Annual Giving Drive: Reason eight
Reason eight to participate in the Annual Giving Drive is to join the movement of change agents at King County. The Employee Giving Program provides thousands of ways to make a difference and thousands of nonprofits to support, all through one program. When we act together, we change the world for the better. Join us for the Annual Giving Campaign and be part of the change. Check out the video below for more information.
You can find more EGP participating nonprofit organizations online or in the 2023 King County EGP Nonprofit Giving Guide.
You can make your campaign pledge here. Pledge today!
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Resources and support during National Substance Use Prevention Month
Balanced You recognizes October as National Substance Use Prevention Month and wants to highlight the importance of prevention in protecting people’s health and support those in recovery, as well as the family, friends, and community supporting them. We also remember those who have lost their lives to substance use and recognize the devasting loss for their loved ones.
Millions of Americans suffer from substance use disorders, which includes alcohol and tobacco dependency, non-medical use of prescription drugs, abuse of over-the-counter medications, and illicit drug use. Read more.
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Celebrating Metro’s Hispanic/Latinx employees
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Over the past month, we have been engaging with our Metro colleagues from the Latinx Affinity Group to learn about their unique experiences related to heritage, community, and personal identity, as part of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month. This heritage month is uniquely recognized in the middle of September through the middle of October (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15), as it coincides with national independence celebrations in several Latin American countries. Read more.
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Celebrating 35 Years with Jamie Schmeichel, Parks Specialist
By Quinn Pense, Parks District Maintenance Coordinator
Please join us in celebrating Jamie Schmeichel, an extraordinary individual who has dedicated an impressive 35 years of their life to serving our community.
Jamie is an integral member of the nursery team and restoration program, working diligently to ensure the flourishing beauty of our parks.
His current tasks include weeding, filling pots with soil, transplanting plants, measuring fertilizer, planting seeds, and helping to tidy up around the Nursery. He does all of this with a smile and comes to work happy to be part of the team every single day.
Congratulations, Jamie, on reaching this remarkable milestone of 35 years of dedicated service. We are immensely grateful for your service and your company. You are an absolute joy to work with, and we are all happy that you are part of our Parks family!
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Power of connection: Resources for survivors of domestic and sexual violence
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections
October is Domestic Violence Action Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. During the month of October victim advocates, allies, survivors of abuse, their loved ones, and the surrounding community come together to raise awareness of domestic violence and its impact on individuals, families, and communities. It is a time to connect, lift each other up, share resources, save space for each other, mourn lives lost, and celebrate progress towards ending domestic violence.
Everyone has a role in ending domestic violence and its impact on our communities, from staying connected to someone experiencing abuse, volunteering at nonprofit organizations serving survivors, to sharing resources with each other. We can all contribute to building safe and resilient communities. Read more.
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Adaptive adventures: Making the outdoors accessible
Crossposted from King County Parks
This spring, the Healthy Communities and Parks Fund (Tier 1), awarded nearly $200,000 total to 14 different organizations working to improve access to parks, open space, and recreation in underserved communities of King County. One of those organizations is Needs of the Community (NOC) Society, who received almost $15,000 to provide free and accessible travel opportunities for young adults with medical illnesses and disabilities through their Camp Without Borders program. Read more.
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Reminder of required training: We Are Racially Just: Our King County Values at work
To reach our True North – a welcoming community where every person can thrive – we must achieve racial justice. “We Are Racially Just” is a core value of King County. Through personal testimonies from King County employees, the We Are Racially Just: Our King County Values at Work eLearning course explores what it means to be racially just and helps to familiarize employees with King County’s Pro-Equity and Anti-Racist actions and identify behaviors that can support these actions at work. This training helps to ensure that each of us understands what it means to be racially just and what we can do in our own work to advance racial justice at King County.
If taking this eLearning is still on your NEOGOV To Do list, employees who have regular computer access at work should complete the eLearning by Dec. 31, 2023. Those without regular computer access have until Sept. 30, 2024. This NEOGOV eLearning can be accessed here: We Are Racially Just: Our King County Values at Work. Thank you again to everyone involved in creating a welcoming community at King County where every person can thrive.
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Kaiser Permanente and unions reach tentative agreement
Kaiser Permanente and the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions which represents their employees recently announced they reached a tentative national agreement.
The Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions has withdrawn their notices of a potential strike and there should be no disruption in services King County employees receive from Kaiser Permanente providers and facilities.
For more information, please call Kaiser Permanente Washington at 800-297-6877, or contact the King County Benefits team at 206-684-1556 or email KC Benefits.
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King County’s Ruth Woo Emerging Leaders Fellowship: Empowering tomorrow’s public service leaders
We are excited to introduce the 2023-2024 Ruth Woo Emerging Leaders Fellows. The Ruth Woo Emerging Leaders Fellowship offers a unique one-year, paid fellowship and is dedicated to nurturing the next wave of public service leaders. Inspired by Ruth Woo, a dedicated advocate of public service and mentor to elected officials, the Fellowship provides immersive experiences across various County departments. Fellows will actively contribute to projects aligned with King County’s core values of equity, social justice, and community well-being, engaging in tasks ranging from supporting government initiatives and strategic planning to tracking legislation and internal operations. This experience will offer them deep insights and real-world experience in the realm of public service.
The 2023-2024 Fellows are:
- Beza Ayele, Department of Human Resources – Career and Culture Division
- Pauline Estrella, Metro Transit
- Maddy Magana, Executive’s Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget
- Andrea Rivas, Department of Natural Resources and Parks
- Vincent Rugio, Department of Executive Services – Facilities Management Division
- Ternia Wilson, King County Council
Please extend a warm welcome to the 2023-2024 Fellows as they embark on this journey!
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Support humanitarian efforts in the Middle East during the Annual Giving Drive
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. Thousands of lives have been lost, and many more people have been injured and displaced. Many nonprofit organizations were already on the ground providing aid, and more still are working to ensure immediate and long-term humanitarian aid for Israel, Gaza, and the surrounding region.
When people are in need anywhere in the world, employees want to help. The King County Employee Giving Program has several nonprofits in the program that are responding. Both short-term and long-term support will be needed. See how you can provide support during the Annual Giving Drive.
The images and reports coming out of the conflict have been difficult to watch. As a reminder, King County has many support services available through our Making Life Easier (username King County) and Employee Assistance Programs, with counselors and licensed professionals available if you need assistance or just to talk to someone.
Employee News 