Project Hope, our neighborhood partner in the Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market, is hosting a meet and greet with James Kashork, the organization’s new executive director, on Thursday, February 13. It will start at 6pm at the Maxwell House Restaurant (1425 N. Ash).

James is a familiar face around Spokane, not least due to his involvement with a variety of faith-based organizations such as Spokane Urban Ministries and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. As the new full-time executive director for Project Hope, he’s already hard at work at his desk in the nonprofit’s new offices in Salem Lutheran Church, where will be helping to coordinate Project Hope’s existing activities as well as build the donor and volunteer base for anticipated future growth.

Part of that future growth involves closer ties with Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood and its at-risk youth. With Project Hope, these youth will find a productive and positive channel for their free time that includes gardening, lawn care, market sales and more.

The Emerson-Garfield Farmers’ Market was Project Hope’s first “official” collaboration with Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood Council, and this year will see an even closer collaboration between the two organizations. For example, Project Hope’s Riverfront Farms will sell vegetables grown by its youth participants at the EGFM.

If you’re interested in meeting James, finding out more about Project Hope, or supporting the organization through donations or volunteering, we encourage you to attend the February 13 meet and greet. You can also reach out to James via e-mail at james@projecthopespokane.org.