Diversity

Pasco school employee awarded MLK Jr. Spirit Award

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

An educator focused on helping migrant children succeed in school, graduate and be prepared for their futures is this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit Award winner.

New Richland laundromat to offer inclusive workplace

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:00:00 -0500

When Jeffrey Peterson’s son Alexander received his first paycheck, the moment changed everything and ultimately sparked a business venture with an inclusive workplace.

WA governor moves to improve state consultation with tribes

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 21:00:00 -0400

Gov. Bob Ferguson signed an executive order to strengthen how the state consults and works with Native American tribes in Washington.

Funeral home to host community Día de los Muertos event

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 21:00:00 -0400

Celebration and remembrance will be the focus of a family-friendly event at one Tri-Cities funeral home.

Yakama Nation launches campaign to highlight tribal heritage, ongoing work

Sun, 31 Aug 2025 21:00:00 -0400

The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation have launched a public education initiative designed to highlight the tribes’ enduring cultural legacy, leadership and ongoing contributions throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Women’s commission’s new leader is ready to get to work

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 11:00:00 -0400

The new leader at the state’s Women’s Commission is ready to get to work, both in advocating for women who work and also in making sure they have the resources they need.

Afghan cook brings a taste of home to Pasco

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 11:00:00 -0400

This cook’s love for cooking leads to launch of Tri-Cities Afghan Food in the Pasco Specialty Kitchen.

Pasco restaurant wins fourth flavor crown

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Pasco business wins top taco award — again.

Bar’s bold new direction will embrace everyone under the rainbow

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Pasco’s longtime queer sanctuary is debuting its sweet new name along with dedicated dance and social spaces for Latino patrons while retaining its “same inclusive heart.”

Diversity celebration canceled but plans to return in 2026

ty@tcjournal.biz — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 11:00:00 -0400

The organizers behind a festival that has centered and celebrated diverse cultures and communities in the Tri-Cities since 2021 have canceled this year’s event.

The economics of empathy build stronger communities

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Supporting the arts supports the artist who will bring patrons to your community with benefits to local tourism spots and more.

Tri-Citian to share how MLK Jr.’s most famous speech almost didn’t happen

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 10:16:39 -0500

Two showings of “The Dream…We Almost Never Heard” are planned Jan. 18 in Richland.

WSU Tri-Cities lands $3.1M grant to train multilingual educators

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 16:16:26 -0400

A $3.1 million federal grant will fund a Washington State University Tri-Cities project aimed at increasing the number of multilingual educators in the Tri-Cities region and beyond.

Hispanics at the forefront of historic small business boom

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0400

Latino entrepreneur growth rates over the past decade have risen 10 times more than non-Latino business rates.

Tri-Cities nonprofit highlights Black community achievements

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 11:00:00 -0400

For the past two decades, a Tri-Cities nonprofit has been working to highlight the accomplishments of the Black community.

Kennewick newcomers learn how to ‘do America’

rachel@tcjournal.biz — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 11:00:00 -0400

An intensive, 12-day summer class aims to teach essential skills to high school students who were new to the country.

Hot Mess Burgers & Fries owner blazes a trail

sara@tcjournal.biz — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 11:00:00 -0400

The classically trained chef and co-owner of Hot Mess Burgers & Fries, a mainstay in downtown Kennewick, also now is living as her authentic self.

How inclusive workplaces drive business success

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 11:00:00 -0400

Employees, now more than ever, are looking for socially conscious organizations.The benefits are many.

Benton, Franklin counties shift to a majority-minority population

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 09:00:00 -0400

We expect the numbers of people of color to exceed 200,000. This would make the entire two county area “majority minority.”

At this Kennewick bakery, a taste of home – and a dream realized

sara@tcjournal.biz — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 17:54:45 -0400

When Adnan Al Hayyawi moved to the Tri-Cities from his native Iraq nearly eight years ago, he missed the tastes of home.The sweet, flavorful pistachio baklava.The fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth samoon bread.The zesty meat and vegetable pizzas and the shish kebabs.He doesn’t have to miss them anymore.Al Hayyawi and his wife, Thekra...

Pasco school playground named one of the best in America

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 17:31:34 -0400

The Three Rivers Elementary School playground in Pasco earned national recognition as one of the 10 best inclusive playgrounds in the country. The playground, at 3901 Road 84 in Pasco, opened in 2019 and was designed specifically to address the physical and social inclusion of people of all ages and abilities. Soliant,...

Q&A with Martin Valadez

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 17:25:12 -0400

Q&A with Martin Valadez, regional director, Tri-Cities, Heritage University.

2 menus, 1 roof: Kennewick restaurant caters to diverse dietary needs and palates

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 17:10:52 -0400

It’s not often that a vegan, a meat eater, a keto dieter and someone with celiac disease or a peanut allergy can all order from the same menu.Especially a menu that’s a mash-up of French and Mexican food.Al Avelar, co-owner of Crepe Haus + El Compadre, knew he wanted his...

Without people of color, there is no Tri-Cities economy

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 16:55:45 -0400

Viewed from the perspective of one year to another, very little changes in a community’s demographics. Viewed from the perch of a decade or two, demographic change is usually easy to spot. So it is with race and ethnicity in the greater Tri-Cities.Consider the size of population of people of...

Diversity Briefs – April 2022

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 14:38:31 -0400

Murray earmarks $3M for MLK Center in PascoPasco’s Martin Luther King Jr. Center will get a major facelift after securing $3 million in a federal appropriations bill signed into law in March.U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, directed $116.4 million to local projects across the state.Some of the other appropriations to...

Owners of Pasco’s oldest restaurant plan to retire

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 14:31:35 -0400

Pasco’s oldest continuously operating restaurant has been serving the Tri-City community for 58 years.Chinese Gardens at 1520 N. Fourth Ave. has been a Pasco cornerstone since late founder Jack Lee opened it in 1965.The building is hard to miss with its mashup of pagoda-esque midcentury brick architecture and flamboyant, dragon-flanked...

Longtime community leader works to make an impact

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 14:05:47 -0400

Chauné Fitzgerald continues to make a mark on the Tri-City community through her volunteer work and advocacy, operating her own business and starting a successful nonprofit.She’s also working to launch a Tri-City chapter of the Washington African American Chamber of Commerce.But the Richland entrepreneur says she regularly feels unseen or...

Q&A with Naima Chambers-Smith

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 13:58:11 -0400

Naima Chambers-SmithCEOTri-Cities Diversity & Inclusion CouncilNaima Chambers-SmithNumber of employees you oversee: We have less than five paid employees. However, we have approximately 30 members of the council and over 130 volunteers in the last year alone.Brief background of your businessor organization:Tri-Cities Diversity & Inclusion Council (TCD&IC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit...

Pandemic deals different economic hands to the Tri-City workforce

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 13:10:11 -0400

Recently, the Eastern Washington University’s Institute for Public Policy & Economic Analysis was asked by the Port of Kennewick to conduct an “environmental scan” of the economy of the greater Tri-Cities. The overriding goal was to determine the impact of the pandemic on a variety of economic dimensions. One of...

Tri-Cities’ diverse population continues to grow but not its income

Thu, 15 Apr 2021 14:22:50 -0400

March Madness brings out a latent desire to be No. 1. (Just missed that up here in Spokane.) While many teams have raised their hands with an index finger rising from a fist, not too many municipalities have. Maybe the Tri-Cities should, at least by one measure.It might not be...