December 2025
SPOTLIGHT: Rabbi Jason Levine, Associate Director, Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle shared about their work advocating for the local Jewish community and its allies, including at the legislature and elected officials, in interfaith partnership, in response to direct incidents, and in education, including a recent training on antisemitism and anti-Jewish harm.
MAIN PRESENTATION TOPIC: The Upcoming Washington Legislative Session. Elizabeth Dickinson, Partnership Coordinator for the Faith Action Network (FAN), gave a preview of the main issues FAN will be addressing in the 2026 legislative session, which convenes on January 12.
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November 2025
SPOTLIGHT: Africans on the Eastside. Executive Director Adam Dibba will describe the work of this organization that supports youth and their families by providing outreach, education, advocacy training, and leadership opportunities. AOE is dedicated to fostering respect for the diverse languages and cultures within our communities, ensuring that everyone feels valued and included.
MAIN PRESENTATION TOPIC: Responding to – and Disrupting – Racism in East King County. East King County is a beautiful, dynamic community that attracts people from across the globe. But despite our region’s many assets and strengths, we are also home to the same disturbing trends that exist in other parts of the world – racial disparities, marginalization, gentrification and xenophobia. This results in a lack of safety, a diminished sense of belonging, inequitable representation in decision-making, and limited access to opportunities for people from historically marginalized communities. Debbie Lacy, Founder & Executive Director of Eastside for All, will offer suggestions for creating a safe, welcoming, and just Eastside for all.
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MISSION STATEMENT
Members of Eastside Interfaith Social Concerns Council (“EISCC”) believe we are guided by the moving of God’s spirit in our community to work together in a spirit of caring and celebration. We honor and respect each other’s religious heritages, welcome and pray for each other, and share information about pressing community needs.
EISCC members represent dozens of Eastside congregations and meet monthly on the second Tuesdays at noon at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 4228 Factoria Blvd SE, Bellevue WA 98006. map and directions, with lunch provided. Currently meeting in person and via Zoom.
We provide a forum to educate, advocate, initiate, coordinate, and support through task forces and other means, to work for the common good, and to address human needs and improve the quality of life of the citizens living in the eastside communities of Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, Renton, and Redmond.
Linda Hillesheim, EISCC board member, represents the eastside faith community on the board of Eastside Human Services Forum.
EISCC sponsors one sub-agency – Congregations for Kids, which provides school supplies for children in Bellevue schools. Three prior EISCC sub-agencies now operate independently: Congregations for the Homeless, and The Sophia way support homeless men, women and children on the eastside and also operate the Eastside Winter Shelters for men, and for women and children. Recently independent sub-agency Backpack Meals For Kids now aligned with Backpack Brigade. provides supplemental nutrition for Bellevue school children.
EISCC sponsors the Eastside Emergency Services Fund administered through Hopelink.
EISCC is an IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt entity, EIN 94-3036001.