The Learning Project’s mission is to advocate on behalf of underserved families throughout Eastern Washington. We serve as an multi-purpose educational hub for educators, childcare and health care providers. Our work advances racial justice for children, families and community through media, research, and leadership development. We raise awareness, provide solutions, and cultivate leadership for people of color and vulnerable communities who are not receiving health equity and social justice.

Health equity, the state in which everyone has equal, fair and cultural access to the highest level of health potential, lies at the nucleus of our programs. We identify health equity strategies through in-person and virtual seminars, art exhibits and ceremonies that gather Eastern Washington’s underserved communities and their advocates, inspiring any and all to become change agents and address, challenge and eradicate social issues plaguing their communities.

At The Learning Project, we center lived experiences as we build community from the ground up. We align programs and initiatives discovered through research and community feedback. With the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention’s findings that Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy than white women, The Learning Project created the ‘Black Maternal Health Art Exhibit’ to voice Black women voicing their concerns during their birthing experiences. In 2019, The Nation’s Report Card determined that children of color’s reading proficiencies are lower than white students. In response to this study, our Hello Readers program gathers community leaders to strategize and improve student’s reading proficiency.

Our training sessions are accessible through in-person appointments and virtually obtainable through The Learning Project’s Online Learning Portal. The curriculum is set on the backdrop of the Washington Basic Child Care Training Development program, with an emphasis on early childhood education preparation.

The Learning Project is enrolled in national organizations that promote health equity and social justice including membership in the NAACP’s local Spokane chapter, Black Mamas Matter Alliance and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). We maintain membership in equity-based initiatives such as the WSU Health Equity Circle and the Washington State Hospital Association’s Birth Equity Committee.