Dear Southgate Neighborhood Council, 

Hello! My name is Sylvia Blodorn and I am the Sustainability and Resilience Program Coordinator at Gonzaga University. I am writing to the leaders of the Neighborhood Councils of Spokane about a 100% cost-free and exciting sustainability leadership opportunity with the Office of Sustainability called Resilience Academy! Resilience Academy is a program offered in the spring to community members in the greater Spokane area designed to encourage participants to build connections, develop leadership skills, and have meaningful discussions on sustainable ideas. It is open to anyone who wants to participate, regardless of age, experience with sustainability, or knowledge.  

Resilience Academy will meet once per week from 2-3 PM at Saranac Commons where we will have discussions with guest speakers from nonprofits around Spokane, participate in workshops designed to build resilience, and share strategies and tools for leading more sustainable lives. In an effort to stimulate diverse and equitable participation in the program, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) participants are eligible to receive a monetary honorarium for their participation. Participants will celebrate completion of the 4-month program with a certificate and a host of skills and connections for sustainable living in the future.  

I am currently accepting applications for this program (just a few short questions), as well as nominations through December 6th. I would love to have you or other members of your community participate in Resilience Academy next year. The program will start on Tuesday, January 13th, and run every Tuesday until April 28th. You can find all of our application/nomination forms as well as more information on Resilience Academy at our website: https://www.gonzaga.edu/about/sustainability/engagement/leadership-programs . Please consider applying and spreading the word to your neighbors through the above link or sharing the flyer I have attached in the email! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about Resilience Academy, I’d be happy to answer them.  

Kindly, 

Sylvia Blodorn

Gonzaga University  | Sustainability & Resilience Program Coordinator

blodorn@gonzaga.edu