UPDATE: Residents of Grangeville and Lewiston, Idaho, are uniting for an urgent campaign promoting inclusion with the message “Everyone is Welcome Here.” This grassroots movement, inspired by recent events in the West Ada School District, is rapidly gaining momentum and drawing statewide attention.
Just recently, community member Norma Staaf spearheaded the effort, launching a billboard campaign aimed at fostering a welcoming atmosphere in north central Idaho. After witnessing the controversy surrounding a classroom sign that was ordered down at Lewis and Clark Middle School, Staaf decided to take action. “It’s such a lovely, simple, but beautiful message of inclusion,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of community values.
Using funds raised from friends and neighbors, Staaf first secured a billboard in Grangeville that displayed the Wassmuth Center’s message. Initially planned for just four weeks, the billboard’s presence quickly garnered widespread support. “I had enough money to put the Grangeville billboard up, and my intention was honestly just to put the message up in Grangeville for four weeks,” Staaf explained.
However, as support poured in from nearby cities including Lewiston, Moscow, and Genesee, Staaf launched a second billboard campaign in Lewiston on a prominent digital display along the 500 block of D Street near the Lewiston Tribune office. This new billboard is set to remain for at least three months, thanks to continued fundraising efforts.
The urgency of this campaign is amplified by its roots in a significant controversy that erupted last spring when teacher Sarah Inama was instructed to remove similar signs from her classroom due to alleged content neutrality violations. Her refusal to comply led to national media coverage, further igniting discussions on inclusion and representation in schools.
The positive impact of Staaf’s initiative is already visible, as photos of the Grangeville billboard circulated widely on social media, inspiring similar projects across the state. A new billboard has already been erected in Coeur d’Alene, with more planned for the Treasure Valley and central Idaho.
“I’ve been amazed at how many people this message has resonated with across the state, and even with people in other states,” Staaf remarked, emphasizing the grassroots nature of the movement. “It doesn’t have to be a state-wide multi-thousand dollar thing; it can just be a few friends having a message or action.”
The Wassmuth Center for Human Rights, which supports this initiative, was founded in Boise in 1996 and is dedicated to promoting respect for human dignity and diversity. Its executive director, Christina Bruce-Bennion, noted the foundational importance of the message, stating, “I think that message is one that a lot of Idahoans actually really resonate with.”
As the campaign continues to grow, community members are encouraged to participate and spread the message of inclusion in their own neighborhoods. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are anticipated as more communities join the movement.
Stay tuned for updates on this inspiring effort to promote inclusivity across Idaho and beyond.
