Luther King Center, Spokane
Founded in 1971, the MLK Jr Family Outreach @ ECCC houses a number of resources for East Central Spokane. Community partners housed in the “Center” include SNAP, W.I.C. and CCS Headstart. We foster developing stronger families through innovative parent education programs for on-site and in-home visitation throughout Spokane. We also house a state-funded ECEAP preschool program that is free to income-eligible families.
Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane
PJALS works on issues of peace, economic justice and human rights. We have been active since 1975, promoting social, political and economic change through grassroots community organizing, nonviolence training, volunteer involvement, education and advocacy. We network with local, regional and national peace and human rights groups to initiate change locally and globally. PJALS is a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation.
Spokane Community Against Racism
Our mission is to identify and address racial disparities through a variety of community efforts, which include education, advocacy, research, community engagement, impacting policy, and challenging existing organizations and structures.
Spokane Immigrant Rights Coalition Legal Defense Fund
Families are being ripped apart by racist and inhumane anti-immigrant policies. We stand with immigrants! Donations will provide legal representation for undocumented immigrants who need an attorney.
Smart Justice Spokane
Smart Justice Spokane is a broad coalition of over 30 organizations working together to end mass incarceration and eliminate racial disparities in our local criminal justice system.
Spokane Human Rights Commission
The Human Rights Commission advises and makes recommendations to the City Council regarding issues related to human rights and unjust discrimination and the implementation of programs consistent with the needs of all residents of Spokane.
OneAmerica/With Justice for All
OneAmerica® is the largest immigrant and refugee advocacy organization in Washington State, organizing with and advocating for diverse communities including Latinx, African and Asian. Initially named Hate Free Zone, OneAmerica was founded immediately after September 11, 2001 to address the backlash, hate crimes and discrimination against immigrant communities of color, primarily Muslims, Arab Americans, East Africans and South Asians.
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
Northwest Immigrant Rights Project promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy and community education.
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
The ACLU of Washington is the state affiliate of the ACLU. We work to ensure justice, freedom and equality are realities for all people in Washington state, with particular attention to the rights of people and groups who have historically been disenfranchised. Such as the young man stopped by the police because of the color of his skin; the 10-year-old immigrant girl forced to represent herself in court; the disabled grandmother who is refused an apartment because of a decades-old conviction; the woman told she may not have a hysterectomy in a religious-run hospital; the gay couple refused service at a flower shop, and many more.
Black Lives Matter
#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization in the US, UK and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.
United We Dream
When you’re undocumented, you face a lot of discrimination and that creates a lot of fear. At United We Dream, we transform that fear into finding your voice. We empower people to develop their leadership, their organizing skills and to develop our own campaigns to fight for justice and dignity for immigrants and all people. This is achieved through immigrant youth-led campaigns at the local, state, and federal level.
