About The ZONE

The ZONE is a community initiative, building hope and opportunity through collective action in the neighborhoods of Northeast Spokane.

Together with residents, schools, and partner organizations, we shine a light on deep disparities in health, education, and economic outcomes. We remove barriers, and we build upon our strengths so all children, youth, and families have opportunities to thrive.

In 2015, The ZONE Project formed out of a desire to build upon past neighborhood planning efforts with a new, more collaborative approach known as collective impact. Over 50 organizations and many residents came together across multiple sectors to develop a 10 year strategic plan, now in its implementation stage as we strive to create transformational change in the areas of housing, safety, health, jobs, and education.

Now called The ZONE, this dynamic initiative is housed at and staff hired by the Northeast Community Center. Residents are actively engaged in designing programs and decision-making structures that reflect the diversity of people, neighborhoods, and schools.

As a partnership of residents and organizations in Northeast Spokane, we are committed to:

Building powerful and inclusive connections.
Opening doors of opportunity with families.
Creating an impact that lasts for generations.

Learn More About The ZONE

What Does it Mean to be a ZONE Kid?

Staff

Now called The ZONE, this dynamic initiative is a part of the Northeast Community Center. Listed below is our core ZONE staff that does the work of the Community Initiative.

Jene Ray

Director

jray@necommunitycenter.com

More About Jene

Jene Ray has been teaching since fourth grade (with ballet classes and Sunday School as her debut). After obtaining her Master’s in Teaching Degree with both Elementary and Secondary credentials, she was a classroom teacher for twenty years, teaching pre-school through high school before moving to the district level to teach and coach teachers. Jene’s experience includes five years of state level education funding and policy work in Olympia, as well as Directing Operations for an education research center at the University of Washington Tacoma focused on trauma informed instruction, the effects of poverty on learning, and diversity training for staff of both school and out of school programs. Jene serves as The ZONE's Director, aligning partners and developing programs with residents in Northeast Spokane to catalyze multi-generational outcomes in housing, safety, health, economics, and education. Her volunteer roles include Board Chair for Lumen High School and Business Career Development Program Director on the board of Executive Women International Spokane. When Jene has a free moment, she loves trying new recipes, reading books in French, taking walks in the sunshine, and spending time with family.

Coffee Order: Black drip. Hot. By the bucketful.

Amanda Randall

Housing Diversion Case Manager

arandall@necommunitycenter.com

More About Amanda

Amanda Randall has a background in Permanent Supportive Housing, and most of her experience has been working with families and individuals to maintain housing stability. She has a passion for working with people and empowering them to grow and thrive. Seeing residents gain confidence and make connections with each other and the community is one of the highlights of her work. Amanda has made lasting connections with local organizations and is looking forward to expanding that network, as well as building a new Housing Diversion program that will support Northeast residents. She loves living and working in Northeast Spokane. When she is not working Amanda enjoys spending time with her daughter, listening to audiobooks and podcasts, and trying to keep her house plants alive. Working on house projects is her newest hobby since purchasing her home in the Logan neighborhood last year.

Coffee Order: Iced americano with white chocolate powder

Lavonnie Mcmanus

Housing Diversion Case Manager

lmcmanus@necommunitycenter.com

More About Lavonnie

Lavonnie Mcmanus is from Kalispell, Montana and moved here in 2018. She has a BA in Psychology and an AA in social work. Lavonnie has been an agency affiliated peer counselor since May 2020. Lavonnie’s experience includes four years as the Associate Director for the Samaritan House Homeless Shelter, as well as running their homeless veterans’ program. She has worked for The Violence Free Crisis Line and Abbey Shelter as a Case Manager and Advocate. For the past five years, Lavonnie has worked in re-entry, doing supported employment services, supportive housing services, and was the Regional Reentry Program Manager for Revive Counseling. Lavonnie is the co-owner of Revive Reentry Services, a transitional housing program here in Spokane. Lavonnie has served on the non-profit board of Revive Center for Returning Citizens, helping with classes offered at the Spokane Resource Center on racial equity, implicit bias, ACEs scores, trauma informed care, and cultural sensitivity. She also helps to educate people about the culture of incarceration. When Lavonnie is not working, she loves to ride her motorcycle, bead, crotchet, and spend time with her two sons.

Coffee Order: Cold dirty chai tea

Ashley Painter

Wolff Fellow

apainter@necommunitycenter.com

More About Ashley

Ashley is from Spokane and is a second-year student at Gonzaga University. She is pursuing a degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Management Information Systems and Entrepreneurship with a minor in Digital Marketing and plans to include Sociology in her studies. Ashley has a strong interest in affordable housing issues in Spokane and actively engages with her community. At Gonzaga, she serves as a Peer Mentor, offering guidance and support to first-year students. During the summer, you can find her working at Comstock Pool, where she also coaches the Aqua Ducks swim team. In her free time, Ashley expresses her creativity through digital design and crafts. She loves taking walks and spending time with her three dogs. Ashley is excited to be part of The ZONE and looks forward to contributing to community initiatives while gaining valuable insight into affordable housing issues.

Coffee Order: Iced chai

The ZONE Resident Steering Committee

The ZONE Steering Committee is led by local residents and includes input from community-based organizations. They meet regularly to discuss priorities that are important to them and their neighbors. They make recommendations, which shapes our programming and where/how we invest in our community.

2024's priorities are:

Affordable Housing for Larger Family Sizes
Increasing Job Coaching/Training
Safe, Engaging After-School Activities for Youth

Sub-committees were formed by topic and are working alongside our ZONE staff as we advocate and develop programs to meet the needs of our children, youth, and families.

Members

Melissa Bedford

Shanda Blunt

Allonda Brown

Gydance Brown

Pat Castaneda

Tienaya Godes

Natalia Gutierrez

Charles Hanson

Lorraine Holokai

Peggy Huan-McEwen

Marcia Johnson

Stacy Lenz

Onnika Merkle

Terrance Nixon

Joe Potter

Debra Raub

Lisa Rice

Marsha Valenzuela

Lori Veitenheimer

Lisa White

Shante Williams

Bailley Wootton

Want to Get Involved?

Contact Jene Ray, Director of The ZONE, for more information.

Email: JRay@NECommunityCenter.com

Phone: 509.487.1603 x224

Our Values

Equity

We are committed to understand and address inequities based on race, ethnicity, gender, economic status, language, and ability to eliminate opportunity gaps.

people-focused

four hands, each grabbing the next's wrist | The ZONE

We build on our community’s assets – valuing the unique contributions and strengths of all residents.

holistic change

We aim to improve health, education and economic outcomes in NE Spokane families and neighborhoods through strategies that support multiple generations in the same household.

data driven

We use data to understand inequities, focus strategies and measure impact at the individual, school and neighborhood levels.

collaboration

We develop and implement holistic, multi-sector strategies collaboratively and align our resources to create larger impact.

trauma informed

We strive to be trauma-informed and culturally-responsive as individuals and organizations.