American Indian Community Center in Spokane seeks $12.5 million for a ‘forever home’ to expand food bank and cultural space

A representative of the American Indian Community Center (AICC) told staff from the Spokane City Council office that the organization is running a $12,500,000 capital campaign to build a 17,000-square-foot permanent facility in Highbridge Park that would house its programs, an expanded food bank and cultural spaces.

"It will be one facility that will house all of our programs," an AICC representative said, adding the campaign has raised about $4,200,000 so far and is planning a phased construction approach. The group described features that would include a gathering area for powwows, a sweat lodge, space for funerals and an industrial kitchen to support large community meals.

The project stems from longstanding instability in the center’s locations, an AICC staff member said, noting the organization began in 1967 (originally called AIM) and has changed locations multiple times. "It's been a struggle because we... moved 11 times," the staff member said, arguing that owning a permanent building would reduce turnover-related disruption for clients and staff.

The AICC staff outlined the services the center currently runs: a tribal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program that helps clients with barriers to employment, an Indian Child Welfare program that receives referrals, a positive parenting class supported by a grant, behavioral-health services under a program called Good Heart, and a food bank the staff said typically serves at least 3,500 clients per year. The Good Heart behavioral-health program, launched in 2017, was described as serving about 20 clients; staff said they are seeking to replace a counselor who died in June to keep the program running.

Speakers described emergency and rental-assistance work in 2023. According to AICC staff, the organization faced near-exhaustion of rental-assistance funds, requested $2,000,000 as a precaution and then learned the grants manager had $4,000,000 available; staff said that was distributed rapidly to help people in housing crisis. (The meeting transcript contains an unclear figure regarding how many people were housed, given as "15 to 1,600." )

On the campaign timeline, the AICC representative said the first phase — an expanded food bank with an industrial kitchen, family-services office space and therapy rooms — is expected to start in fall 2026 or spring 2027. The group asked community members and partners to donate and pointed to drawings and donation options posted on its website and Facebook pages.

Alex Jabulisco, manager of equity and inclusion initiatives at the Spokane City Council office, framed the visit as a chance for city staff and elected officials to learn about the center’s work and partnerships with parks and local schools. Speakers discussed outreach efforts such as culture nights that teach beading, ribbon skirts and drumming, and said volunteers and partner organizations have provided in-kind support.

Next steps described at the meeting include continued fundraising for the capital campaign, pursuing the phased construction plan for Highbridge Park, and maintaining current programming while expanding storage and kitchen capacity to reduce food waste. The AICC representatives asked individuals and agencies interested in partnerships or donations to consult the organization’s online materials for details.

The visit closed with thanks and an invitation to learn more at spokanecity.org, and organizers reiterated that donations and partnerships will be critical to completing the "forever home."