About Us
Our Mission
The Northeast Community Center Association (NECCA) is a nonprofit neighborhood organization. We improve the quality of life of residents in northeast Spokane, with emphasis on social, health, economic, educational and recreational needs.
Committed to this mission, the Northeast Community Center works to:
- Promote a community center atmosphere that honors human dignity through respect, compassion, and justice.
- Assess and respond to the quality of life issues.
- Empower all individuals through support, advocacy, and services.
- Facilitate and support the work of service providers who are meeting identified needs in the area.
- Promote and coordinate collaboration among community members.
- Provide responsible and effective management of the Center and its resources.
The Neighborhoods We Serve
Northeast Spokane encompasses eight neighborhoods with their own neighborhood councils set up through the City of Spokane. They are:
The Hillyard Community Campus
After a year of planning, The Hillyard Community Campus was launched with the opening of the new Shaw Middle School, Lisa Mattson On Track Academy, and Hillyard Library Buildings in 2021. One major accomplishment was having the traffic calmed on Cook Street between the schools and Community Center, in order to give the students better access and a safer community. The campus includes:
- The Northeast Community Center
- Shaw Middle School
- Lisa Mattson On Track Academy
- New Tech Skills Center
- The Hillyard Library
This campus was made possible through collaboration with many partners who saw the value of having connected community in Northeast Spokane.
Our History
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Dec 28, 2022
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Dec 28, 2022
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Dec 28, 2022
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Dec 28, 2022
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Dec 28, 2022
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Dec 28, 2022
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Dec 28, 2022
Our Board of Directors
alvaro figueroa
President
Alvaro Figueroa Garcia (he/him/his) is the Commission Specialist at Avista Corporation. He helped create implicit bias & microaggression training, works with nonprofits providing services for LGBTQ youth, and has advocated for zero tolerance of bullying in public schools.
In addition to serving as Board Vice President, Alvaro also sits on the Revenue Generating Committee, and has previously served as the Treasurer.
Alvaro holds a Bachelor's Degree in finance and economics, with a minor in Spanish, and an MBA from Eastern Washington University. He is completing another Master's Degree in organizational leadership.
eric owens
Vice President
Eric Owens is a partner with Salyer Owens Kerr Design Studio. Eric received his degree in Architectural Studies from WSU, and went to work in Spokane with a passion for creative design and sustainable construction solutions. He happily puts his talents to use for the benefit of the community center and the neighborhood residents.
Betty J. Craipo
Secretary & Past President
Betty J. Craipo (she/her) is a nearly 30 year resident of the Minnehaha Neighborhood, whose children enjoyed Cooper, Shaw, and Rogers to the fullest. After serving as a Spokane County Public Defender and on the Criminal Justice Information Hotline, Betty now chooses to represent Student Services within Bigfoot Central at Spokane Community College.
Betty has served on the NECC Board since 2014. She shares her legal know-how and community-building dedication, while promoting mission engagement. Betty has focused her attention on developing and maintaining the Spokane Community Court Northeast, The ZONE, and The Hillyard Community Campus.
matt sonderen
Treasurer
Matt Sonderen is a leader for the application of technology strategies with NECC. He is also the co-owner and Director of Quality Management for Sonderen Packaging, and is a judge for Greater Spokane Incorporated's AGORA Awards for Business Excellence.
sean bresnahan
Board Member
Sean Bresnahan has been a board member since 2007, and has a strong interest in ensuring dental care access for low-income families. Sean is VP of Loan Product Management for Umpqua Bank.
eric christiansen
Board Member
Eric Christiansen is an owner and Certified Financial Planner with Quantum Financial Planning. He serves on the Revenue Generation Strategy Team, and was instrumental in establishing an endowment for NECC.
dr. brian davenport
Board Member
Dr. Brian Davenport is Director of Community Engagement at Eastern Washington University and a career educator, as a former professor and high school teacher.
jarren long
Board Member
Jarren Long is a resident of the neighborhood, with an interest in emerging technologies and social services. He serves as the Team Leader for Technology Applications at NECC. He is the President of Books N' Bytes, Inc., and Senior Application Engineer for Travis Pattern and Foundry.
holly renga
Board Member
Holly Renga has lived in Northeast for 30+ years, and joined the board after retiring from the medical field. She shares her wisdom with us, and helps seniors navigate the confusing aspects of the area. She also supports The ZONE, supporting our community's families and schools.
Mackenzie DeGon
Board Member
John Dickson
Board Member
paul hamilton
Member Emeritus
Paul Hamilton passed away in August of 2023. He was a remarkable individual who dedicated an incredible 28 years of his life to NECC. His unwavering commitment, boundless passion, and profound love for our community have left an indelible mark that will be felt for generations to come.