In 2008, the YWCA purchased and remodeled the Wilsonion Apartments at 401 St Helens for our domestic violence shelter. When the building opened to clients, every family had their own apartment where they were safe and could begin the process of healing with privacy and dignity. Seeing the difference a beautiful environment made, Miriam Barnett decided that during her tenure at the YWCA, all spaces where clients would seek services would be beautiful. Next came a complete remodel of the old shelter into our an expanded legal and therapeutic children’s program where once again, beauty made a difference on how clients healed. Miriam's  final and largest project ($23.2 million) is Home at Last. Home at Last is 54 apartments for homeless families and individuals and while the shelter is a 90-day stay, this project is permanent housing. Tenants can stay as long as they need and want. The building filled up immediately with over 300 people vying to live in the building. The need is great. The arts play an integral part in all three projects and in our programming.

The Rotary Club of Tacoma #8 is open to all people who want to make positive changes in our community and world.  We welcome all members and guests, regardless of race, nationality, religion, faith, gender, sexual orientation, cultural background, and ability. 

We strive to become an anti-racist organization.  We are committed to learning more about how systemic racism has led to inequality and inequity in all systems – including education, housing, health, employment, wealth accumulation, policing, prosecution, sentencing, and incarceration – and working to eradicate inequality and inequity wherever we encounter it.

We will review and update our Club’s procedures, policies, meetings, events, communications, grants, projects, scholarships, and traditions.

We will broaden our recruiting practices to align our membership more closely with the demographics of Tacoma.

We will use our grants, projects, and scholarships to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice in our community.

 

Within Tacoma, the Rotary Club of Tacoma #8 invests in non-profit organizations throughout the community, recommended by the Community Grants Committee, that serve low-income children and seniors.   Rotary #8 also has many “hands-on” projects where Rotarians offer their service.  Some of these "hands on" projects that have been supported are:  

.  Read2Me - Rotarians  tutor 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd grade students in low-income schools;

.  Food Drives and Repacks - for the Emergency Food Network. Regularly club members volunteer to participate in  repackacking food for distribution into the community; and

.  Little Free Libraries - Rotarians build and install these libraries, filled with good children's books, near low-income elementary schools.

 

Rotary #8 has international projects such as clean water projects in Ethiopia and India, has brought firefighting equipment to Mexico, and has delivered school materials to Malawi.   Tacoma Rotarians have given Polio immunizations to children in India and Africa.

 

Throughout the world, Rotary Clubs, including Rotary #8, have contributed nearly $900 million to eradicate polio in the world.   More than one half billion children in developing countries have been immunized against polio, through Rotary’s PolioPlus campaign.

 

Rotary’s Youth Exchange sends 7,000 high-school age students abroad each year, to study in another country and to learn about its society and culture.  The goal is to promote world peace.  Rotary # 8 has always welcomed inbound students and have identified local students to travel to other  countries to participate in this life-changing experience. 

 

Installing our libraries