Mission
Artisans is a non-profit agency providing services necessary for individual job development, employment support and employment opportunities in the community for persons with disabilities.
Company Profile
Artisans is a local nonprofit that has partnered with the community since 1987. What began as services for a small number of clients has grown into an organization with two Spokane office locations, now supporting more than 400 individuals in the community each year.
Artisans began as part of L'Arche Spokane, an international affiliated organization that provides residential assistance for persons with developmental disabilities living in the Spokane area. It started on a small farm in Mead, Washington where L'Arche residents were employed making woodcrafts and gardening. The organization established itself as an independent non-profit business in 1994, still focusing its efforts on woodworking, but expanding its services to more disabled individuals in the Spokane community.
Over the years the organization went through a few location transitions and leadership changes. Polly Maxwell, Chief Executive Officer, filled this role for the organization beginning in 2002. Led by her business management experience and passion developed from her personal connection to the disabled community, the organization was steered in directions to better meet its clients’ needs and improve the organization’s outcomes. Part of this transition included restructuring of the organization to focus on community-based employment.
Artisans contracts with Spokane County, Developmental Disability Community Services (DDCS), the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), and Wellpoint to provide employment support and community inclusion services. Artisans has also built relationships with area universities over the years to involve students in its programs through service opportunities, work study and seasonal employment opportunities, and school projects.
See our Services page for detailed information on the programs and services we offer in the community.
Artisans began as part of L'Arche Spokane, an international affiliated organization that provides residential assistance for persons with developmental disabilities living in the Spokane area. It started on a small farm in Mead, Washington where L'Arche residents were employed making woodcrafts and gardening. The organization established itself as an independent non-profit business in 1994, still focusing its efforts on woodworking, but expanding its services to more disabled individuals in the Spokane community.
Over the years the organization went through a few location transitions and leadership changes. Polly Maxwell, Chief Executive Officer, filled this role for the organization beginning in 2002. Led by her business management experience and passion developed from her personal connection to the disabled community, the organization was steered in directions to better meet its clients’ needs and improve the organization’s outcomes. Part of this transition included restructuring of the organization to focus on community-based employment.
Artisans contracts with Spokane County, Developmental Disability Community Services (DDCS), the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), and Wellpoint to provide employment support and community inclusion services. Artisans has also built relationships with area universities over the years to involve students in its programs through service opportunities, work study and seasonal employment opportunities, and school projects.
See our Services page for detailed information on the programs and services we offer in the community.
