Rooted in Spokane. Growing for a Lifetime.
Who We Are
At Roots International, we believe the young people we serve are already remarkable. They have navigated displacement, crossed languages, and adapted to new worlds with a resilience most people will never be asked to find. Our role is not to fix them. It is to walk alongside them, equip them with the skills and mentorship they deserve, and ensure they have a community that believes in where they're going.
We do that through six interconnected pathways: Sports, Mentorship, Education, Arts, Leadership, and Mental Health Support; each one designed to speak to the whole person: mind, body, spirit, and community.
Our Vision: A Future Worth Growing Into
Refugee and immigrant youth come to Eastern Washington carrying courage, resilience, and potential. We envision a region where every one of them, regardless of where they were born or what they've been through, has the support they need to build strong roots and rise to their full potential. By nurturing identity, confidence, and belonging today, we lay the foundation for stronger individuals and stronger communities for generations to come.
Who We Serve: Youth Who Carry More Than Most
Roots International serves refugee and immigrant youth ages 8 to 25. The young people who walk through our doors have often faced interrupted education, the invisible weight of anxiety and PTSD, and the quiet grief of navigating a new culture while holding onto who they are.
They also carry something else: profound hope, deep determination, and dreams that deserve protecting.
We exist to ensure those dreams are never lost to circumstances, and that every young person in our community has an equal opportunity to grow, belong, and lead.
Your Support Matters
Ready to be part of what grows here?
"I believe the youth we serve are already leaders, many just don’t realize it yet. My goal is to help them step boldly into their own strength and see themselves as the leaders I already see in them."
-Jackson Lino, founder of Roots International