Our History
Hermanas Spokane is comprised of a group of women in Spokane, Washington who have established a relationship of solidarity with a group of women in Huisisilapa, El Salvador. This relationship is based on mutual respect and collaboration that strengthens our communities. This relationship grew out of a research project in Huisisilapa on the leadership skills of these Salvadoran women. At the end of this research, Hermanas Spokane was formally organized to support these women and their community. From Hermanas Spokane, a group of high school students called Los Hermanos formed and partnered with the high school youth in Huisisilapa for the last four years.
These collaborative relationships between Spokane and Huisisilapa have been strengthened by the visits of the Hermanas / Hermanos Spokane members to the community in Huisisilapa and by a visit from a community member in Huisisilapa to Spokane. Throughout the six years of our relationship, we, in Spokane, have begun to better understand the needs of Huisisilapa. The community’s number one priority is education. Hermanas Spokane, along with Los Hermanos, the high school group, began working to support the educational endeavors of the youth in Huisisilapa in many ways. First, the high school students, along with several members of Hermanas, traveled to Huisisilapa and helped set up a computer lab in the high school. The computers had been donated by a local private high school and by a local Rotary Club for this purpose. Laptop computers have also been donated by several individuals for use by the high school teachers and university students. Second, several annual local fund raisers have provided teachers salaries, books and materials for the high school program in Huisisilapa. These fund raising events include dinners, garage sales, and car washes. Third, Hermanas Spokane has taken on the ongoing commitment to help a few university students with tuition, books and living expenses. Donations have come from personal resources of the Hermanas as well as from others who have developed an interest in supporting Huisisilapa.
Hermanas Spokane has been involved in the community of Huisisilapa in other ways. The youth of both communities have shown an interest in several craft projects, including making bead jewelry and designing and sewing unique clothes from recycled tee shirts. In addition, a local women’s coop in Huisisilapa has made environmentally friendly cloth shopping bags and crocheted purses to sell at local Spokane events.
Currently Hermanas Spokane is working on helping the community with more college scholarships for their high school graduates. There is also a need to set up job training programs for high school graduates who are unable to go to the university. In addition, the number of high school students has grown so a new building is needed. Hermanas Spokane is working with the local Huisisilapa school board and town council to decide the best ways to support these endeavors. Hermanas Spokane intends to solicit donations and grants for specific needs relating to the quality of life issues such as these.
Phyllis Andersen, Ph. D., is the founder and President of Hermanas Spokane.
Phyllis became acquainted with the women in El Salvador through field research for her dissertation. Upon returning to the United States Phyllis invited women in Spokane to form a group to be in solidarity with the women in El Salvador who share similar needs and concerns. The president completes her duties as needed without compensation.