Center for Growth and Empowerment

10/11/2025

Winter Market: 2SLGBTQ+ Artist & Makers Fair

Join us for a joyful, affirming celebration of creativity and connection!

This cozy winter market will feature local 2SLGBTQ+ artists and makers sharing handmade art, prints, jewelry, crafts, gifts, and more — just in time for the holiday season.

Saturday, November 22, 2025
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Community Building Lobby, next to Kizuri | 35 W Main St, Spokane

Calling all 2SLGBTQ+ artists and makers!
We’d love to showcase your work — apply to be a vendor and share your creativity with our community.
👉 Apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXb_5RMFdv8HgS7H63GpktT8XMbCF5OpUGZLJSOvbgVhhSUg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=108912236279040172730

💜 Free admission | Family-friendly | Alcohol-free | All are welcome

Hosted by the Center for Growth and Empowerment (CGE), with heartfelt thanks to to Better Health Together for supporting this community market and celebration, Kizuri Spokane for welcoming us in, and Community Building/Saranac for providing space.

Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BKRgh6Fte/

Let’s come together to celebrate 2SLGBTQ+ creativity, community, and connection this winter. 🌈

10/07/2025

Our founder, Hallie Burchinal, is leading a webinar session on meaningful ways you can provide affirming care within treatment settings. Please join us if you’d like to learn more.

Creating treatment environments that are inclusive, culturally responsive, and identity-affirming isn’t just good practice – it directly impacts recovery outcomes.

This upcoming webinar will explore how addiction professionals can build spaces where people feel truly seen and supported in their recovery journeys. Participants will gain practical strategies to strengthen engagement, retention, and healing in substance use disorder services.

Learning highlights include:
• Defining affirming care and its role in recovery
• Key principles that can be applied in treatment and peer support settings
• Practical ways to make services more inclusive and supportive for diverse clients

The session will be led by Hallie Burchinal, founder and Executive Director of the Center for Growth and Empowerment (CGE) in Spokane, whose decade of leadership in the SUD field has centered dignity, belonging, and community.

Webinar: The Power of Affirming Care in SUD Recovery
Sponsored by Northwest ATTC and the Washington Recovery Alliance (WRA)
Hosted by Northwest ATTC

For more information and to register, visit:
https://attcnetwork.org/event/the-power-of-affirming-care-in-sud-recovery-webinar/

09/01/2025

At CGE, we believe that every LGBTQ+ person deserves to be celebrated. Healing begins when we are seen, affirmed, and uplifted in community. 🌈

This week, we spotlight the strength of our LGBTQ+ community here in Spokane. Your resilience, your creativity, your joy — these are the foundations of Rainbow Recovery.

👉 Tag someone who inspires you in recovery or in life — and remind them: You Belong Here.

08/31/2025

As we close out the week, we’re reflecting on the heart of our mission: creating a safe, affirming recovery space for LGBTQ+ youth and adults. Part of recovery is about embracing your authentic self, and at CGE we believe healing happens when we belong, together. 💜🌈

This week we're saying it loud and proud: You Belong Here.

Next week, we’ll continue sharing why LGBTQ+ recovery spaces matter — because every person deserves a place to heal, grow, and thrive. 🌱

08/30/2025

Center for Growth and Empowerment stands with our transgender community.

Scapegoating is never acceptable. Spokane Pride stands in solidarity with our transgender community.

If you or someone you know is facing transphobic harassment or need someone to talk to, please refer to the resources listed in the graphic or visit Igbtq.wa.gov/resources/county/Spokane.

🏳️‍⚧️💕

08/24/2025

Today would've been Marsha P. Johnson's 80th birthday. She spent her life advocating for LGBTQ people, youth experiencing homelessness, and people living with HIV.

Artist Osaze Akil honored Marsha with this panel as part of our historic Freedom to Be quilt on the National Mall earlier this year.

08/23/2025

Garland Pride was a wonderful evening! We had one beautiful conversation after another and the folxs stepping up to the open mic stage…. AMAZING!!! This is what community feels like.

08/14/2025

Come use our fun photo backdrop at Garland Pride to commemorate your day! We'll have gorgeous art and stickers by Transpainter available to purchase to raise funds to support us in founding and stepping into our work for our community.

The evening is going to be FUN! So many stages are set up and great booths to browse!!!

07/08/2025

As teenagers, life can feel challenging on an easy day. We're committed to being here for our LGBTQ+ youth community, providing affirming substance use treatment services that celebrates the identity of each person.

Our youth deserve every opportunity to thrive and create the lives they each dream of.

06/27/2025

Today we got the keys to our office space in the Holley Mason building! We look forward to making this beautiful place warm and welcoming.

Another step completed in preparation of opening our doors to provide affirming recovery outpatient treatment for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and adults.

We’ll add a video walkthrough in the comments!

06/11/2025

COMING SOON!
A nonprofit in the founding stage.

Rainbow Recovery – Empowering Through Community

At Center for Growth and Empowerment, our mission is to provide affirming, inclusive, and compassionate recovery services that support the healing and empowerment of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community (adults and youth) and allies. Honoring lived experience, embracing authenticity, and building community, we are committed to creating a safe space where every person is seen, supported, and celebrated.

Based in the heart of Spokane, WA, we walk alongside individuals on their recovery journey, offering strength through connection and purpose through care.

When we recover together, we rise together.

A nonprofit fiscally sponsored by the Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund, A Charitable Foundation. 🩷

Founders: Hallie Burchinal, she/they (Substance Use Disorder Professional and Community Health Worker) and Kimberly Puntney, she/her (Substance Use Disorder Professional and Clinical Supervisor), with support from Sandy Munck and our awesome Board of Directors!