by Ashley Harrison

On the north side of the Labor Temple building at State and Capitol, we will affirm the sister-city connection between Olympia, Washington and Rafah, Palestine. The mural will examine Olympia’s “hidden histories” and explore links between our local past and global struggles for social economic justice. Labor history, the dispossession of Na-tive Americans from their land, and current immigration and deportation struggles link us to events which have shaped the history of Rafah. Through art, we seek to under-stand our own past and present participation in colonialism and . . .

They will be installed on the wall as the leaves of the olive tree.

by

Olympia’s sister city relationship with Santo Tomás, Chontales, Nicaragua, has its roots in the era of the Contra War in the 1980s. It strives to engender peace and heal the effects of U.S. aggression and economic oppression through people-to-people exchanges and community development.

The Thurston-Santo Tomás Sister County Association collaborates with the Committee for Community Development (CDC) in Santo Tomás to help sustain multiple community projects: its intent is to support self-determination and self-sufficiency for the Nicaraguan people. Over the years there have been many . . .

Griselda Escobar of the Ninth Community Delegation from Santo Tomás with Maribeth Wheeler and students from Lincoln Elementary at the 2008 Procession of the Species in downtown Olympia.