A New Year brings new possibilities and in 2023 a dream is coming true.
When I moved to Issaquah in 2009, I started volunteering my time to organize different groups for my community, balancing my time with my responsibilities at work. Little did I know that the activities I was doing as a volunteer were going to be become so important to me.
While I started these groups to help create community, as the years went by, these interactions allowed me to get to know many families and better understand their needs. The groups themselves have grown and become a part of the fabric of our communities.
In 2019, the city of Issaquah started to support these efforts. And during the pandemic, all the groups came together under a new 501(c)3 organization, The Circle. We now have an office in Issaquah where we are meeting families and offering events and educational workshops.
I believe in the power of an organized community. This one welcomed my family when we moved here years ago, and The Circle is my way to give back. My goal is to leave it as a gift for many generations to come.
The Circle provides a safe space where individuals and families come together to learn, celebrate, and contribute boldly to their communities. We welcome and help individuals and families to get the resources that they need and to become active community members while building cultural competence. We offer community navigation services, events, and educational workshops.
The work of The Circle is meant to complement the services offered by local organizations such as the cities themselves, the ISD Cultural and Family Partnerships, the Issaquah Schools Foundation, and many others. And I am thrilled to announce that this work is already supported by private donations and the cities of Issaquah, Sammamish, and Renton.
I could not do all of this by myself. I am working hand in hand with Marisol Visser, Jodi Novotny, and other amazing community leaders. If you would like to learn more or have ideas of how to support local families, please come join The Circle!
Cheers to dreams coming true and to a very prosperous 2023!
Alicia Spinner
The Circle
Thecircle-wa.org