Moving Forward Together: The Importance of Indigenous Voices in Shaping Institutional Transformation
This edition marks the final video in a four-part series, closing out the community conversation that was jointly produced with Native American Leadership Council (NALC) and the Office of Equity and Social Justice in partnership with community members.
In video 1, NALC members shared stories of how community advocacy can lead to policy and systems change within institutions. Indigenous Peoples Day as a paid holiday within King County being one example of that.
In video 2, Urban Native Education Alliance emphasized the importance and benefit of funding Native centered programming and curriculum development, and shared a call to action to genuinely engage the community and support with funding a Native focused school to uphold Indigenous perspectives and cultural values.
In video 3, King County colleagues Annie Kirk and Bryon Davis illustrated the importance of place and connection to culture, land, and water as being essential to how they move through this world.
In this final video 4, Native educators explain how important Indigenous representation and knowledge are essential in re-imagining and reconstructing how institutions function for transformative change. Representation is necessary to countering falsely held narratives on our North Star journey of equity and social justice.
This series on the perspectives of Indigenous employees and community voice is designed to create solidarity in a genuine way with the Tribal and Urban Native community to re-imagine how the King County government and its workforce can benefit from changing the lens from transactional to relational, and from performative to transformative. All employees are encouraged to show up and join this journey when NALC does deeper dive events in the coming year.
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COVID Leave Benefit ends Dec. 31
Last year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, King County implemented a plan that allowed for up to 80 hours of leave for COVID-related reasons. The program began Aug. 10, 2021 and is scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2022.
Requests to use COVID Leave will only be processed through Dec. 31, 2022. Additionally, any previously awarded COVID Leave that has not been used by Dec. 31, 2022, will be removed. You can read more about the program at Accessing leave during COVID-19 – King County and Taking leave – King County.
As a reminder, COVID-19 has not gone away, and other airborne illnesses are having a strong impact this season. Vaccinations and wearing a mask indoors are highly recommended. You can get more information at Public Health Insider.
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Learn sustainable landscaping and yard care
King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) is partnering with the Snohomish Conservation District to offer both in-person and online classes ranging from landscaping with native plants to growing a food forest.
These free classes are part of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks Environmental Education Programs. Read more.
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Help reduce the spread of airborne illnesses by improving indoor air quality
Cross-posted from Public Health Insider
By now you may have heard that we’re experiencing high cases of flu and RSV (a respiratory disease), with young children being hospitalized. With cold weather, we spend more time inside, which increases the potential for another surge of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the coming months.
Diseases like RSV, the flu, and COVID-19 are airborne and spread easily indoors. With that in mind, it’s important to pay attention to indoor air quality. Read more.
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Free COVID-19 tests available while supplies last
During the cold and flu season, it’s a good idea to test yourself regularly for COVID-19 whenever you start not feeling well or before visiting groups of people indoors.
There are free COVID-19 tests available while supplies last at www.covidtests.gov or sayyescovidhometest.org. Manufacturers now say the tests are good for 12 months.
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Shop with a Cop events create smiles and connections
Cross-posted from the Sheriff’s Office newsletter
The annual Skyway Shop with a Cop event was held recently at the Renton Walmart. Over 80 children and their families showed up and were warmly greeted by volunteers and deputies from around the agency. Each registered child was paired with a deputy to walk through the store to select the child’s choice of items. The event was supported by the Alajawan Brown Foundation.
The Covington Shop with a Cop event also took place at the local Walmart. This year, approximately 180 children participated, with each child given approximately $75 to purchase something they would like for Christmas. They received support from the Covington Rotary and Maple Valley Rotary, as well as numerous volunteers.
At these special events, the children take away key lessons such as budgeting, decision-making, and teamwork, all while making a new friend. The events also provide an opportunity for law enforcement to have a positive interaction with needy children and their families.
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Records Management’s Jacqueline Tabor performs jazz in Japan
Cross-posted from Executive Services Express
Jacqueline Tabor, a member of the Records Management Program Team in Records and Licensing (RALS), recently returned from a whirlwind five-day Seattle-Kobe Sister City Association delegation trip marking the 65th anniversary of the sister city relationship. Read more.
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Restored upstream salmon habitat begins a decade of projects to open streams and rivers
Executive Dow Constantine recently announced significant gains this year by King County to restore access to high-quality salmon habitat, and that the county will soon embark upon a decade of projects to reopen at least 50% of the stream habitat currently blocked by county-owned roads and trails.
The team of experts guiding King County’s Fish Passage Restoration Program estimates that by 2032 these projects will allow access for native salmon to freely swim to more than 250 stream miles. Read more and watch the video.
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King County’s Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan Highlights
In 2016, King County launched its Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan, which has informed the direction for the County’s equity, racial, and social justice work since its development. To share just some of that work, King County has created the “ESJ Strategic Plan Highlights” – an online, interactive approach to presenting some of the County’s significant initiatives, efforts, and investments towards becoming anti-racist and pro-equity.
Watch this video for an overview of the highlights with King County Executive Dow Constantine and Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer Anita Whitfield. Spend time exploring the entire report to learn more about work across departments to meet the needs where they are greatest.
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Be prepared for cold temperatures, snow, and possible freezing rain
Extremely cold temperatures, snow, and possible freezing rain are forecast for our region this week, so please be prepared for possible commute delays and impacts to business operations.
If you work on site, please be prepared for cold weather. Have a plan for your commute, dress warmly, and let safety be your guide when making commute decisions. If you drive, have an emergency kit in your vehicle, including extra clothing, food, water, and a flashlight.
Power outages: If you are teleworking and experience a power outage that affects your ability to effectively work remotely, please contact your supervisor to discuss other options for completing work tasks. These may include taking leave or working from your regular King County worksite.
HR Policies: When an agency remains open, but conditions prevent you from reporting to work or from reporting on time, notify your supervisor as soon as possible. You may request leave, subject to approval by your supervisor. If you have no leave accrued, your supervisor may approve leave without pay to cover absences. Sick leave may not be used. Refer to HR Bulletin 2011-0009 County Operations During Emergency Situations and Inclement Weather (Sheriff’s Office employees refer to KCSO Inclement Weather Policy; Superior Court and District Court employees please see check court policies).
Alternative work arrangements: If you are impacted by the weather and adjusting work schedules, working at an alternative location, or taking vacation are options for your job, please discuss these beforehand with your supervisor.
Stay informed: Make sure you’re getting the latest King County information at work and at home in the event of inclement weather.
- Sign up for KCInform, King County’s employee alert and warning system. KCInform is used to reach County employees during an emergency with timely information about infrastructure disruptions, facility impacts, changes in your department’s business operations, and other critical impacts. Your King County desk phone and @kingcounty.gov email are already in the system. It is important to register your County-issued cell phone (if applicable) and personal cell phone and email address to ensure you receive time-sensitive messages. This service is free, and your personal contact information is secure and protected. To sign up, please contact kcinform@kingcounty.gov anytime or 206-296-3830 between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday to request your unique registration link. Visit the KCInform website to learn more or watch our short video.
- Call the Employee Hotline—206-205-8600 (save it to your phone now!).
- Check your King County email for information on business operations, delays, and closures. Log on at http://outlook.kingcounty.gov. Some agencies may send additional instructions directly to their staff.
- Contact your supervisor for specific instructions.
- Visit the Emergency News page at kcemergency.com for regional impacts.
Resources for travelers
- Metro: Visit MetroWinter.com and Eye on Your Metro Commute, and sign up for Metro Transit Alerts (text, email, tweets via @kcmetrobus, see RSS feed via desktop or mobile RSS reader)
- Roads: Visit Roads’ Snow and Ice resources and sign up for King County Road Alerts (text, email, tweets via @kcroads)
- Water Taxi: Sign up for King County Water Taxi Alerts (text, email).
Employee News 