Family, Tribal ties make our LCSNW team stronger in Klamath Falls
Native American heritage means a lot to Elizabeth Jackson and Kya Adams-Jackson. The mother and daughter recently offered a glimpse into their family’s rich Tribal history, a welcome opportunity to learn about this culture as LCSNW observes Native American Heritage...
‘A better life is possible:’ Everett staff help family of 6 out of homelessness
LCSNW’s three regional Community Resource Centers are warm, welcoming places that help low-income individuals and families get on their feet when they are struggling to meet life’s basic needs. At CRCs in Everett, SeaTac and Port Angeles, they can find help with...
Giving voice to immigrants’ stories
We recently produced a series of three videos that explore the immigrant experience by sharing the stories of three of our clients. The videos, released as part of National Immigrants Day on October 28, are about Ismael, Isabel, and Mostafa. Each individual sought...
2023 client survey is here!
We want to hear from LCS Northwest clients and service participants. We take what you tell us very seriously. Your input is essential in our pursuit of health, justice and hope. Two years ago we conducted our first annual client survey, collected meaningful feedback...
Portland church engages neighbors in donation drive
Portland’s Prince of Peace Lutheran Church recently held a donation drive and collected nearly 200 brown paper grocery bags full of mostly new items for LCSNW to distribute to local refugee families. These types of donations are critical because newly arrived refugee...
Two Vancouver churches provide space for growing LCSNW programs
Our Multicultural Community Services (MCS) staff has expanded into two Vancouver area churches that have office space to spare. One church is Lutheran, the other is not, and LCS Northwest is grateful to both. MCS Director Peter Vogelaar said he and others at Lutheran...
Two more artists join LCSNW refugee art show in Beaverton
Ghulam Ali Danish Kamal, who goes by Danish, is a longtime artist who fled Afghanistan in October 2021. Danish, his wife Marzia, their three sons and his parents arrived in Washington state the following May and became clients of Lutheran Community Services Northwest....
Caring for kiddos: A Family Place expands to Newberg, third site in Yamhill County
A familiar polka dot bus drives around Newberg, the gateway to Oregon's Willamette Valley, picking up children as young as 18 months and delivering them to an exciting new place. This isn't just any place. It's A Family Place, a relief nursery that opened this fall in...
LCSNW substance use disorder counselor reflects on his own recovery
September is National Recovery Month. It celebrates the gains made by those in substance use recovery. Larry Jay Johnson joined LCSNW in March 2022. He is a Behavioral Health Program Supervisor in our Multicultural Community Services (Portland) district. Here he...
From child refugee to Lutheran pastor: Emillie’s first welcome to America came from LCSNW
Where Emillie Binja is from, relationships are more valuable than time. Emillie grew up in a refugee camp in Uganda after fleeing the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo with her family at age 8. She was 24 when she and her three brothers and mother arrived in...
Mother and son opened their Vancouver home to refugees; you can do the same
LCSNW is seeking temporary host homes for refugees. For more information about Vancouver placements, contact Khalid Barzgar, kbarzgar@lcsnw.org or 360-787-4737. For the Portland area, contact Fiona Evans, fevans@lcsnw.org or 503-731-9590. For the Puget Sound area, go...
Disability lost its grip, and she found LCSNW ‘dream job’ in Portland area
Every LCSNW team member has a job-search story filled with unique challenges. Catherine Hill, a recently hired Mental Health Clinician, completed a long journey in which she faced the adversity of being legally blind. But the route was made smoother by Catherine’s...
Spokane clinician’s idea blooms into therapy for young LCSNW clients
One small seedling blossomed into more than 75 plant starts in an unusual place – an LCSNW counseling office in Spokane. Clinician Ryan Marsh had the idea to offer his young clients the chance to start a plant and follow its growth. The project has brought a world of...